Intervention
dyspnea, COPD
COPD
A 3-week, five-times-week high-intensity pulmonary rehabilitation program was designed to compare the effectiveness of a traditional form with a VR-led, novel form of therapy. Such programs have been shown to produce clinically significant improvements in exercise capacity, dyspnea, quality of life and lung function in patients with COPD (Qualification criteria for pulmonary rehabilitation model.Cycle ergometer training was conducted at the training heart rate—which was a percentage of the achieved heart rate in the 6-minute walk test. The limits of the initial training heart rate on the cycle ergometer, varied depending on the model (model A-−90% of peak 6-minute walk heart rate, model B-−80%, model C-−70%, and model D-−20–30% increase in heart rate during exercise compared to resting heart rate). Initial work rate and increment were also adapted to the rehabilitation model:Model A−50W, 70W, 90W, 110W, 130W, 150WModel B−50W, 60W, 70W, 80W, 90W, 100WModel C−30W, 40W, 50W, 60W, 70W, 80WModel D−30WMoreover, the Virtual Park software features an automatic system of changes in training heart rate: after reaching the target heart rate in the previous training session, the work rate on the last phase was increased by 5W; if the heart rate was not reached, the final work rate was reduced by 5W. Prior to training, the therapist recorded heart rate (HR) and pulse oximeter saturation (SpOWith regard to relaxation training, patients in the control group participated in Schulz autogenic training while patients in the VR group were given guided relaxation in a virtual setting using the goggles. The time components were the same in both groups.