Integrated Training System for the improvement of the physical condition of COPD patients

COPD is a preventable and treatable chronic pulmonary disease which leads to a non-fully reversible airflow limitation. Because of their bad physical condition, COPD patients are inactive and become socially isolated, resulting in an even worse physical condition. To overcome this downward spiral, patients can be enrolled in a rehabilitation program. This consists of group sessions for about 12 weeks, 2 or 3 times a week, at the physiotherapist to perform physical activities, both aerobic exercise as resistance training. After the rehabilitation program, patients need to maintain their physical condition themselves. Often patients are not compliant to the training advice, resulting in a bad physical condition, more COPD related health issues and reenrolment to the rehabilitation program. To improve the compliance to the training advice patients need to be motivated. For that purpose the Integrated Training System (ITS) for COPD patients has been developed. The ITS supports the improvement and maintenance of the physical condition safely, at home and using a virtual group environment. Safety is ensured by ...