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Assisting home-based resistance training for normo- and pre-hypertensive individuals using ambient light and movement sonification
ABSTRACT
Background:
Physical exercise is an effective lifestyle intervention to improve blood pressure. While aerobic sports can be performed anywhere, resistance training is traditionally done at the gym, which hypertensive individuals are not known to attend, and in addition is associated with risks.
Objective:
A sensor-based system that guides resistance exercise through ambient lighting and sonification (A/S) feedback was evaluated in a home setting in 37 normo- and pre-hypertensive study participants.
Methods:
Participants took parts in a 1.5 hr exercise session in which they tested the system as well as a control condition (i.e. no feedback) and a reference condition (i.e. verbal feedback through human tele-coach). The system was evaluated on improving exercise form (range of motion, timing and breathing patterns) as well as psychophysiological experience (perceived exertion, attentional focus, competence and motivation).
Results:
A/S feedback was significantly better than control for concentric (2.48 s, p < 0.001) and eccentric (2.92, p < 0.001) contraction times, concentric range of motion consistency (s.d. of 15.64 cm vs 17.94 cm, p < 0.001) and for perceived exertion (3.37±0.78 vs 3.64±0.76, p < 0.001). However, A/S feedback did not outperform verbal feedback on any of these measures. Breathing technique was best in the control condition (i.e. without any feedback). Participants did not show more positive changes in perceived competence with A/S feedback or verbal feedback.
Conclusions:
The system seemed improve resistance exercise performance and perception in comparison to control but did not outperform a human tele-coach. Further research is warranted to improve breathing guidance.
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