Ready, Steady, Go: Professionally Designed Virtual Reality Physical Training Sessions During the COVID-19 Pandemic

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to thoroughly evaluate 15-minute fitness training sessions and to assess the extent of the motivation of participants to participate in such sessions in virtual reality (VR) environments. The analysis was carried out using qualitative interviews. We recruited five participants, both male and female, who differed in their VR experiences and in the intensity of their weekly physical activity. The results show that people who had already experienced VR technology were the most willing to participate in VR training sessions. A key perceived advantage of VR training is the presence of trainers, which seemed to strongly motivate participants. To increase motivation to train, it is necessary to: explain the reasons for performing specific exercises; adjust the order of exercises during training sessions; and utilise the capabilities of VR environments. This article presents solutions that serve to enhance the attractiveness of VR fitness training.