Objective: The aim of this research was to investigate the prevention, diagnosis, and treatment of patients after COVID-19 with the possibility of using artificial intelligence and virtual reality in combination with traditional approaches to patient rehabilitation.
Materials and methods: Statistical methods were used to evaluate the situation of COVID-19 worldwide and in Slovakia until March 2022. We investigated the rehabilitation options of breathing exercises, upper and lower limb rehabilitation, and cognitive tasks in patients with post-COVID syndrome who met the criteria for a combined rehabilitation program using virtual reality. Using artificial intelligence, we can predict in advance the evolution of the pandemic according to the records of infected patients and the evolution of the pandemic in the world, taking into account nearby territories. In the treatment of post-COVID syndrome, parameters have been identified that can be measured to objectively assess the improvement of the patient's condition and to continue personalizing individual rehabilitation scenarios.
Results: In the patients who underwent the combined rehabilitation method, we observed progress in their ability to improve breathing, limb motor skills and also cognitive function of the patients. We identified different categories of parameters that can be evaluated by artificial intelligence methods, and we evaluated different scenarios using the exterior of nature and the interior of the room of the rehabilitation method of virtual reality, as well as the key elements of the "WOW" effect creating emotional changes in the patient for their motivation.
Conclusion: We showed that artificial intelligence and virtual reality methods have the potential to accelerate rehabilitation and increase motivation in patients with post-COVID syndrome.