THE ROLE OF TECHNOLOGY IN PERFORMING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IN REHABILITATION PROGRAMS FOR PATIENTS WITH CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASES

Abstract

This research aimed to investigate the results of a kinetotherapy program carried out through a virtual assistant and monitored by wearables. The study includes a group of 10 patients with recomendation to enroll in a cardiovascular rehabilitation program. The investigation was carried out at the clinical Emergency Hospital ‘Bagdasar-Arseni’ between October 2020 and June 2021. The patient enrollment process was dificult in the current epidemiological context. Patients were initially evaluated using the cardiopulmonary effort test to determine if they have contraindications for effort and monitored throughout the ambulatory inhospital physiotherapy sessions (EKG, blood pressure, heart frequency, oxygen saturation). At the end of the recovery sessions another cardiopulmonary test was performed to see the evolution of patient effort. Rehabilitation sessions included physical exercises using digital games / „serious-games” and progressive resistance exercises. Vital parameters (blood pressure, ventricular alura, oxygen saturation), weight excess, effort tolerance level have improved. On the first day of kinetotherapy, the mean systolic blood pressure was 138 mmHg and the mean diastolic pressure of 83 mmHg compared to the last day the patients attended the recovery session when the mean systolic blood pressure dropped to 120 mmHg, and the diastolic mean dropped to 73 mmHg. As for heart rate, an improvement in rest values was observed, that demonstrates an increase in tolerance to effort and a reduction in deconditioning. The data obtained from active participation in physiotherapy programs show a considerable improvement in the effort capacity, functional independence and quality of life of patients.