Details and Myths About VR Health Attraction
The moment you realize you are out of shape is difficult but life changing. Doing what it takes to get off the couch and set an exercise routine in or out of the gym doesn’t have to be a failure. Exercising with VR is not only exciting and fun, it also lets workouts fly by. We’re here to address the myths surrounding VR that stand between you and your fitness goals, and the facts that show why VR is so effective.
Here are just a few examples of the facts and myths behind the VR fitness appeal and why you should really think of VR as an effective fitness tool instead of a roadblock.
Fact: VR creates new and interesting experiences
Thanks to: Thrill of the Fight / Ian Fitz
VR creates new and interesting experiences using multiple methods. For example, the adjustable difficulty level in Thrill of the Fight automatically keeps the game in line with your strength. Obviously, the difficulty of your opponents and the number of blows to knock them down will add to your stamina. There are also several games for every level of fitness experience. You can choose from several titles to assist you with light, medium, and heavy exercises.
If you’re not into digital fantasy worlds, realistic simulators offer realistic experiences. VirZOOM is a good example where the bike can simulate something like a ride, or even just a bike. These experiences, which are closer to the real world, appeal to the less “game-oriented” users.
Whichever way you choose to experience fitness in VR, we know weight loss is real in VR. If you want to get real physical results, you have to give up the idea that VR is too goofy for you. This mentality can defeat your mission before it even begins.
Myth: wearing VR is embarrassing
Image credit: STRIVR
We’ve looked at this before, but it keeps happening because a lot of people think that wearing a headset for exercise is very clunky. “You want me to put something on my head?” is a thought that comes up for some. This stigma can be easily overcome by simply trying on the headset to see how it fits, then turning on a cool experience like Tilt Brush so they can forget about the embarrassment.
Vive and Oculus have put a lot of engineering effort into creating attractive and modern looking headsets. The Vive is a bit cumbersome for prolonged use, but it’s a great peripheral. The tracking stations for both take up little space in your home and guests would almost never know they existed.
Stanford uses STRIVR to upgrade their coaching program with a setup similar to their home. The players walk through the games with other athletes and coaches while the coaches can analyze where the athletes are looking and what they’re reacting to to teach them how to see the game differently. Standford teams use VR with success. Why aren’t you?
Fact: calorie loss in VR is real
Credit to: Life Fitness / VirZOOM
Tim Donahey’s routine shows what is possible when you think outside the box about VR games and use them as fitness tools. Look for ways to turn regular games into fitness experiences, such as: For example, more squats or consistent play that requires you to get up from the couch.
Will Brierly’s Weight Loss in VirZOOM shows us that VR helps us gain experiences that keep us coming back, and provides health benefits that are real and permanent. Try different games and consider Viveport (HTC’s subscription service) if you can access them on the Vive.
Don’t forget that many VR titles are being sold as Early Access. This means that they are still in the development phase and will receive many updates over the course of a development schedule. Don’t discount early access titles, some of the best active VR games have taken their big hiatus when they were discovered by fans online.
Fact: VR has a huge impact on brain health
We appreciate that VR stimulates innovation and dialogue about mental and physical health. Working at the desk and playing games can contribute to a long time spent at the desk or on the couch and in the long run can be just as unhealthy as smoking cigarettes. The fact is that VR helps improve brain health in a number of ways.
VR can help Parkinson’s patients regain balance, build brain plasticity that helps us remember skills that have been lost or stolen from us due to illness or age, and even in assessing head injuries help.
VR is also becoming a cost-effective and helpful tool in hospitals, with mobile VR systems enabling more patients to experience new worlds with just a smartphone and a mobile headset. More and more research shows that some patients either do not need medication or use less of it when VR is implemented.
Fact: VR helps athletes recover
VR also offers an important leap forward in physical recovery. With the motion area, VRPhysio can create simulations that adapt to a user when they move Perform simple tasks that are gamified. Each task expands the user’s capabilities by a small amount, which is enough for a measurable improvement. One advantage is that the user sees the task done every time and notices improvements in pain or discomfort.
VR meditation apps also help on days when we need more rest, relaxation or to improve the health of our body and brain after strenuous training sessions. Viewing soothing sounds and sights in 360 helps VR users get the most out of each day with true relaxation.
Myth: VR is dangerous or addicting
There is next to no evidence to suggest anything seriously dangerous in VR. The occasional trip happens to everyone, but turning on a TV because you haven’t activated your borders or your guard system is completely avoidable.
When using VR, practice safety first:
- VR-safe your room
- First, discover virtual boundaries in a relaxed environment
- Play with a partner or use the buddy system
- Practice first class cable management
- Use a rug to keep in touch with your space
Let’s talk about what it’s like after VR after your senses have been heavily stimulated for a short or long time. VR is extremely immersive. So imagine how you might feel walking in and out of a sensory deprivation tank or quiet room.
Emerging from VR can make everything in the real world appear less intense or more intense, depending on the person. For some people, their eyes just need to adjust, or they need to sit down for a minute. In either case, these sensations are short-lived.
Myth: VR Fitness is a one-stop solution
Like real fitness, we also need to practice good eating habits. Cut the fast food and the Starbucks will run (even if it’s double star day). If you do this first, VR will lead you to permanent improvements that your friends will find effortless.
Combine VR with the gym for well-rounded fitness sessions. Do you need a personal trainer? Do you want better shape? You can go to a gym and trainer for bespoke workouts, but it’s very likely that VR technology will pop up at local fitness centers. Black Box VR and VirZOOM are two fitness equipment companies that are becoming an integral part of selected fitness studios.
Finally, research new games because this is the only way you can play consistently. The thrill of combat is great and we will recommend it to anyone who listens to us, but there are other exercise-intensive VR games out there too. Fortunately, our VR Fitness Insider Apple and Android apps keep you updated on new game releases every week. You can also check out the Virtual Reality Institute of Health and Exercise for accurate calorie burn numbers and intensity comparisons.
Final thoughts
Taking control of your health through challenging excuses (myths) is a powerful step in helping you see VR as a legitimate workout that gets results. Virtual reality can help you change the way you think about fitness as a fun activity that encourages more exercise and gets you out of your comfort zone.
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