MedBike: Virtual Reality for Remote Cardiac Rehabilitation

The aim of this study was to assess the efficacy of virtual reality (VR)-enhanced cardiac rehabilitation (CR) in reducing the intensity of depression and anxiety symptoms in patients undergoing phase II of CR in ambulatory conditions. One hundred participants (mean age 65.7 years) were divided randomly into two groups. Both groups took part in eight sessions of standard CR (three times per week). The experimental group was additionally supported by eight sessions of VR therapy using the VR TierOne device and the control group by eight sessions of Schultz Autogenic Training. The Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS) was used as the primary outcome measure. The Perception of Stress Questionnaire was used as the secondary outcome measure. The data from 77 participants were subject to analysis. Post-intervention, in the experimental group, the overall HADS score was statistically significantly reduced by 13.5%, HADS-Depression by 20.8%, and the general stress level by 12.8% (p < 0.05). In the control group, the scores of the HADS, HADS-Anxiety and the general stress level were statistically significantly higher, by 4.8%, 6.5%, and 4.9%, respectively. VR-enhanced CR for individuals with cardiovascular disease reduced the level of anxiety and depression symptoms compared to standard CR.

Download Full-text

Effect of a Virtual Reality-enhanced Exercise and Education Intervention on Patient Engagement and Learning in Cardiac Rehabilitation: Randomized Controlled Trial (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.23882 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Victoria Vavala ◽

Daniel Graves ◽

Shannon Ames ◽

Pavitra Krishnamani

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Cardiac Rehabilitation ◽

Patient Adherence ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Intervention Group ◽

Standard Of Care ◽

Final Visit ◽

Control Group ◽

Satisfaction With Treatment ◽

And Control

BACKGROUND Cardiac rehabilitation is clinically proven to reduce morbidity and mortality, but many patients do not attend treatment. Those who do attend frequently do not finish their full course of treatment. This is greatly influenced by socioeconomic factors but is also due to patients’ lack of understanding on the importance of their care and a lack of motivation to maintain attendance. OBJECTIVE The goal of this study was to explore the potential benefits of virtual reality (VR) walking trails within cardiac rehabilitation treatment, specifically on patient education retention, satisfaction with treatment, and overall attendance of treatment sessions. METHODS New cardiac rehabilitation patients were enrolled and randomized on a rolling basis to either control or intervention groups. Intervention patients completed time on the treadmill with VR walking trails, including audio recorded education; control patients completed standard of care therapy. Both groups were assisted by nursing staff for all treatment sessions. Primary outcomes were determined by assessing six-minute-walk-test (6MWT) improvement. Additionally, secondary outcomes of patients’ cardiac knowledge and satisfaction were assessed via computer-based questionnaire; patient adherence to recommended number of sessions was also monitored. Cardiac knowledge assessment included a pre-rehabilitation education quiz, the same quiz repeated at their final visit, and again at a 2-month follow up. The satisfaction questionnaire was completed at their final visit. RESULTS Between January 2018 and May 2019, 72 patients were enrolled, 41 to the intervention group and 31 to the control group. Based upon the results of the pre- and post-rehabilitation 6MWT, no differences were seen between intervention and control groups (P = .23). No statistical differences were seen between groups on education (P = .50) or satisfaction (P = .30) at any time point. The control group had statistically more favorable rates of attendance, both by risk group (P = .024) and by completion of minimum sessions (P = .046), but no correlation was seen between study group and reason for ending treatment. CONCLUSIONS While no improvements were seen in the VR intervention group over the control group, it is worth noting that limitations in the study design may have influenced these outcomes, not the medium itself. Furthermore, qualitative information suggests that patients may have indeed enjoyed their experience with VR in a way that the quantitative data in this study may not have captured. Suggested within this paper are further considerations of how and when VR should be applied to cardiac rehabilitation. CLINICALTRIAL ClinicalTrials.gov NCT03945201

Download Full-text

Virtual Reality and Video Games in Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs

Case Medical Research ◽

10.31525/ct1-nct04166422 ◽

2019 ◽

Author(s):

Keyword(s):

Virtual Reality ◽

Video Games ◽

Cardiac Rehabilitation ◽

Rehabilitation Programs

Download Full-text

Immersive Virtual Reality Therapy As a Support for Cardiac Rehabilitation: A Pilot Randomized-Controlled Trial

Cyberpsychology Behavior and Social Networking ◽

10.1089/cyber.2020.0297 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Joanna Szczepańska-Gieracha ◽

Sandra Jóźwik ◽

Błażej Cieślik ◽

Justyna Mazurek ◽

Robert Gajda

Keyword(s):

Randomized Controlled Trial ◽

Virtual Reality ◽

Cardiac Rehabilitation ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Reality Therapy ◽

Immersive Virtual Reality ◽

Virtual Reality Therapy ◽

Randomized Controlled ◽

Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Download Full-text

Effects of Virtual Reality on Cardiac Rehabilitation Programs for Ischemic Heart Disease: A Randomized Pilot Clinical Trial

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17228472 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (22) ◽

pp. 8472

Author(s):

Sara García-Bravo ◽

Roberto Cano-de-la-Cuerda ◽

Joaquín Domínguez-Paniagua ◽

Raquel Campuzano-Ruiz ◽

Estrella Barreñada-Copete ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Trial ◽

Virtual Reality ◽

Heart Disease ◽

Ischemic Heart Disease ◽

Cardiac Rehabilitation ◽

Beck Depression Inventory ◽

Phase Ii ◽

Ischemic Heart ◽

Metabolic Equivalents ◽

Sf 36

(1) Background: The aim of the present study was to determine the effects of a virtual reality (VR) program, as a complementary tool to a conventional cardiac rehabilitation (CR) program in phase II of patients with ischemic heart disease compared to a conventional treatment group. (2) Methods: A single blinded randomized clinical trial was conducted. The patients were randomized to a control group (CG) or an experimental group (EG). The EG carried out a training based on VR of aerobic exercise using the XBOX ONE console and Kinect sensor. Ergometry, metabolic equivalents (METS), Functional Independence Measure, 6-min walk test (6MWT), the Short Form Health Survey-36 Questionnaire (SF-36), the Beck Depression Inventory-II, and the degree of satisfaction and adherence to treatment were used as outcome measures. (3) Results: Our results showed no statistically significant differences between the two groups. Statistical analysis within group for the EG showed statistically significant changes in the variables HR final ergometry, ergometry minutes, % ergometry, METS, final HR 6MWT, 6MWT distance, 6MWT number of laps, and for the SF-36 and Beck Depression Inventory-II. (4) Conclusion: A VR-based video game program, as an adjunct tool to a CR program, showed improvements in ergometry, METS, resistance to fatigue and health-related quality of life with excellent adherence and satisfaction perceived by patients with ischemic heart disease in phase II.

Download Full-text