Do fitness gadgets really work?

The work of Katrina Lindroos, Laurie Wong and Kristy Alblas will be featured at College-wide Student Researchers' Day on March 31.

Future physical education teachers and coaches are putting the latest gadgets to the test to see whether or not they offer users real physical benefits or are just clever marketing tools. Their results will be unveiled at College-wide Student Researchers' Day at Douglas College on March 31.

One trio of students is studying the effects of Wii Fit boxing and tennis games.

"Kids are playing more video games today. If it's implied that they can get exercise at the same time, we need to know if there really are any benefits," says Katrina Lindroos, who is working with Kristy Alblas and Laurie Wong on the project.

The Wii researchers had participants play Wii Fit under three conditions - standing and instructed to play hard against another person, standing while playing a computer opponent and sitting while playing a computer opponent. Participants then walked on a treadmill at the same average heart rate as when they played on the Wii game to compare their physiological response.

In another project titled iMotivation, Becky Cadger and Elisa Maruzzo put the Nike+ Sport Kit to the test. The kit consists of a sensor, which is attached to or put inside a runner's shoe, and a receiver which is plugged in to an iPod Nano. The sensor tracks the distance, time, pace and calories burned by the runner and a voice played through the iPod gives the participant feedback during his or her run.

"Is it all marketing, or does it really help people? That's what we want to know. Anything that can help encourage people is great because it can become your own personal trainer," says Maruzzo.

The iMotivation researchers also varied the music participants - both trained and untrained runners - listened to while running to see if it impacted their performance. Participants ran three times, with music they like, hate and no music at all.

The Wii Fit and iMotivation researchers are students in the Bachelor of Physical Education and Coaching Program. The College-wide Student Researchers' Day at Douglas will feature the work of 180 students from a range of disciplines. Completed works will be showcased alongside works in progress.

Links:

Information Sessions
Bachelor of Physical Education and Coaching
The Other Press - Can the Wii really make you fit?
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