Virtual Reality(VR) Rehabilitation in (COPD) Patients
Despite the efficacy that traditional rehabilitation program has shown in various
pulmonary diseases, that program is not available to all Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease)
COPD (patients. In the article “Virtual Reality Rehabilitation in Patients with Chronic
Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial” written by Sebastian
Rutkowski, Dove Press journal: International Journal of Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease
2020 edition. Print. The authors examined if therapy that incorporates both virtual reality (VR)
and exercise training gives benefits above exercise training alone, and whether rehabilitation that
includes (VR) training rather than just exercise training provides similar benefits. While this
article produced significant result shows that the pulmonary rehabilitation which includes (VR)
has a beneficial impact on COPD patients.
The authors used a sample -which was randomly chosen- of 120 patients with COPD from
Specialist Hospital in Głuchołazy, Poland aged between 50-70 years old and 106 patients who
completed the study. Those patients were divided into 3 groups: Endurance training (ET) group,
(VR+ET) group, (VR) group. Each group had a specific program of training and the results were
measured according to “The Senior Fitness Test” (also known as the Fullerton test) which consist
of 6 components (Arm curl, Chair stand, Back scratch, Chair sit and reach, Up and go, and 6-min
walk test (6MWT)). By using the Senior Fitness Test, the authors found that the hospitalized
patients who used (VR) rehabilitation program showed an improvement in the physical fitness in
all components.
The article was clear, appropriate, and at the same time it was a topic of interest as it
was the first study to report the results of pulmonary rehabilitation program incorporating with
(VR) techniques via Kinect system in (COPD) patients. Moreover, they cited some articles
which support their main idea. The used methods were suitable as they assist the physical
fitness from all aspects. Their way in writing was clear and simple in a scientific way as it also
explained the new terms. They used methods, materials, and a fixed exercise duration for each
group which helped to compare all 3 groups and also to prove their hypothesis. However, this
study had a lot of limitations and weak points as the participants were elderly people whose
sedentary behavior is difficult to alter without the persistent effort of experts skilled in
motivational techniques and the support of other patients in group sessions. On the other hand,
the hospital based rehabilitation program was for 2 weeks in patients with moderate to sever
(COPD) and long-period study would be beneficial for better results.
In this study the researchers managed to prove their hypothesis by using various
methods. On one hand they suggested a solution for some of the problems they faced, but on the
other hand the study had weak points and limitations so, further investigations are needed for
better results.
