The Use of a Home Exercise Program Based on a Computer System in Patients With Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease

In Brief PURPOSE: To test the effectiveness of a home exercise program based on a user-friendly, computer system, the Nintendo Wii Fit. METHODS: In this longitudinal study, 25 clinically stable patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease began a 6-week nonintervention (baseline) period followed by 12 weeks of Wii exercise training at home. Patients were instructed to exercise 5 or more days per week. Exercise capacity, health status, and dyspnea were evaluated after home exercise training. RESULTS: Evaluable data were available in 20 patients after home exercise training; their force expiratory volume in 1 second was 45 ± 16%. Following 12 weeks of Wii exercise training, the Endurance Shuttle Walk Test increased by 131 ± 183 seconds over the baseline determination (P = .005). Significant improvements were also noted in arm-lift and sit-to-stand repetitions, the total score, and the emotion dimension of the Chronic Respiratory Questionnaire. Men had significantly greater increases in the Endurance Shuttle Walk Test than women, although their self-reported exercise durations were similar. There were no significant adverse outcomes. CONCLUSION: This study suggests that 12 weeks of regular, home exercise based on an interactive entertainment computer system can lead to positive short-term outcomes. The purpose of this study was to test the effectiveness of a home exercise program based on a user-friendly computer system. Twenty-five patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease received 12 weeks of exercise training at home. This study suggests that regular home exercise based on an interactive entertainment computer system can lead to positive short-term outcomes.