The University of Vigo (UVigo) is participating in an innovative project that employs immersive virtual reality and therapeutic exercise to support the physical and psychological recovery of patients undergoing treatments such as bone marrow transplants. This initiative is promoted by the Galicia Sur Health Research Institute (IISGS) and the Álvaro Cunqueiro Public Hospital in Vigo.
The project aims to empower patients to take an active role in their recovery by using virtual reality to enhance their adherence to exercise during periods of isolation. It combines therapeutic physical exercise, known for its benefits on fatigue, cardiovascular health, and emotional well-being in oncology and haematology processes, with immersive virtual reality headsets. These devices help patients who have undergone bone marrow transplants or CAR-T therapy cope with the drastic loss of mobility associated with isolation, thereby accelerating their physical and psychological recovery and mitigating physical deterioration.
During their hospital stay, patients can engage with motivating and playful virtual environments through exergames, which incorporate physical activity. The initiative aims to reduce stress and anxiety, improve pain tolerance, and help patients remain physically active during their admission.
Interdisciplinary approach
This collaborative effort involves multidisciplinary teams and is led by Carmen Albo, head of the Haematology and Haemotherapy Service at Álvaro Cunqueiro and principal investigator of the IISGS Haematology and Haemotherapy group, with coordination by Pablo Campo from UVigo's HealthyFit group, also affiliated with IISGS. Campo, an expert in applying immersive virtual reality for patients with various conditions, highlights that this technology allows for a multisensory approach where patients interact with a pleasant environment that adjusts the intensity of effort in real-time, transforming physical exertion into a fun and motivating experience.
This aspect is particularly significant for patients in isolation, as it enables them to 'travel' to different places and scenarios without leaving their room, contributing to their emotional well-being during their hospital stay. Albo emphasises that engaging in physical activity is both safe and necessary during these treatments, but the uncertainty and isolation can reduce patients' adherence to conventional exercise regimens.
The project also receives support from the Galician Association of People Affected by Bone Marrow Transplants (Asotrame), ensuring that its design meets the real perceptions and needs of users, as well as input from physiotherapy, psychology, and nursing teams at the hospital. Additionally, Igalia-Free Software Consulting has facilitated the purchase of the necessary devices.
Aiming for a reference model
This pioneering project begins with a clinical trial comparing the benefits for patients undergoing cellular therapy who engage in physical activity using virtual reality against those prescribed a conventional therapeutic exercise programme during their hospital stay. The Álvaro Cunqueiro Hospital describes this programme as a 'qualitative leap' from a pioneering therapeutic exercise initiative launched in 2017, which led to the creation of an exercise guide published by the Spanish Group of Haematopoietic Transplant and Cellular Therapy (GETH-TC), currently distributed to patients across Spain. Should the clinical trial results meet expectations, the goal is for this virtual reality-based methodology to become a transferable reference model at the national level.
