Effects of a virtual nature-enhanced stationary bike on stress reduction and health promotion.

Participants in the experimental group showed improved light-intensity physical activity after the virtual nature-enhanced stationary bike program.

• The experimental group rode a stationary bike while wearing a head-mounted display headset delivering virtual nature environments.
• The intervention was 30 minutes per session, once a week for 12 weeks.
• The experimental group had 40 participants; the control group had 31 participants.
• This improvement was observed within the experimental group comparison over time.

Participants in the experimental group showed improved positive affects after the virtual nature-enhanced stationary bike program.

• Positive affect improvement was observed within the experimental group.
• The control group rode a stationary bike without any virtual reality component.
• The study was a non-randomized controlled trial conducted between September 2021 and June 2022.
• Participants were described as healthy adults.

The experimental group was associated with more favorable changes in vigorous-intensity physical activity compared to the control group.

• This was a between-group comparison favoring the virtual nature-enhanced stationary bike condition.
• The experimental group used a head-mounted display headset delivering virtual nature during stationary biking.
• The authors noted these findings should be interpreted cautiously due to baseline group differences.
• The study was non-randomized, which is a potential source of confounding.

The experimental group was associated with more favorable changes in perceived stress compared to the control group.

• Perceived stress was one of several outcomes showing between-group differences favoring the virtual reality condition.
• The intervention lasted 12 weeks with sessions of 30 minutes once per week.
• The authors interpreted this as a potential mental health benefit of virtual reality nature experiences.
• Results should be interpreted cautiously due to baseline group differences in this non-randomized design.

The experimental group was associated with more favorable changes in muscle mass and body fat compared to the control group.

• Both muscle mass and body fat showed between-group differences favoring the virtual nature-enhanced stationary bike program.
• The experimental group included 40 participants and the control group included 31 participants.
• This was a preliminary study with a non-randomized controlled trial design.
• Baseline group differences were noted as a limitation requiring cautious interpretation of all findings.

The study design was a non-randomized controlled trial with baseline group differences that limit interpretation of findings.

• Participants were assigned (not randomized) to experimental (n=40) or control (n=31) groups.
• The trial was conducted between September 2021 and June 2022.
• The authors explicitly stated findings 'should be interpreted cautiously due to baseline group differences.'
• The paper is described as a 'preliminary study.'