Abstract:

The exergames can be defined as a technology that uses interactive games to encourage physical activity (Fogel, 2010). Due to a strong dialogue with modern society, these games have a great acceptance in the different age groups and can take many purposes, including: leisure, physical activity, obesity reduction, rehabilitation, etc., becoming a possible technological tool to be used in the school context. The aim of this study is to conduct a systematic research about the application of exergames in schools as a way of promoting physical activity for children and young people in the databases PubMed, Science Direct and Scielo, from January 2006 to October 2011. From the fifty articles found, only seven have mentioned the use of exergames acutely in the school context, and found the following benefits of this practice: the stimulation of a better quality of life through physical activity as well as the coordination, the increase of energy expenditure, improvement in visual-spatial ability. In addition, some studies were observed in the stimulation of interpersonal interaction, and a better cognitive development (improvement in attention, concentration, the decrease of reaction to time, etc.), thus suggesting the interest in fostering the promotion of physical activity through the exergame schools, aimed at this age, not only for its physical benefits, and being a playful activity, but also because of its ability to work on issues related to the daily life at school (solving problem, sharing objects, and waiting for their turn). However, our results show the need to increase the number of studies of exergames in this context, as well as the criteria (sample of the study population and time of use), thus showing that the theme is a promising field which deserves further explolt.

Keywords:

Exergames, schools, physical activity.