Virtual reality protocols in cardiac rehabilitation: Systematic review

Abstract

Introduction: The development of traditional cardiac rehabilitation protocols provides great health benefits despite the spatial and functional limitations that they generate. Virtual reality systems have been the object of great interest in cardiac rehabilitation due to the benefits they provide, the motivation of patients and the reduction of time limits. Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of virtual reality systems in the application of cardiac rehabilitation programs. Method: A systematic review was carried out to evaluate the use of virtual reality systems in cardiac rehabilitation programs. The search included databases such as Scopus, Sport-Discus, PubMed-Medline, Web of Science, and Dialnet. Results: Of 280 identified articles, eight were chosen based on the inclusion criteria. A total of 872 patients were analyzed. The results changed differences in favor of virtual reality therapies, in the motivation to develop the program, reduction in hospitalization time, better levels of capacity and aerobic power markers. Conclusions: We can confirm the evidence of the application of virtual reality technologies in cardiac rehabilitation programs causing improvements in aerobic capacity, vital capacity or in the level of effort that patients with cardiac pathology endure.