Heat Therapy for Post-COVID Syndrome

(HEAL Trial)

Overseen By Gwenael Layec, PhD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Nebraska

Disqualifiers: Pregnancy, Hormone therapy, Claustrophobia, others

No Placebo Group All trial participants will receive the active study treatment (no placebo)

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 5

Duration: 8 weeks

99 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether heat therapy can help individuals with long-lasting symptoms after COVID-19, often referred to as "long COVID." Researchers aim to determine if warming the lower body at home can enhance movement and overall health, compared to other methods like a placebo (fake treatment) or increased walking with technological assistance. The trial targets individuals aged 50 to 90 who continue to experience fatigue or reduced activity at least two months after recovering from COVID-19 and have no walking-related health issues. As an unphased trial, this study provides a unique opportunity to explore innovative treatments for long COVID symptoms.

Will I have to stop taking my current medications?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications.

What prior data suggests that this heat therapy is safe for improving functional capacity in individuals with long COVID?

Research has shown that heat therapy is generally safe and easy to use. In an eight-week study, older adults who applied heat therapy to their lower bodies at home experienced improved physical function. This indicates that the therapy is both beneficial and user-friendly. Additionally, early research on similar treatments, such as using mineral-rich water, suggests they can help reduce post-COVID symptoms like fatigue and muscle pain. No major side effects have been reported so far, making heat therapy a promising option for those dealing with long COVID symptoms. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about heat therapy for post-COVID syndrome because it offers a non-invasive, at-home treatment option. Most current treatments focus on managing symptoms with medications or physical therapy, but this therapy uses targeted heat exposure to potentially improve blood flow and reduce lingering fatigue. Unlike standard care, which often requires clinical visits, this method can be easily integrated into daily routines, making it accessible and convenient for patients. This innovative approach could provide a new avenue for relief without the need for drugs or extensive hospital trips.

What evidence suggests that this trial's treatments could be effective for long COVID?

Research has shown that heat therapy, one of the treatments under study in this trial, can help alleviate long COVID symptoms. In an eight-week study, older adults who used heat therapy at home for their lower body experienced significant improvements in mobility. Early evidence also suggests that heat therapy can reduce fatigue and muscle pain, common issues for individuals with post-COVID syndrome. This trial will compare heat therapy with a control therapy and a walking intervention, aiming to enhance mobility and overall health, making it a promising option for those dealing with long COVID effects. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Who Is on the Research Team?

Gwenael Layec, PhD

Principal Investigator

University of Nebraska

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for late-middle aged and older adults who have had COVID-19 and are now experiencing long-term effects, known as 'long COVID'. Participants should be interested in trying heat therapy at home to improve their mobility and overall health. Specific eligibility details are not provided.

Inclusion Criteria

I have had Covid-19 and still feel tired or weaker than usual for 2 months or more.

I am between 50 and 90 years old.

I can perform leg exercises without any orthopedic issues.

Exclusion Criteria

Claustrophobia

Currently enrolled in an exercise-based or respiratory muscle rehabilitation program

I am currently on hormone therapy.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Treatment

Participants undergo home-based lower body heat therapy, thermoneutral therapy, or a walking intervention for 8 weeks

8 weeks

5 sessions per week (home-based)

Follow-up

Participants are monitored for safety and effectiveness after treatment

4 weeks

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Heat therapy

Trial Overview The study is testing if lower-body heat therapy can help people with long COVID get better at moving around and feeling healthier. It also looks at how this might affect their metabolism and blood vessels compared to a sham control group.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Heat Therapy Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

At home heat therapy 5 times (40-55 min) per week for 8 weeks.

Group II: Walking Intervention Using Wearable Technology Active Control 1 Intervention

+1,500-3000 steps per day 3-5 days a week for 8 weeks.

Group III: Control Therapy Placebo Group 1 Intervention

Sham at home thermoneutral therapy 5 times (40-55 min) per week for 8 weeks.

