Effects of exergaming in postmenopausal women with high cardiovascular risk: A randomized controlled trial

Abstract

Objective: Recently, exergames have been used an exercise modality as aerobic fitness activities. However, evidence of its effectiveness on cardiovascular (CV)-related risk factors remain unclear. Hypothesis: We evaluate the effects of exergaming on CV-related risk factors compared with traditional aerobic exercise in high CV risk patients. Methods: Sixty-five postmenopausal women with high CV risk were randomized among exergame (n = 22), treadmill (n = 22), and control (n = 21) groups. The exergame group was engaged in the running-based exergame using Exer Heart and the treadmill group walked or jogged on a treadmill. Cardiorespiratory fitness, flow-mediated dilation, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), epicardial fat thickness, metabolic parameters, and anthropometric parameters were measured in patients before and 12 weeks after the training. Results: Exergaming significantly improved VO2 peak (P