Cardiovascular and enjoyment comparisons after active videogame and running in type 1 diabetes patients: A randomized crossover trial

Background: Active videogames (AVGs) have been primarily studied in healthy individuals. To use the technology in type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1DM) patients, cardiovascular and enjoyment responses should be studied and compared with traditional exercises. Objective: To compare the effects of AVG and running exercises on cardiovascular and enjoyment responses in T1DM patients. Methods: Cardiovascular (heart rate, HR; blood pressure, BP; double product, DP; vessel diameter, VD; % endothelial function, %EF) and enjoyment levels were recorded during 3 weeks and twice per week. On the first day, patients completed baseline assessments, familiarization, and a 30-minute control session. On the second day and after 24 hours, the measurements were repeated. Patients repeated the same protocol in the second and third weeks and performed randomized active sessions. Results: T1DM patients had similar cardiovascular responses during active exercises without significant postexercise hypotension to HR, BP, and DP over time. However, VD and %EF values were higher in AVG, followed by running and rest, 30 minutes and after 24 hours (VD-AVG: 39.6 – 9.5, 48.8 – 12.3 and 56.6 – 13.9 mm; VD-running: 41.5 – 9.9, 47.4 – 10.1 and 46.4 – 12.4 mm; %EF-AVG: 9.6 – 8.5, 29.6 – 17.1 and 45.4 – 25.9%; %EF-running: 7.3 – 9.4, 14.8 – 14.1 and 26.8 – 18.9%, p < 0.05). Enjoyment was also higher in AVG compared with the running session (9.4 – 0.7 vs. 7.7 – 1.6; p < 0.05). Conclusions: AVG presented similar cardiovascular responses to running with higher endothelial and enjoyment levels.