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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2020 Nov 16;17(22):8472.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17228472.

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

Sara García-Bravo  1   2 , Roberto Cano-de-la-Cuerda  3 , Joaquín Domínguez-Paniagua  4 , Raquel Campuzano-Ruiz  4 , Estrella Barreñada-Copete  4 , María Jesús López-Navas  4 , Aurora Araujo-Narváez  4 , Cristina García-Bravo  1   2   3 , Mariano Florez-Garcia  5 , Javier Botas-Rodríguez  6 , Alicia Cuesta-Gómez  3
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

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

Sara García-Bravo et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

(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.

Keywords: cardiac rehabilitation; ischemic heart disease; physical exercise; video consoles; video games; virtual reality.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Patient performing the experimental protocol.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Patient performing the experimental protocol.
Figure 3
Figure 3
Flow chart.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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