Feasibility of a Tele-game-based Exercise (Tele-exergame) Program to Prevent Deconditioning in Hospitalized COVID-19 Patients

This is an interventional supportive care trial for COVID 19 focused on measuring gaming, exer-gaming, telemedicine, inpatient, deconditioning, mobility, rehabilitation, virtual, persons under investigation for COVID, PUI Read More

Inclusion Criteria:

• Participants: Men or women Veterans with COVID-19 or PUI or hospitalized patients with duration of admission anticipated to be greater than 72 hours admitted to MEDVAMC.
• Length of stay: Anticipated length of stay at least 3 days.
• Ambulatory. Self-report of being ambulatory with or without an assistive device in the 2 weeks before admission.

Exclusion Criteria:

• ICU admission: The investigators will exclude those admitted to ICU at any point in their hospital stay.
• Admission of observation only: These patients will be excluded as length of stay is usually anticipated to be less than 3 days
• Median life expectancy: Those with imminently terminal (death expected in the next 30 days) will be excluded.
• Cognitive impairment: The investigators will exclude those with delirium, dementia, or severe cognitive impairment
• Medical condition: The investigators will exclude those who have any medical diagnosis deemed by the primary physician to be a contraindication to ambulation (i.e.: unstable from pulmonary embolus, unstable angina, severe hemodynamic instability etc.)
• Foot problem: The investigators will exclude those who have active foot ulcer or infection or major lower extremities amputation.
• Vision or hearing problems: The investigators will exclude those with hearing or visual problems that cannot be corrected with medical devices (glasses or hearing aids). Hearing or visual problems can limit their ability to interact with the exergame platform.
• lack of capacity to consent, and inability or unwillingness to participate regularly in the exercise program;
• unable to communicate in English or Spanish, or unlikely to fully comply with the follow-up protocol (e.g., lack of caregiver support to safely perform exercise tasks at home or complete the questionnaires).

Clarifying exclusion criteria

• Ongoing treatment: The investigators will NOT exclude those who are participating in standard of care physical therapy program (Receipt of Physical Therapy (PT), Occupational Therapy (OT), Speech Therapy (ST), Mental Health (MH), and Social Work (SW) Services). However, the investigators will document these services and will control for it. However, those who are receiving non- standard of care exercise therapy (e.g. other exercise research study) or receiving active intensive or induction therapy for cancer (e.g. undergoing active initial chemotherapy or radiotherapy).
• Others: The investigators will NOT exclude but will document common comorbidities such as pneumonia, heart failure, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease exacerbations. Pulmonary embolism or acute coronary syndrome maybe included if there is no contraindications like severe hemodynamic instability or active angina.