Exercising With A Video Race Game Can Improve Your Brain As Well As Your Body
A clinical trial of 79 elderly people living independently in a retirement home found that watching a virtual race video, such as found in the Wii Fit, coupled with riding a stationary bicycle improved both the brain and the body. The 79 folks were divided into two groups. One rode and the other part of the 79 watched the virtual race as they peddled.
Those that both rode and watched the race video showed an improvement on the mental functioning tests given at the end of the trial. This group also showed a 23% less risk of being diagnosed with any type of cognitive decline.
Cay Anderson–Hanley, PhD, and colleagues at Union College compared the two groups who cycled on a recumbent bike three times a week for three months. This group of researchers found a large improvement on several different cognitive tests for those who peddled while watching the virtual race video. Unfortunately, for those who were not watching a video and peddling, there were no improvements.
The seniors enjoyed riding and watching the video and expressed their satisfaction while doing so. Combining the two may help other people to stick with their exercise program.
Anderson–Hanley said that it wasn’t clear from this study whether not playing other video games involving intermittent activity such as golf, bowling or tennis would provide the same benefit.
If you decide to ride a stationary bicycle and you find it boring, as many people do for good reason, get a book. It is surprising how fast the time goes by when you are deeply absorbed in reading a book. Not only does the time go by fast, you will also find yourself going through many good books.
Regular books and electronic books, such as the Kindle, are easier to read if you have a book holder on the handlebars of your bike.
Essentially, you are killing two birds with one stone by improving your brain and physical condition as you ride and read.
Stay strong, and remain passionately committed to your heart’s chosen path.