The Effect of Virtual Reality Exercises on Patients With Post-COVID-19 Condition

Effect of Motion-Controlled Video Games-Based Virtual Reality Exercise On Pain, Fatigue, Mood, Functional Capacity, And Quality of Life in Patients With Post-Covid-19 Condition: A Randomized Controlled Trial

This study aims to investigate (I) the effectiveness of motion-controlled video game-based VR exercises on pain, fatigue, functional capacity, mood, and quality of life in patients with PCC, and (II) to determine whether they are superior to conventional exercise.

79 individuals aged 18-65 years who were diagnosed with COVID-19 with a PCR test result in an oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal swab sample taken more than 90 days ago and who had PCC symptoms for at least eight weeks were included. Patients with PCC who had been hospitalized, had signs of pneumonia or organ failure, had suffered an acute myocardial infarction or orthopedic surgery within the last 2 years, had cardiovascular system diseases such as uncontrolled hypertension, arrhythmia, or cardiac insufficiency, had known chronic respiratory system diseases, those with conditions causing widespread pain such as fibromyalgia syndrome, those with primary any neurological system diseases, or those unable to mobilize for any reason were excluded from the study.

The same physiatrist systematically evaluated the sociodemographic data, medical history including the time elapsed since the diagnosis of COVID-19, the duration of PCC symptoms, and outcome measures (fatigue level, pain intensity, general health status, emotional state, functional capacity) through face-to-face interviews at the hospital, and recorded in a standardized form.

Inclusion Criteria:

• diagnosed with COVID-19 by polymerase chain reaction from an oropharyngeal or nasopharyngeal swab sample more than 90 days ago, and who had PCC symptoms for at least eight weeks

Exclusion Criteria:

• have been hospitalized due to COVID-19,
• have developed pneumonia or organ failure findings.
• have had an acute myocardial infarction in the last 2 years,
• have cardiovascular system disease such as uncontrolled hypertension, arrhythmia, aneurysm, cardiac failure,
• have undergone fracture or orthopedic surgery in the last 2 years,
• have a known chronic respiratory system disease,
• have widespread pain such as fibromyalgia syndrome