Pilot project: Feasibility of high-intensity active video game with COPD patients. Tools for home rehabilitation

Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a highly prevalent condition with a deterioration of the quality of life, physical function, and important morbidity. Exercise has been shown that it can improve physical capacity and a better quality of life. The objective was to observe the feasibility of using a new gameplay exergame approach safely and easily with this population. Furthermore, quadricep saturation was used to observe if this measurement can become a useful marker for the medical team during home rehabilitation. A total of 14 patients (8 men 69 ± 6 years, 6 women, 74 ± 6 years), with a moderate to severe COPD diagnostic performed 4 mini-games (Shape-Up, Ubisoft) adapted for their condition. Gaming sessions of 10 to 15 min duration were composed of 4 games of about 1.5 min each separated by rest. The average and peak minute ventilation, and peak METs were respectively: stationary knee lifting: 25.3±6.8, 33.5±8.2 L/min, and 4.2±1.5 METs; Target punching: 23.1±5.6, 31.8±9.8 L/min, and 3.7±1.2 METs; Core twisting: 22.2±7.3, 29.2±9.9 L/min, and 3.3±1.1 METs, and chair sit to stand from a: 27.8±6.7, 36.8±11.1 L/min, and 4.4±1.1 METs. These results were compared to the %quadricep saturation (Moxy) as a possible marker during home training. The current pilot-project suggests that a gaming-based exercise program was enjoyable and provided feasible high intensity exercise as a useful possibility after pulmonary rehabilitation maintenance at home. However, the %quadricep saturation measurement was insufficient to conclude if it can be useful marker for monitoring the training intensity at home. Further investigation needs to be completed in order to observe the benefits in comparison to a traditional training program.