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Nebraska

Lead Sponsor

Trials

563

Recruited

1,147,000+

National Institute on Aging (NIA)

Collaborator

Trials

1,841

Recruited

28,150,000+

Published Research Related to This Trial

A study involving 57 patients with persistent fatigue post-COVID showed that a 4-week supervised exercise program significantly improved their maximal exercise capacity (VO2peak) compared to usual care, with no adverse events reported.

While both exercise and usual care groups experienced improvements in fatigue and quality of life over time, the exercise group engaged in significantly more physical activity during the follow-up period, suggesting that exercise is a safe option for enhancing recovery in post-COVID patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Physical exercise as a treatment for persisting symptoms post-COVID infection: review of ongoing studies and prospective randomized controlled training study. Kogel, A., Machatschek, M., Scharschmidt, R., et al.[2023]

In a study involving 10 individuals recently discharged after severe COVID-19, all participants safely completed three different high-intensity interval training (HIIT) protocols without any adverse events, indicating that HIIT can be tolerated post-hospitalization.

The study found that while all HIIT protocols achieved high exercise intensities, they differed in the duration spent at maximum heart rate, suggesting that different HIIT formats can be effectively utilized for rehabilitation in COVID-19 patients.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Fidelity, tolerability and safety of acute high-intensity interval training after hospitalisation for COVID-19: a randomised cross-over trial. Foged, F., Rasmussen, IE., Bjørn Budde, J., et al.[2023]

Exercise interventions for non-hospitalized individuals with Post COVID-19 Syndrome (PCS) have been shown to improve aerobic fitness, physical function, and reduce symptoms like dyspnea, fatigue, and depression, based on a review of seven studies involving 935 participants.

The exercise programs were well tolerated with no reported adverse events, but safety measures such as medical evaluations and monitoring individual responses are crucial, especially for patients with post-exertional malaise or chronic fatigue syndrome.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Exercise Training in Non-Hospitalized Patients with Post-COVID-19 Syndrome-A Narrative Review. Sick, J., König, D.[2023]

A 50-year-old woman with post-COVID syndrome experienced significant symptom relief, including resolution of chest pressure and palpitations, after just one acupuncture treatment, followed by complete recovery after a total of seven sessions combined with symptom-titrated physical activity.

The case suggests that acupuncture may be a beneficial component of a multidisciplinary approach to treating post-COVID syndrome, although further research is needed to isolate its effects from concurrent therapies.

NCBI (Pubmed)

pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

Acupuncture in Multidisciplinary Treatment for Post-COVID-19 Syndrome. Trager, RJ., Brewka, EC., Kaiser, CM., et al.[2022]

Citations

1. clinicaltrials.gov clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06928116

Heat thErapy And mobiLity in COVID-19 Survivors This clinical trial seeks to establish the tolerability and efficacy of at home lower-body heat therapy for improving functional capacity along with metabolic ...

2. pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/39857123/

Emerging Evidence on Balneotherapy and Thermal ... Preliminary evidence suggests balneotherapy effectively ameliorates multiple post-COVID-19 symptoms, particularly fatigue, muscle pain, and exercise ...

3. frontiersin.org frontiersin.org/journals/rehabilitation-sciences/articles/10.3389/fresc.2025.1588940/full

Balance rehabilitation and Long Covid syndrome This study investigates the effects of two distinct rehabilitation programs on balance in a cohort of sixty participants experiencing medium-to-long-term ...

4. unomaha.edu unomaha.edu/news/2025/02/nih-backed-project-investigating-heat-therapy-as-a-long-covid-treatment.php

NIH-Backed Project Investigating Heat Therapy as a Long ... An eight-week, home-based lower-body heat therapy trial showed clinically significant improvements in physical function for older adults with ...

5. mdpi.com mdpi.com/2227-9032/13/2/96

Emerging Evidence on Balneotherapy and Thermal ... Preliminary evidence suggests balneotherapy effectively ameliorates multiple post-COVID-19 symptoms, particularly fatigue, muscle pain, and exercise ...