Patients in specialized palliative care (SPC) often present with a high symptom burden, including fatigue, pain, and reduced physical capacity. Although physical activity can improve physical function and quality of life, participation in exercise therapy programs in SPC is frequently limited due to disease-related and structural constraints.
In our study, we aim to lower this barrier by introducing a VR-based exercise intervention in the palliative care setting. Using a virtual reality headset (Meta Quest 3), patients choose between two individually adjustable applications: a meditative exercise (FunFitLand: FlowFit) and a climbing application (ClimbXR). Through the combination of movement and immersion in virtual reality, we aim to provide a motivating form of therapy that promotes physical activity while also offering a distraction from disease-related symptoms. The goal is to investigate the feasibility of this VR-based exercise intervention and to assess whether it is well tolerated and accepted by patients. Its potential effects on fatigue and quality of life will also be examined.
Project Partners
Department of Palliative Medicine, University Medicine Essen (UME) (Univ.-Prof. Dr. med. Mitra Tewes, Dr. rer. medic. Nico De Lazzari, Nabila Mirzaee)
Institute for Artificial Intelligence in Medicine (IKIM) (Prof. Dr. Dr. Jan Egger, Gijs Luijten, M.Sc.)
Contact
Nabila Mirzaee (nabila.mirzaee@stud.uni-due.de)
Gijs Luijten (Gijs.Luijten@uk-essen.de – CC)