We’ve heard of distance learning and even distance training, but now a Michigan State University study suggests there is a benefit to virtually training to go the distance. The study suggests that the presence of a moderately more capable virtual partner can significantly boost the motivation – by as much as 100 percent – to stick with an exercise program.
Essentially this is akin to having a friend who continually pushes you, and the research out of Michigan State University’s Department of Kinesiology shows women taking part in cycling exercises exercised twice as long when working with a virtual partner, results the authors said can be used to help people meet physical activity recommendations.
The findings, which are the work by Brandon Irwin and his team were recently published in the journals Annals of Behavioral Medicine, suggested that for many people, lack of motivation is a barrier to achieving both the recommended amount and intensity of exercise. Using the principles of group exercise, which is known to increase people’s motivation to stick to an exercise program, the researchers investigated whether a “virtually present” partner would influence participants’ motivation to exercise longer.
“Being able to more than double one’s performance is a substantial gain for those trying to increase their physical activity,” Irwin said. “These results are encouraging and suggest the gains we observed over six hour-long sessions could be sustained on a longer-term program of exercise.”
In other words training with a buddy is the key to staying motivated but that buddy doesn’t need to be a real person.