Virtual Reality for Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Comprehensive Review.
Melpo Pittara, Maria Matsangidou, Constantinos S Pattichis
PMID 37782529WHAT IT FOUND
This review of 32 studies suggests virtual reality can help with breathing exercises for anxiety and lung conditions.
Most participants reported feeling more relaxed and better able to control their breathing. However, the studies were small, short-term, and mixed healthy people with patients, so this is not proof that VR works as a standalone treatment.
Key findings
01The review included 32 studies, but 24 of them involved healthy individuals rather than patients with lung disease.
02Across the reviewed studies, 29 were labeled positive and 3 neutral, with no negative findings reported for VR breathing interventions.
03One study found that adding biofeedback to VR meditation did not reduce arousal more than a control placebo, suggesting biofeedback hardware may not always be necessary.
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
Heterogeneity: The 32 studies used vastly different VR systems, populations, and outcomes, making direct comparison difficult. Sample Size: Most studies were small pilots with few participants. Population: 24 of 32 studies involved healthy individuals, so findings may not apply to patients with chronic lung disease. Duration: Interventions were often short (e.g., 5-15 minutes), so long-term benefits are unknown. Quality: The review included conference papers, which may not have undergone the same rigorous peer review as journal articles.
Declared interests
The authors declared no conflicts of interest.
The easy way to misread this
Do not assume VR is a proven treatment for pulmonary rehabilitation. Most evidence comes from small studies on healthy people, not patients with lung disease, and one key study showed that adding expensive biofeedback hardware did not improve outcomes compared to a simple control.