“Our study, which used a commercially available VR headset and app, found that the use of virtual reality can be an effective means of making exercise enjoyable, and has the added bonus of helping people to work harder than they think they are.”
Dr Oliver Runswick, Senior Lecturer in Performance Psychology at King’s IoPPN
19 December 2024
Want to get active? Try using Virtual Reality
Exercising while using a Virtual Reality (VR) headset can increase an individual’s work rate, overall enjoyment, and elicit improved psychological responses compared to a non-VR equivalent.

New research from the Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology & Neuroscience (IoPPN) at King’s College London has found that exercising while using a Virtual Reality (VR) headset can increase an individual’s work rate, overall enjoyment, and elicit improved psychological responses compared to a non-VR equivalent.
The research, published in PLOS ONE, suggests that VR could be used as an alternative to traditional forms of exercise to promote healthy behaviour and engagement in people that don’t enjoy other forms of physical activity.
A government report published in January 2024 found that more than a third of the UK population remain physically inactive, and it’s widely recognised that there is a significant need to develop strategies to change this.
Researchers recruited 17 healthy participants to complete a 12-minute guided VR boxing exercise session in a commercially available app (FitXR™), followed by a screen-based equivalent. Each participant’s heart rate and oxygen consumption were closely monitored at each stage, while their psychological responses and perceived physical exertion were self-reported.
An analysis of the data found that participants consumed more oxygen while using the headset compared to the screen-based equivalent but didn’t perceive that they were putting in greater effort. Participants also said that they found the VR exercise more enjoyable, resulting in more positive psychological responses.
Dr Oliver Runswick, Senior Lecturer in Performance Psychology at King’s IoPPN and the study’s senior author said, “Exercise isn’t inherently enjoyable for everyone and, while we understand the benefit of exercise, we are increasingly seeing people in the UK become and remain physically inactive. This potentially has long-term impacts on their overall health and wellbeing, and it’s important that we try and establish solutions."
The researchers clarified that they do not see VR exercise as a replacement for other, more traditional forms of exercise such as team sports, but as an alternative.
Dr Runswick continued, “There is an abundance of research on the positive physical and psychological effects of exercising with other people. Nevertheless, activities like team sports aren’t an option for everyone. The use of VR could offer an alternative approach that engages those who might otherwise remain inactive.”
The researchers now hope to explore the use of this technology in other groups of people, including those with long term conditions, to see if there are similar benefits.
Acute psychological and physiological benefits of exercising with virtual reality (DOI 10.1371/journal.pone.0314331) (Bradley Barbour, Lucy Sefton, Richard M. Bruce, Lucia Valmaggia, Oliver R. Runswick) was published in PLOS ONE.
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