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Purpose: Wearable biometric monitoring devices (WBMD) show promise as a cutting edge means to improve health and prevent disease through increasing accountability. By regularly providing real-time quantitative data regarding activity, sleep quality, and recovery, users may become more aware of the impact that their lifestyle has on their health. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy of a biometric tracking ring on improving sleep quality and increasing physical fitness over a one-year period.Methods: Fifty-six participants received a biometric tracking ring and were placed in one of two groups. One group received a 3-month interactive behavioral modification intervention (INT) that was delivered virtually via a smartphone app with guided text message feedback (GTF). The other received a 3-month non-directive wellness education control (CON). After three months, the INT group was divided into a long-term feedback group (LT-GTF) that continued to receive GTF for another nine months or short-term feedback group (ST-GTF) that stopped receiving GTF. Weight, body composition, and VO2max were assessed at baseline, 3months, and 12months for all participants and additionally at 6 and 9months for the ST-GTF and LT-GTF groups. To establish baseline measurements, sleep and physical activity data were collected daily over a 30-day period. Daily measurements were also conducted throughout the 12-month duration of the study.Results: Over the first 3months, the INT group had significant (p2max, body fat percentage, and heart rate variability (rMSSD HRV) compared to the CON group. Over the next 9months, the LT-GTF group continued to improve significantly (p2max, and rMSSD HRV. The ST-GTF group neither improved nor regressed over the latter 9months except for a small increase in sleep latency.Conclusion: Using a WBMD concomitantly with personalized education, encouragement, and feedback, elicits greater change than using a WBMD alone. Additionally, the improvements achieved from a short duration of personalized coaching are largely maintained with the continued use of a WBMD.

BACKGROUND The intersection of games and exercise has sparked the growth of novel training systems with the potential to promote quality physical activity. Innovations in Immersive Virtual Reality (IVR) have propelled “exergaming” to the forefront of the fitness landscape. Researchers have yet to fully explore the physiological and metabolic efficacy and applications of the immersive environment and interactive programming. OBJECTIVE This study aimed to measure metabolic (i.e., energy expenditure (EE)) and physiological (i.e., heart rate (HR)) demands and subjective fatigue and enjoyment scores during a signature 30-minute IVR adaptive cable resistance exergaming session. METHODS Fourteen healthy, college-aged individuals (7 females) were initially acquainted with the equipment and acclimated to the virtual reality and gameplay dynamics. Participants then completed a signature 30-minute exergaming session using an IVR adaptive cable resistance system (Black Box VR ®) that incorporated chest press, squat, row, lat pulldown, overhead press, and stiff leg deadlift. During the session, a portable metabolic gas exchange analysis system assessed energy expenditure by indirect calorimetry and a chest-worn monitor captured heart rate. Immediately following the session, participants completed questionnaires including the Borg scale for Rating of Perceived Exertion (RPE), the Physical Activity Enjoyment Scale (PACES), and the Simulator Sickness Questionnaire (SSQ). RESULTS EE was greater in males compared to females in terms of kcal/min (P = 0.001), total kcal (P = 0.001), and metabolic equivalents (P = 0.029). Females demonstrated a higher average HR (P = 0.020) and HR as a percentage of theoretical HRmax (P = 0.018). The overall mean metabolic equivalent (MET) during the session was 12.9 (0.5). Men achieved greater volume of total weight lifted during the session (P < 0.001) and with chest press (P = 0.005), overhead press (P = 0.001), stiff-leg deadlift (P = 0.002), and squat (P = 0.015). For the questionnaires, the mean (SD) of RPE, PACES and SSQ was 14 (1), 4.31 (0.36) and 24.04 (24.13), respectively. CONCLUSIONS IVR exergaming with resistance cable training elicits substantial EE and very high physiological demand while attenuating perceived psychological and physical fatigue. Further investigations of IVR utility should explore nuanced muscle recruitment patterns during training and long-term regimen adherence.