How Real Is Unreal?

Virtual Reality and the Impact of Visual Imagery on the Experience of Exercise-Induced Pain
  • Maria Matsangidou
  • Chee Siang Ang
  • Alexis R. Mauger
  • Boris Otkhmezuri
  • Luma Tabbaa
Conference paper
First Online:
Part of the Lecture Notes in Computer Science book series (LNCS, volume 10516)

Abstract

As a consequence of prolonged muscle contraction, acute pain arises during exercise due to a build-up of noxious biochemicals in and around the muscle. Specific visual cues, e.g., the size of the object in weight lifting exercises, may reduce acute pain experienced during exercise. In this study, we examined how Virtual Reality (VR) can facilitate this “material-weight illusion”, influencing perception of task difficulty, which may reduce perceived pain. We found that when vision understated the real weight, the time to exhaustion was 2 min longer. Furthermore, participants’ heart rate was significantly lower by 5-7 bpm in the understated session. We concluded that visual-proprioceptive information modulated the individual’s willingness to continue to exercise for longer, primarily by reducing the intensity of negative perceptions of pain and effort associated with exercise. This result could inform the design of VR aimed at increasing the level of physical activity and thus a healthier lifestyle.

Keywords

Pain Exercise Virtual reality Material-Weight illusions Body representation 
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Copyright information

© IFIP International Federation for Information Processing 2017

Authors and Affiliations

  • Maria Matsangidou
    • 1
  • Chee Siang Ang
    • 1
  • Alexis R. Mauger
    • 2
  • Boris Otkhmezuri
    • 1
  • Luma Tabbaa
    • 1
  1. 1.Intelligent Interactions Research Group, Department of Engineering and Digital ArtsUniversity of KentCanterburyUK
  2. 2.Endurance Research Group, School of Sport and Exercise SciencesUniversity of KentChathamUK

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