Integrating Virtual Reality into Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease: A Narrative Review

Neha Vyas; Ajeet Kumar Saharan; Madhu Teotia; Neha Kashyap

doi:10.15621/ijphy/2026/v13i2/2195

Authors

Neha Vyas PhD Scholar, Nims College of Physiotherapy and Occupational Therapy, Nims University, Jaipur, India. Email: nehavyas555@gmail.com
Ajeet Kumar Saharan Professor & principal, Nims College of physiotherapy and occupational Therapy, Nims University, Jaipur, India. Email: ajeetphysio@gmail.com
Madhu Teotia Assistant Professor, University of Engineering and Management, Jaipur, India. Email: madhuteotia811@gmail.com
Neha Kashyap Assistant Professor, School of Allied Health Sciences, Galgotias University, Greater Noida, India.

Abstract

Background: Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) is a progressive respiratory condition that is characterized by airway obstruction, inflammation, and impaired pulmonary function. Pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) is a well-established therapeutic intervention for COPD management. However, patient adherence to a traditional pulmonary rehabilitation program is often limited by accessibility, self-motivation, and financial constraints. Virtual Reality (VR) has emerged as an innovation that enhances PR by providing interactive, engaging, and patient-centric tailored rehabilitation experiences. This narrative review synthesizes existing evidence on the effectiveness of VR-enhanced PR in improving physical dimensions, functional mobility, pulmonary function, and health-related quality of life (HRQoL) among individuals with COPD.
Methods: A comprehensive search on databases, including PubMed, PEDro, and ScienceDirect, was conducted from January 2019 to November 2025. The review included randomized controlled trials (RCTs) that evaluated VR-based PR intervention compared to traditional PR. Inclusion criteria required studies to focus on COPD patients using VR to enhance their physical and cardiac capacity. Data extraction was performed independently, and findings were synthesized descriptively.
Results: A total of 17,052 studies were identified, and only 10 met the inclusion criteria; these included 726 participants with stable COPD. The studies incorporated VR technologies alongside traditional PR. VR-enhanced PR demonstrated improvements in exercise tolerance, functional mobility, pulmonary function, and HRQoL. Patient engagement and adherence were also reported to be higher in VR based interventions compared to traditional PR.
Conclusion: VR-enhanced PR offers an alternative to traditional pulmonary rehabilitation by providing engaging, accessible care for patients with COPD. The current evidence supports its short-term effectiveness and broader implementation.