The Virtual Reality Therapy as a Pulmonary Rehabilitation Supporting Method

"Three weeks of pulmonary rehabilitation conducted in an outpatient care facility:~* 5- time a week for 30 minutes a specific respiratory exercises- relaxation exercises for breathing muscles, exercises to increase breathing, prolonged exhalation exercise, chest percussion~* 5- time a week for 20-30 min training on a cycle ergometer - until the Heart Rate reaches 60% of the HRmax~* 5- time a week for 30 minutes a fitness and respiratory exercises - coordination and balance exercises, stretching exercises~* relaxation by Schultz Autogenic Training. The technique involves the daily practice of sessions that last around 15 minutes. During each session, the practitioner repeats a set of visualisations that induce a state of relaxation."

"8 sessions of VR therapy (each of them 20 minutes long). As a virtual reality source, VR Tier One device (Stolgraf®) were used. Thanks to using head mounted display and the phenomenon of total immersion VR therapy provides an intense visual, auditory and kinesthetic stimulation. It can have a calming and mood-improving effect or help the patients recognize their psychological resources and motivate to the rehabilitation process. In the virtual therapeutic garden there are a rich set of symbols and metaphors based on Ericksonian Psychotherapy approach. The most important is the Garden of Revival which symbolizes the patient's health. It used to be full of life and energy, now it is neglected, requires work to be revived. In the therapeutic process day by day, the therapist tells the patient a symbolic story about his/her situation.~By performing tasks in the virtual garden, the patient becomes an active participant of the therapeutic process and sees the effects his/her work."