Feasibility of Virtual Reality Exercises at Home for Post-COVID-19 Condition: Cohort Study.
Tjitske Groenveld, Retze Achttien, Merlijn Smits and 4 others
PMID 35858254WHAT IT FOUND
Most patients with long COVID found home virtual reality exercises acceptable and usable.
They used them for about 95 to 115 minutes weekly. Dizziness was a common side effect. Improvements in physical function were seen, but the study design cannot prove the exercises caused them.
Key findings
01The median frequency of virtual reality use was 3 to 4.5 times a week for 95 to 115 minutes per week.
02Thirty-three of 47 patients reported virtual reality-related adverse events at least once, with dizziness being the most frequent.
03Significant improvements were found in the 6-Minute Walk Test, grip strength, 30-Second Chair to Stand Test, fatigue scores, and patient-specific complaints.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTsWhat it means for SLPs
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What it does not show
The study had no control group, so it is impossible to tell if the improvements were due to the virtual reality exercises or the natural course of recovery. The sample size was small, and no power calculation was performed. The study was conducted during the pandemic with social distancing, which may have influenced patients' appreciation of home-based care. There was no telerehabilitation or remote monitoring, and support was provided by the research team rather than routine clinical staff. Data collection relied on patient diaries, which had missing entries, and automated tracking had technical issues. The physiotherapists involved had specialized training in psychosomatic physiotherapy, which may not reflect typical practice.
Declared interests
The study was conducted in collaboration with SyncVR Medical and NeuroReality, the companies that provided the virtual reality applications. The authors do not declare any other conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the improvements in physical function as proof that virtual reality exercises are effective. The study was a single-arm feasibility trial with no control group, so the natural recovery of patients or the effect of usual care could account for the changes. Additionally, the high rate of adverse events like dizziness suggests it is not suitable for all patients.