International journal of chronic obstructive pulmonary diseaseFeb 6, 2020

Virtual Reality Therapy for Lung Disease Patients: A Controlled Trial

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Updated Apr 5, 2026

Abstract

The ET+VR group outperformed the ET group in multiple fitness tests, including a significant improvement in the 6-minute walk test (p<0.011).

A total of 106 patients with COPD participated in a 2-week rehabilitation program divided into three groups: traditional exercise training (ET), exercise training with virtual reality (ET+VR), and virtual reality only (VR).
The ET+VR group demonstrated superior performance in the Arm Curl, Chair stand, Back scratch, Chair sit and reach, Up and go, and 6-min walk test compared to the ET group.
The VR group showed better results than the ET group in the Arm Curl, Chair stand, and 6-min walk test.
The findings indicate that incorporating virtual reality into pulmonary rehabilitation may enhance physical fitness outcomes for patients with COPD.

Simplified

PURPOSE: This study compared the effects of inpatient-based rehabilitation program of patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) using non-immersive virtual reality (VR) training with a traditional pulmonary rehabilitation program. The aims of this study were to determine 1) whether rehabilitation featuring both VR as well as exercise training provides benefits over exercise training (ET) alone and 2) whether rehabilitation featuring VR training instead of exercise training provides equivalent benefits.

PATIENTS AND METHODS: The study recruited 106 patients with COPD to a 2-week high-intensity, five times a week intervention. Randomized into three groups, 34 patients participated in a traditional pulmonary rehabilitation program including endurance exercise training (ET), 38 patients participated in traditional pulmonary rehabilitation, including both endurance exercise training and virtual reality training (ET+VR) and 34 patients participated in pulmonary rehabilitation program including virtual reality training but no endurance exercise training (VR). The traditional pulmonary rehabilitation program consisted of fitness exercises, resistance respiratory muscle and relaxation training. Xbox 360and KinectAdventures software were used for the VR training of lower and upper body strength, endurance, trunk control and dynamic balance. Comparison of the changes in the Senior Fitness Test was the primary outcome. Analysis was performed using linear mixed-effects models. ® ®

RESULTS: The comparison between ET and ET+VR groups showed that ET+VR group was superior to ET group in Arm Curl (p<0.003), Chair stand (p<0.008), Back scratch (p<0.002), Chair sit and reach (p<0.001), Up and go (p<0.000), 6-min walk test (p<0.011). Whereas, the comparison between ET and VR groups showed that VR group was superior to ET group in Arm Curl (p<0.000), Chair stand (p<0.001), 6-min walk test (p<0.031).

CONCLUSION: Results suggest that pulmonary rehabilitation program supplemented with VR training is beneficial intervention to improve physical fitness in patients with COPD.

Key numbers

1.65 (±0.76)

Improvement in Arm Curl (ET+VR vs. ET)

Change in repetitions from baseline to post-rehabilitation

3.29 (±0.65)

Improvement in 6-min walk test (VR vs. ET)

Difference in meters walked post-rehabilitation

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Virtual Reality Therapy for Lung Disease Patients: A Controlled Trial

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