Virtual Reality in COPD Exacerbation

Virtual Reality in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: Randomized Contolled Trial

In addition to conventional pulmonary rehabilitation, virtual reality will be applied during the hospitalization period of individuals hospitalized for COPD exacerbation. It is aimed to get more efficiency from the interventions in this short time.

Subjects with COPD exacerbation will be divided two groups. Group-1 will exercise with a bicycle ergometer until fatigue in addition to pulmonary rehabilitation. Group-2 will do the same exercises. Subjects in Group-2 will use virtual reality simulation, which is designed as cycling in the forest while cycling. Treatment will continue until discharge. CAT score, mMRC dyspnea score, hospital anxiety and depression score and London chest daily living activity score will be examined before and after treatment.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Individuals who are in COPD exacerbation period, FEV1 <70%, GOLD 2-3 spirometric stage, Hodkinson mental test score > 6 and who want to participate in the study voluntarily will be included in the study.

Exclusion Criteria:

• If there is respiratory disease considered more significant than COPD (bronchiectasis, lung cancer requiring active therapy, or asthma), Heart failure New York Heart Association (NYHA) stage 3-4, Significant hemoptysis, surgical or non-surgical lung volume in the past 6 months Individuals with reduction procedures, Lung transplantation or pneumonectomy surgery in the last 6 months, pulmonary embolism or pulmonary edema, acute myocardial infarction, acute heart failure, vertigo, epilepsy and visual impairment will be excluded from the study.