Is engagement higher for VR fitness than via a mobile app?

Are you tired of the same old boring fitness routine? Are you looking for something new and exciting to keep you motivated? Well hello VR fitness games!

That's right, virtual reality and also mixed reality is taking the fitness world by storm, and for good reason. Studies have shown that engagement is significantly higher using VR fitness games than with fitness through a mobile app. But why is that?

Let's dive in and find out.

Fitness and immersion

Firstly, let's talk about the immersive and interactive nature of VR fitness games. When you put on a VR headset, you're transported to a whole new world where you can interact with your surroundings and feel like you're actually there. It's like being in a video game, except you're the one in control. This level of immersion simply can't be replicated with a mobile app. I mean, sure, you could try to pretend you're running through a forest while staring at your phone, but it's just not the same.

Community

Let's not forget about the social aspect of VR fitness. Many VR fitness programs offer online communities where you can connect with other like-minded fitness enthusiasts. Then there is the chance to play or compete with friends in multiplayer mode.

So, a virtual gym, but without the grotty showers and dirty equipment, and certainly no creepy locker room sweat-monsters!  You can share your progress, get tips and advice, and there is the chance to play or compete with friends in multiplayer mode.

It's like having a workout buddy, except you don't have to worry about them flaking out on you.

Legible dashboards and data

But perhaps the biggest advantage of VR fitness over fitness through a mobile app is the real-time, full size, floor to virtual ceiling progress tracking dashboards.

With VR fitness, you can see your progress in real-time, which can be a huge motivator.

It's like a video game where you can see how many points you're racking up, except instead of points, it's calories burned and muscles worked. And let's be honest, who doesn't love a good progress bar? Watching that little bar fill up right in front of you in full size is like getting a gold star for being a good little fitness enthusiast.

The future is now

So, there you have it. VR fitness is the way of the future, and for good reason. The immersion, social aspect, and real-time progress tracking make it a more engaging and effective way to get fit.

Plus, it's just plain fun. So, if you're tired of the same old boring workout routine, why not give VR fitness a try?

Who knows, you might just become the next virtual fitness superstar!


Studies have indeed shown that engagement is higher with VR fitness compared to fitness through a mobile app.

Source:

The Use of Virtual Reality to Influence Motivation, Affect, Enjoyment, and Engagement During Exercise: A Scoping Review
Many adults are physically inactive. While the reasons are complex, inactivity is, in part, influenced by the presence of negative feelings and low enjoyment during exercise. While virtual reality (VR) has been proposed as a way to improve engagement with exercise (e.g., choosing to undertake exerci…

Check our other articles on VR Fitness below..

Virtual Reality Fitness
This is a selection of blogs about virtual reality fitness, the blogs inform the reader about all types of fitness, and the benefits of working out in VR