Effects of VR-Based Exergames on Physical and Cognitive Health in Sedentary Workers (VR-Exergame)

September 17, 2025 updated by: Hakan GÜLER, Medipol University

The Effects of Virtual Reality-Based Exercise Games on Physical and Cognitive Health in Sedentary Workplace Employees

Sedentary behavior in the workplace is associated with declines in both physical and cognitive health. Traditional exercise programs are often difficult to sustain among workplace employees, leading to an increased interest in digital and interactive solutions such as virtual reality (VR)-based exergames.

This randomized controlled study investigated the feasibility and effects of a VR-based exercise intervention on physical and cognitive outcomes in sedentary university employees. A total of 32 participants aged 30-60 years with low physical activity levels (<600 MET-min/week) were recruited and randomized into two groups: VR Exercise (n=16) and Control (n=16).

Participants in the VR Exercise Group received a virtual reality-based physical activity intervention using the "Meta Quest 2" headset. Two exergames, "Beat Saber" and "PowerBeatsVR", were implemented twice a week for six weeks, totalling 12 exercise sessions. Each session lasted 30-35 minutes and was conducted individually during work hours. Beat Saber provided rhythm-based tasks involving block slicing and obstacle dodging, while PowerBeatsVR included high-intensity punching, squatting, and side-stepping movements.Game difficulty increased weekly (Figure 2). Adverse events (eg, cybersickness, dizziness, nausea) were monitored throughout each session. No adverse events were reported in either group. According to the Virtual Reality Institute of Health and Exercise, Beat Saber is classified as a moderate-intensity activity, while PowerBeatsVR is classified as high-intensity , which supports the game selection rationale in this study. Participants' sessions were monitored using a Huawei D15 laptop, and a safety boundary was configured using the VR system's room-scale feature.

Balance was assessed using the Becure Balance System and Flamingo Balance Test, while cognitive performance was measured with the CNS Vital Signs battery, which evaluates domains such as memory, attention, processing speed, and executive function. BMI was also recorded.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

32

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Istanbul
      • Beykoz, Istanbul, Turkey (Türkiye), 34810
        • Medipol Universıty

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

  • Being between 30-60 years of age

Being employed as an academic or administrative employees member at a university

Classified as inactive (sedentary) according to the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (IPAQ-SF) results

Not starting any regular physical activity programs during the study period

Having normal blood pressure and circulatory conditions

No conditions preventing the use of VR technology and games (e.g., severe motion sickness)

Voluntarily agreeing to participate in the study and providing written informed consent

Exclusion Criteria:

  • Pregnancy

Presence of neurological and/or psychological disorders

Having cardiovascular, respiratory, joint, or other orthopedic conditions that would prevent safe participation in exercise

Presence of vestibular disorders

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Prevention
  • Allocation: Randomized
  • Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
  • Masking: Single

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: Virtual Reality Exercise Group
Participants performed a virtual reality-based exercise program using the Meta Quest 2 headset. Two commercial exergames (Beat Saber and PowerBeatsVR) were implemented twice weekly for six weeks (12 sessions total). Each session lasted approximately 30-35 minutes and included full-body movements such as punching, squatting, dodging, and stepping.
Behavioral: Virtual Reality-Based Exercise Program
Participants in the VR Exercise Group received a virtual reality-based physical activity intervention using the "Meta Quest 2" headset. Two exergames, "Beat Saber" and "PowerBeatsVR", were implemented twice a week for six weeks, totalling 12 exercise sessions. Each session lasted 30-35 minutes and was conducted individually during work hours. Beat Saber provided rhythm-based tasks involving block slicing and obstacle dodging, while PowerBeatsVR included high-intensity punching, squatting, and side-stepping movements. Game difficulty increased weekly.
No Intervention: Control Group
Participants did not receive any structured exercise intervention and continued their usual daily routines throughout the 6-week study period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
Postural Balance Performance
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks post-intervention
Postural balance was objectively measured using the Becure Balance System, a low-cost, portable force platform enhanced with sensors. Six sub-tests were conducted: double-leg stance with eyes open/closed, single-leg stance (right/left), foam surface double-leg stance with eyes open/closed. The system provides real-time feedback and detailed reports on postural sway and center of pressure (COP) movement .
Baseline and 6 weeks post-intervention
Cognitive Performance
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks post-intervention
Cognitive functions were evaluated using the CNS Vital Signs test battery, which provides scores for domains such as psychomotor speed, processing speed, motor speed, memory, and executive function. Higher scores indicate better performance.
Baseline and 6 weeks post-intervention
Body Mass Index (BMI)
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks post-intervention
BMI was calculated as body weight in kilograms divided by height in meters squared (kg/m²). No additional interventions for weight control were provided.
Baseline and 6 weeks post-intervention
Change in Static Balance
Time Frame: Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks post-intervention
Flamingo Balance Test: This Eurofit static balance test assessed participants' ability to maintain balance on a wooden beam (50 cm long, 5 cm high, 3 cm wide) using their dominant leg. Total loss of balance within 60 seconds was recorded. If more than 15 falls occurred in the first 30 seconds, the test was terminated and scored zero.
Time Frame: Baseline and 6 weeks post-intervention

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Medipol University

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

November 10, 2024

Primary Completion (Actual)

February 10, 2025

Study Completion (Actual)

March 10, 2025

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

September 9, 2025

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 17, 2025

First Posted (Estimated)

September 25, 2025

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Estimated)

September 25, 2025

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

September 17, 2025

Last Verified

September 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • HGULER
  • BAP-2024/57 No:E-93425710-604 (Other Grant/Funding Number: Medipol University, Scientific Research Projects Coordination Unit)

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

NO

IPD Plan Description

Individual participant data (IPD) will not be shared.

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Virtual Reality Therapy

Clinical Trials on Virtual Reality-Based Exercise Program

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Colombia

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe