Exercise Training for Long COVID

Overseen By William K Cornwell, III, MD

Age: 18+

Sex: Any

Trial Phase: Academic

Sponsor: University of Colorado, Denver

Disqualifiers: Cardiovascular disease, Pulmonary disease, Myocardial injury, DVT/PE, others

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

Approved in 1 Jurisdiction This treatment is already approved in other countries

Compensation: Varies

Number of Visits: 3

Duration: 12 weeks

30 Participants Needed

What You Need to Know Before You Apply

What is the purpose of this trial?

This trial tests whether exercise can help people with Long COVID, a condition where symptoms persist more than 12 weeks after COVID-19. The researchers aim to determine if exercise improves symptoms and how it affects the heart and lungs. Participants will either engage in exercise training or join a non-exercise group for comparison. Individuals who had COVID-19 and continue to experience symptoms like fatigue or difficulty breathing after 12 weeks may qualify, provided they had no pre-existing heart or lung issues. As an unphased trial, this study offers a unique opportunity to contribute to understanding how exercise might alleviate Long COVID symptoms.

Do I need to stop taking my current medications for the trial?

The trial information does not specify whether you need to stop taking your current medications. It's best to discuss this with the trial coordinators or your doctor.

What prior data suggests that exercise is safe for treating Long COVID?

Research has shown that exercise is generally safe for people recovering from COVID-19. A review of studies found that exercise can improve fitness levels and reduce shortness of breath in those with long COVID. Another study discovered that strength training enhanced physical abilities in people recovering from COVID-19, regardless of hospitalization status.

Additionally, strength training has improved overall health by enhancing quality of life and reducing anxiety and depression during post-COVID-19 recovery. These studies suggest that exercise is well-tolerated and can help manage long COVID symptoms. ^{1 2 3 4 5}

Why are researchers excited about this trial?

Researchers are excited about exercise training for Long COVID because it offers a non-drug approach to managing symptoms. Unlike standard treatments that often involve medications targeting specific symptoms like fatigue or breathing difficulties, exercise training aims to improve overall physical function and endurance. This approach could potentially enhance the body's natural recovery processes, leading to broader improvements in quality of life for individuals with Long COVID. Plus, exercise training is accessible and can be tailored to individual fitness levels, making it a versatile option for many patients.

What evidence suggests that exercise might be an effective treatment for Long COVID?

This trial will compare an exercise program with a control group to evaluate its effects on Long COVID symptoms. Research has shown that exercise might help people with Long COVID. Studies have found that exercise can improve overall well-being, reduce anxiety and depression, and boost physical abilities like walking further and having a stronger grip. One study discovered that an 8-week exercise program improved daily functioning, thinking skills, and emotional health. Exercise also seems to lessen symptoms like tiredness, shortness of breath, and trouble thinking clearly. Overall, evidence suggests that exercise could be a promising way to manage Long COVID symptoms. ^{2 3 4 6 7}

Are You a Good Fit for This Trial?

This trial is for adults over 18 who've had COVID-19 and are now experiencing Long COVID symptoms that have lasted more than a month. It's not for those with severe obesity, older than 65, or with exercise intolerance due to non-cardiorespiratory conditions, recent serious blood clots, heart inflammation from COVID, or pre-existing heart/lung diseases.

Exclusion Criteria

You have had a blood clot in your leg or lung after having COVID-19.

Your body mass index is higher than 35kg/m2.

You are older than 65 years.

Timeline for a Trial Participant

Screening

Participants are screened for eligibility to participate in the trial

2-4 weeks

Baseline Assessment

Participants undergo a baseline assessment including heart rate, blood pressure, tilt table test, 10-minute stand, exercise test, and quality-of-life questionnaire

1 day

1 visit (in-person)

Treatment

Participants in the exercise group undergo a 12-week exercise training program involving recumbent exercise, while the control group receives usual care

12 weeks

Home-based exercise with provided equipment

Follow-up Assessment

Participants return for follow-up assessments identical to the baseline assessment to evaluate the impact of the intervention

1 day

1-2 visits (in-person) depending on group

Crossover and Additional Follow-up

Control group participants crossover to complete the exercise training program and return for an additional follow-up assessment

12 weeks

1 visit (in-person) after crossover

What Are the Treatments Tested in This Trial?

Interventions

• Exercise

Trial Overview

The study aims to see if exercise training can help people with Long COVID by improving their quality of life and physical function. Researchers will also look into how the condition affects heart and lung health as well as body's response to stress.

How Is the Trial Designed?

Group I: Exercise Experimental Treatment 1 Intervention

Group II: Control Active Control 1 Intervention

Who Is Running the Clinical Trial?

University of Colorado, Denver

Lead Sponsor

Trials

1,842

Recruited

3,028,000+

Citations

1.

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov

pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC12603858/

Resistance Exercise Therapy After COVID-19 Infection

Health-related quality of life, anxiety, depression, and grip strength also improved more in the intervention group than in the control group.

2.

clinicaltrials.gov

clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT05218174

Exercise in Adults with Post-Acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV ...

To examine the efficacy of an 8-week exercise training program on functional, cognitive, and emotional health outcomes compared to a no treatment control ...

3.

ahajournals.org

ahajournals.org/doi/10.1161/CIR.0000000000001348

Exercise Intolerance and Response to Training in Patients ...

The postacute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2, also known as Long COVID, may affect 10% to 25% of individuals diagnosed with SARS-CoV-2.

4.

pharmacytimes.com

pharmacytimes.com/view/exercise-program-manages-persistent-symptoms-post-covid-19-infection

Exercise Program Manages Persistent Symptoms Post ...

Resistance exercise improved health-related quality of life, anxiety, depression, walking distance, and grip strength in adults post-COVID-19 ...

5.

sigmapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com

sigmapubs.onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/full/10.1111/wvn.12743

The effectiveness of exercise in alleviating long COVID ...

The main outcomes for exercise interventions in patients with long COVID were fatigue, dyspnea, anxiety, depression, and cognitive impairment.

6.

jamanetwork.com

jamanetwork.com/journals/jamanetworkopen/fullarticle/2841264

Resistance Exercise Therapy After COVID-19 Infection

A systematic review of exercise interventions for individuals with long COVID identified improvements in exercise capacity, dyspnea, and health- ...

7.

sciencedirect.com

sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2405844023065477

Meta-analysis of the impact of physical activity on ...

Research has shown that physical activity has a good effect on promoting the recovery of respiratory tract infections [35]. However, reports about exercise ...