Researchers at the University of South Australia (UniSA) warn that the side effects of virtual reality exercises can last for around an hour.
Ancret Szpak, Stefan Carlo Michalski and Tobias Loetscher tested the effect of the popular VR exergame Beat Saber on the players and found that every seventh player still reported about VR illness (similar to motion sickness) 40 minutes after the end of the game.
The study tested the effects of VR exergaming on eyesight, nausea and reaction times. While Beat Saber was mostly well tolerated, some people experienced longer-lasting side effects.
While the study “did not find strong evidence of serious side effects 40 minutes after VR exposure, regardless of whether people played beat saber for 10 minutes or 50 minutes,” the team warned that the subjects were young and healthy and one had a below average history of motion sickness. Other groups could be more affected.
Still, 14% of participants reported high levels of “simulator sickness” 40 minutes after playing Beat Saber for 50 minutes.
Changes in the subjects’ visual accommodation and convergence were noted, but returned to normal within 40 minutes. The results of cognitive tests (e.g. decision-making speed) “showed no concern”.
Lead researcher Ancret Szpak said that VR offers promising benefits for exergaming, there is still much to be learned about VR technology.
“There’s no doubt that VR offers unprecedented benefits for a number of uses, but it’s important to pay attention to how new technologies can affect you both during and after the game.
“VR is particularly promising for exergaming as it keeps gamers trapped in the virtual world while at the same time distracting them from physical exertion. In this way, people who are not particularly keen on exercise can continue their game and move around.
Szpak recommends that people try a short VR session to make sure they can handle it: “If you start feeling a little dizzy after a short period of time, you will likely feel worse after prolonged exposure.
“Second, after playing VR – exergaming or otherwise – it’s always a good idea to wait and see how you’re feeling before engaging in higher-risk activities such as driving a car.”
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