A Teleoanticipatory Approach to the Deceptive Modulation of Treadmill Walking Speed using Immersive Virtual Reality: A Double-Blinded, Crossover Study (Preprint)

BACKGROUND The influence of exercise deception and immersive virtual reality on ratings of perceived exertion and heart rate during exercise have been studied in isolation, but rarely in tandem. Given that there is evidence to suggest that both factors can affect perceived exertion and heart rate during exercise, addressing the gap in knowledge pertaining to such influences is imperative. OBJECTIVE This study investigated the influence of speed deception on heart rate and ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) during immersive virtual reality (IVR) while walking on a treadmill. METHODS Using a double-blinded, crossover research design, sixteen college-aged adults (eight females) were randomly assigned a testing order for a total of six, ten-minute trials of treadmill walking; three trials conducted with IVR on one day and three non-IVR trials (i.e. control) on another day at 3.3, 3.5, and 3.7 mph. A 24 hour washout period was given in between the first and second day of testing. Participants were told that all trials occurred at 3.5 mph. Borg RPE scores were assessed after each trial while HR was monitored throughout. RESULTS The IVR trials produced lower mean RPE scores in comparison to the non-IVR trials during 3.5 and 3.7 mph (p = 0.002, 95% CI: (0.6, 1.8); p = 0.002, 95% CI (1.2, 2.7), respectively). The IVR trials also yielded a lower mean HR compared to the non-IVR trials at the highest speed of 3.7 mph (p = 0.049, 95% CI: (2.0, 12.7)). Within group differences for the non-IVR group were identified in RPE for the 3.3 and 3.5 mph trials compared to those at 3.7 mph (p = 0.002, 95% CI: (-1.4, -0.5); p = 0.002, 95% CI: (-1.4, -0.5), respectively). No differences were detected within the IVR group. CONCLUSIONS These findings suggest that using deception via an immersive virtual reality exergaming experience may affect attenuated participant perceived effort and heart rate response without the user noticing the effect.