title: Interactive videogame as rehabilitation tool of patients with chronic respiratory diseases: preliminary results of a feasibility study.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To evaluate the effectiveness of an interactive videogame (IV) system in addition to a supervised pulmonary rehabilitation programme (PRP) in patients with chronic respiratory diseases.
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised Controlled Trial comparing standard PRP (20 patients, control group: CG), and PRP + sessions of interactive videogame-aided exercises (20 patients, experimental group: EG). Lung and respiratory muscle function, arterial blood gases, exercise capacity, dyspnoea, health status and health-related quality of life (HRQL) and emotional response were measured before and after PRP. A questionnaire on acceptability of the PRP was administered.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Exercise capacity, dyspnoea and HRQL significantly improved in both groups after the PRP, whereas the EG showed a greater improvement in six-minute walk test and transitional dyspnoea index than the CG. No difference in psychological status or acceptability of PRP was observed between the two groups.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The addition of IV training was more effective for improving some parameters of exercise tolerance and dyspnoea, although did not result in better psychological status nor it was better accepted than the standard PRP in patients with chronic respiratory diseases.
authors.affiliation: The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy; Rehabilitation Bioengineering Laboratory, Volterra, Italy. Electronic address: s.mazzoleni@sssup.it.
authors.forename: Stefano
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mazzoleni
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Bioengineering Laboratory, Volterra, Italy; Weaning and Rehabilitation Unit, Auxilium Vitae Rehabilitation Centre, Volterra, Italy.
authors.forename: Giulia
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Montagnani
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Bioengineering Laboratory, Volterra, Italy; Weaning and Rehabilitation Unit, Auxilium Vitae Rehabilitation Centre, Volterra, Italy.
authors.forename: Guido
authors.initials: G
authors.lastname: Vagheggini
authors.affiliation: The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy; Rehabilitation Bioengineering Laboratory, Volterra, Italy.
authors.forename: Lorenzo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Buono
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Bioengineering Laboratory, Volterra, Italy; Weaning and Rehabilitation Unit, Auxilium Vitae Rehabilitation Centre, Volterra, Italy.
authors.forename: Francesca
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Moretti
authors.affiliation: The BioRobotics Institute, Scuola Superiore Sant'Anna, Pisa, Italy.
authors.forename: Paolo
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Dario
authors.affiliation: Rehabilitation Bioengineering Laboratory, Volterra, Italy; Weaning and Rehabilitation Unit, Auxilium Vitae Rehabilitation Centre, Volterra, Italy.
authors.forename: Nicolino
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Ambrosino
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001784:Blood Gas Analysis; D004417:Dyspnea / Q000503:physiopathology; D005081:Exercise Therapy / Q000379:methods*; D017079:Exercise Tolerance / Q000502:physiology*; D005240:Feasibility Studies; D005541:Forced Expiratory Volume / Q000502:physiology; D006304:Health Status; D006801:Humans; D017563:Lung Diseases, Interstitial / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D008875:Middle Aged; D029424:Pulmonary Disease, Chronic Obstructive / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D011788:Quality of Life; D012120:Respiration Disorders / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000534:rehabilitation*; D012132:Respiratory Muscles / Q000503:physiopathology; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires; D014109:Total Lung Capacity / Q000502:physiology; D016896:Treatment Outcome; D018910:Video Games; D014797:Vital Capacity / Q000502:physiology
keywords: COPD; Dyspnea; Health related quality of life; Interactive videogame; Pulmonary disease; Rehabilitation