THE EFFECTS OF GAME-BASED EXERCISE PROGRAMS

THE EFFECTS OF VIRTUAL REALITY AND VIDEO GAME-BASED EXERCISE PROGRAMS ON PHYSICAL FITNESS AND ATTENTION LEVELS IN HEALTHY ADOLESCENTS

Studies comparing aerobic exercise with virtual reality or video game technologies to traditional games and classical exercise have been conducted in healthy adolescents, but no studies comparing virtual reality and video game technologies have been found. Based on all this, we aimed to investigate the effect of virtual reality and video game-based exercise programs on physical fitness and attention levels in healthy adolescents. The study was planned as a quantitative experimental randomized controlled trial. Healthy individuals aged 10-18 years who meet the inclusion criteria will be evaluated during the dates of the study. Individuals will be divided into 3 groups: a classical physical activity group, a virtual reality group, and a video-based game group. Each program will be implemented for 20-30 minutes, three days a week for eight weeks. The Physical Activity Scale for Adolescents was used to evaluate the physical activity of the individuals, the Multidimensional Body-Self Relationship Scale was used to measure body image, and the Exercise Benefit/Barrier Scale was used to measure exercise perception. To measure attention, balance, and reaction time, the D2 Attention Test, Y-Balance Test, and Nelson's Hand Reaction Test will be administered, respectively. In the virtual reality and video-based game group, the games played by participants will be similar to the physical activities performed in the classic exercise group. One or more games incorporating these physical activities will be selected.

Study Overview

• Status: Recruiting
• Conditions: Physical Activity; Body Image; Reaction Time; Attention; Balance; Exercise Perception
• Intervention / Treatment: Other: Conventional Physical Exercise Program; Other: Xbox Console-Based Exercise Program; Other: Virtual Reality-Based Exercise Program

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Estimated): 48
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

• Study Contact: Name: Gönül ELPEZE, Assistant Professor; Phone Number: +90 342 909 75 00; Email: gonul.elpeze@gibtu.edu.tr

Study Locations

• Turkey (Türkiye)
  • Gaziantep, Turkey (Türkiye)
    • Recruiting
    • Gaziantep Islamic Science and Technology University
    • Contact: Gönül ELPEZE, Assistant Prof; Phone Number: 0 90 342 909 75 00; Email: gonul.elpeze@gibtu.edu.tr

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Child; Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• Volunteering to participate in the study
• Being an adolescent aged 10-18 years
• Having a score below 4 on the Physical Activity Scale for Adolescents

Exclusion Criteria:

• Having any physical disability that would prevent participation in the exercise program
• Having upper or lower extremity orthopedic disease
• Having a score above 4 on the Physical Activity Scale for Adolescents

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

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

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
Active Comparator: physical exercise group; This group served as an active control group. Participants in this group followed a traditional physical exercise program consisting of real-world soccer and basketball, in order to provide a baseline benchmark for the digital game-based intervention groups.	Other: Conventional Physical Exercise Program; This group practiced using real sports equipment. The training program included kicking a soccer ball into a goal and a basketball into a hoop. The intervention was implemented for 20 minutes, 3 days a week, for a total of 8 weeks.
Experimental: Xbox Exercise Group; Participants followed a game-based exercise program using the Xbox video game console.	Other: Xbox Console-Based Exercise Program; Participants in this group underwent a game-based exercise program using an Xbox video game console. The training protocol consisted of active video games simulating soccer and basketball, mirroring the tasks performed by a traditional exercise group. The intervention was administered three times a week for a total of eight weeks, with 20-minute sessions per week.
Experimental: VR Exercise Group; Participants performed a virtual reality-based exercise program using VR glasses.	Other: Virtual Reality-Based Exercise Program; Participants in this group underwent a virtual reality-based exercise program using virtual reality glasses. The training protocol consisted of immersive virtual reality games simulating soccer and basketball in a fully immersive digital environment, mirroring the tasks performed by a traditional exercise group. The intervention was administered three times a week for eight weeks, with 20-minute sessions per week.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Nelson Hand Reaction Test	Reaction time was measured using a digital assessment system to evaluate cognitive-motor processing speed. Scores were recorded in seconds. Lower scores (shorter times) indicate faster reaction speed and better neurocognitive or sensorimotor performance.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks
Y-Balance Test	The Y-Balance Test was used to assess dynamic balance and neuromuscular control. Scores were recorded in centimeters for the anterior, posterior medial, and posterior lateral directions. Higher scores indicate better dynamic balance.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks
D2 Test of Attention	The D2 Attention Test is an attention test used to measure selective and sustained attention. The total number of items processed (quantitative performance) is scored after errors are removed. Higher scores indicate better attention and concentration capacity.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Adolescent Physical Activity Questionnaire	The Adolescent Physical Activity Questionnaire was used to assess participants' levels of physical activity. The questionnaire evaluates the frequency, duration, and type of physical activity performed by adolescents. Higher overall scores indicate a higher level of physical activity.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks
Exercise Benefits/Barriers Scale	This measure assesses participants' mental evaluations of physical activity, including their attitudes toward exercise and perceived benefits and barriers to it. Higher scores indicate a more positive outlook on exercise and a greater awareness of its benefits.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks
Children's Body Image Scale	This measurement assesses participants' thoughts, feelings, and attitudes toward their own bodies from a self-attitude perspective. It includes subscales that evaluate body image satisfaction, perception of physical capacity, and health. Higher scores indicate a more positive perception of body image.	From enrollment to the end of treatment at 8 weeks

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: Gaziantep Islam Science and Technology University

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): November 15, 2025
• Primary Completion (Actual): April 15, 2026
• Study Completion (Estimated): August 30, 2026

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: June 16, 2026
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 16, 2026
• First Posted (Actual): June 22, 2026

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): June 22, 2026
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: June 16, 2026
• Last Verified: June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: virtual reality; Healthy adolescent; attention level)
• Additional Relevant MeSH Terms: Behavior; Motor Activity
• Other Study ID Numbers: VIRTUAL REALITY AND VIDEO GAME

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: UNDECIDED

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No