Effects of exergaming in postmenopausal women with high cardiovascular risk: A randomized controlled trial

OBJECTIVE: Recently, exergames have been used an exercise modality as aerobic fitness activities. However, evidence of its effectiveness on cardiovascular (CV)‐related risk factors remain unclear. HYPOTHESIS: We evaluate the effects of exergaming on CV‐related risk factors compared with traditional aerobic exercise in high CV risk patients. METHODS: Sixty‐five postmenopausal women with high CV risk were randomized among exergame (n = 22), treadmill (n = 22), and control (n = 21) groups. The exergame group was engaged in the running‐based exergame using Exer Heart and the treadmill group walked or jogged on a treadmill. Cardiorespiratory fitness, flow‐mediated dilation, endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs), epicardial fat thickness, metabolic parameters, and anthropometric parameters were measured in patients before and 12 weeks after the training. RESULTS: Exergaming significantly improved VO(2) peak (P < .001; different from control, P < .05), flow‐mediated dilation (P < .001; different from control, P < .05), EPCs (CD34/CD117(+), P < .01). Treadmill exercise was effective at improving VO(2) peak (P < .01; different from control, P < .05), flow‐mediated dilation (P < .05), EPCs (CD34/CD117(+), P < .01; different from control P < .05). Epicardial fat thickness decreased after both exercise programs (exergame, P < .01; treadmill, P < .01; no different from control). CONCLUSION: Exergaming showed similar effects to traditional aerobic exercise in improving cardiorespiratory fitness and endothelial function in postmenopausal women with high CV risk. These findings suggest that the exergames may serve as an alternative to conventional aerobic exercises for prevention and treatment in high CV risk patients.