Get Better Workout Results With A Virtual Partner

Is your workout motivation gone and has your best friend boged out on you?  Don’t freak out about slipping on that swim suit, there is a solution.

Recent research from Michigan State University revealed that working out with a virtual partner can improve you exercise motivation during exercise.

The study led by Deborah Feltz, MSU’s chairperson of the Department of Kinesiology, is the first to research the Kohler effect on motivation in health video games. 

Feltz’s research supported the Kohler effect theory that inferior team members perform better in a group than they would by themselves.  Another reason besides the accountability factor as to why social support is a key ingredient to the success of any exercise and nutrition program.

The study suggested that working out with a virtually present (through an Eye Toy camera and PlayStation 2) superior partner improved motivation on exercise game tasks by inspiring the participants to workout harder, longer and more frequently. 

Here’s an example, the plank (strengthens the core abdominal muscles) exercise was used for nearly all of the 200 subjects.  Results showed that those who exercised with a more capable virtual partner performed significantly better than those who worked out without.  In fact they were able to hold a plank up to 24% longer!  That can make a big difference in results.

Other benefits of exercising with a virtual partner are:

• Removes social anxiety associated with working out at a gym or fitness center.
• Eliminates the excuse of having to travel to a club.  Virtual partners allow you to work out in the comfort of your own home.
• Saves money on a membership.
• The Virtual Coach or computer game partner pushes and motivates.

I think this news is fantastic because it proves that there are options to get the desired results that often go by the wayside when our motivation goes south.  Technology offers options that we've never had before.  And what better way to do it than to enlist a little help of your coach or video game workout partner.

What are your thoughts?  Ever worked out with a WIIFit, Play Station  or Live Video Virtual Coach? Did it improve your workouts and results?