1012 - A remote home-based cardiac rehabilitation using motion tracking technology

Objectives: This study was undertaken to identify feasibility of remote home-based cardiac rehabilitation (CR) using a machine with special information technology.

Design: This prospective pilot study evaluated patients diagnosed with cardiac disease at two tertiary rehabilitation facilities. Patients performed CR program prescribed by a physiatrist at home using UINCARE Home+. CR program consisted of 8 resistance exercises. One session took total 20 minutes including rest time. When patients exercise in front of a machine equipped with special camera with motion tracking technology, the camera capture patient’s movements in real time and the program analyzes the range of motion, movement angle, and speed of the joint.The CR program was conducted 3 times in a week for 4 weeks. Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET), skeletal muscle mass, grip strength, 6MWT, 30 second sit-to-stand test, timed up and go (TUG) and muscle strength evaluation were measured. Patients completed self-report questionnaires on the Korea Activity Scale/Index, EuroQol-5 dimension (EQ-5D). All tests were assessed before the start of CR program and after completion.

Results: Total twenty patients (60 % male, average age of 55.04 ± 11.23 years) completed the study. The average exercise duration of the CPET improved from 758.15 ± 257.62 to 856.85 ± 201.13 sec (p< 0.01). On physical performance, 6MWT improved from 489.6 ± 105.30 to 528.7 ± 100.25 meters (p< 0.01) and TUG improved 9.04 ± 2.48 to 7.27 ± 1.86 sec (p< 0.01) and maximum force of knee extensors increased from 282.14 ± 123.04 to 343.79 ± 186.22 N (p< 0.01). EQ-5D improved from 0.86 ± 0.11 to 0.90 ± 0.07 (p< 0.01)

Conclusions: This study confirmed the effectiveness of home-based remote CR focusing in resistance exercise on improving physical performance and quality of life. With advance in information technology, it showed the potential for cardiac patients to perform systematic home-based CR in future.