title: Activity and energy expenditure in older people playing active video games.
abstract: Tayl
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To quantify energy expenditure in older adults playing interactive video games while standing and seated, and secondarily to determine whether participants' balance status influenced the energy cost associated with active video game play.
  
  
  METHODS
  Cross-sectional study.
  
  
  METHODS
  University research center.
  
  
  METHODS
  Community-dwelling adults (N=19) aged 70.7±6.4 years.
  
  
  METHODS
  Participants played 9 active video games, each for 5 minutes, in random order. Two games (boxing and bowling) were played in both seated and standing positions.
  
  
  METHODS
  Energy expenditure was assessed using indirect calorimetry while at rest and during game play. Energy expenditure was expressed in kilojoules per minute and metabolic equivalents (METs). Balance was assessed using the mini-BESTest, the Activities-specific Balance Confidence Scale, and the Timed Up and Go (TUG).
  
  
  RESULTS
  Mean ± SD energy expenditure was significantly greater for all game conditions compared with rest (all P≤.01) and ranged from 1.46±.41 METs to 2.97±1.16 METs. There was no significant difference in energy expenditure, activity counts, or perceived exertion between equivalent games played while standing and seated. No significant correlations were observed between energy expenditure or activity counts and balance status.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Active video games provide light-intensity exercise in community-dwelling older people, whether played while seated or standing. People who are unable to stand may derive equivalent benefits from active video games played while seated. Further research is required to determine whether sustained use of active video games alters physical activity levels in community settings for this population.
authors.affiliation: School of Rehabilitation and Occupation Studies, Faculty of Health and Environmental Sciences, AUT University, Auckland, New Zealand.
authors.forename: Lynne M
authors.initials: LM
authors.lastname: Taylor
authors.forename: Ralph
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Maddison
authors.forename: Leila A
authors.initials: LA
authors.lastname: Pfaeffli
authors.forename: Jonathan C
authors.initials: JC
authors.lastname: Rawstorn
authors.forename: Nicholas
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Gant
authors.forename: Ngaire M
authors.initials: NM
authors.lastname: Kerse
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001837:Body Weights and Measures; D003430:Cross-Sectional Studies; D004734:Energy Metabolism; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D026741:Physical Therapy Modalities; D013177:Sports; D018910:Video Games