A Pilot Study of a PhysiOthErapy-based Tailored Intervention for Long COVID (COVID-19)

NCT05040893 | Unknown

• 1 other identifier: REB21-0767
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 15
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 2

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to determine the benefits and feasibility of physiotherapy in the recovery of ongoing symptoms after COVID-19 illness. Long COVID Syndrome (Long COVID) is defined by persistent symptoms (including breathlessness, chest pain and fatigue) after COVID-19 illness that continue for more than 12 weeks and cannot be explained by another diagnosis. The goal of this project is to explore physiotherapy as treatment for patients suffering from Long COVID.

Conditions

COVID-19

Keywords

Long COVID; Physiotherapy; COVID-19

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Feasibility (patient recruitment and retention rate)

  Feasibility will be determined by recruitment of 12 participants within 3 months, retention of \>70% of participants and mean completion of \>70% of all supervised physiotherapy sessions.

  120 days

Secondary Outcomes (5)

• Quality of life (QOL)

  120 days

• Self-reported functional status

  120 days

• Self-efficacy for symptom management

  120 days

• Six-minute walk test

  120 days

• One-minute sit-to-stand test

  120 days

Study Arms (1)

Outpatient Physiotherapy Intervention

EXPERIMENTAL

POETIC will test a patient-oriented, outpatient physiotherapy intervention tailored to each patient based on their symptoms, functional limitations, and goals. The intervention consists of eight one-on-one, supervised sessions delivered over 8 to 10 weeks, approximately one week apart. Each session will be approximately one hour long.

Behavioral: Physiotherapy

Interventions

Physiotherapy BEHAVIORAL

Interventions will include: 1. Education and self-management strategies, including the use of wearable activity and real-time heart rate monitors, to safely guide pacing and activity. 2. Breathing pattern education and retraining (including diaphragmatic, relaxed, and paced breathing exercises). 3. Return-to-activity exercise programming (e.g., postural, aerobic, and whole-body strengthening exercises).

Outpatient Physiotherapy Intervention

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years+
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• Participant has English language fluency (approximately grade 8-10 reading level) and is able to provide informed consent.
• Participant is an adult (aged ≥ 18 years).
• Confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 via a positive nasopharyngeal or throat swab within the past 12 months.
• Persistent symptoms lasting ≥12 weeks since the first positive test, including dyspnea (new or increased from baseline as measured by modified Medical Research Council (mMRC) score ≥1).
• Normal oxygen saturation (greater than 90%) by pulse oximetry at rest on room air.
• Participant owns a smart phone, tablet, or computer, and has or is willing to create an email address (for links to REDCap and Zoom).

You may not qualify if:

• Abnormal pulmonary function testing (FEV1/FVC ratio \<70, total lung capacity \<80% predicted, or diffusing capacity \<70% predicted).
• Pre-existing diagnosis chronic lung disease (Interstitial lung disease, COPD, bronchiectasis, or moderate to severe asthma).
• Pulmonary embolism.
• Parenchymal abnormalities on chest radiograph, deemed clinically significant by the pulmonologist.
• Acute or chronic cardiac disease by medical history (myocardial infarction, myocarditis, cardiomyopathy, arrhythmia, moderate or severe valve disease, ventricular dysfunction).
• Syncope at rest or exertion (which could indicate clinically significant cardiac disease).
• Pre-existing diagnosis of a post-viral fatigue syndrome, myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) or fibromyalgia.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Calgary: lead
• Alberta Health services: collaborator

Study Sites (2)

Peter Lougheed Centre (PLC), University of Calgary

Calgary, Alberta, T1Y 6J4, Canada

Location

Rockyview General Hospital, University of Calgary

Calgary, Alberta, T2V 1P9, Canada

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Lo M, Eiriksson L, Hunter S, Twomey R, Skolnik K, Chen J, Afshar EE, Weatherald J, Lim RK. Individually Tailored Physiotherapy in Persons With Respiratory Symptoms Related to Post-Acute Sequelae of COVID-19: A Feasibility Study With Mixed Methods. Health Sci Rep. 2025 Oct 21;8(10):e71367. doi: 10.1002/hsr2.71367. eCollection 2025 Oct.

  PMID: 41132192 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

COVID-19; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome

Interventions

Physical Therapy Modalities

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Pneumonia, Viral; Pneumonia; Respiratory Tract Infections; Infections; Virus Diseases; Coronavirus Infections; Coronaviridae Infections; Nidovirales Infections; RNA Virus Infections; Lung Diseases; Respiratory Tract Diseases; Post-Infectious Disorders; Chronic Disease; Disease Attributes; Pathologic Processes; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Therapeutics; Rehabilitation

Study Officials

• Jason Weatherald, MD, MSc

  University of Calgary

  PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: This is a single-arm, open-label pilot study investigating the feasibility of the POETIC intervention. POETIC will test a patient-oriented, outpatient physiotherapy intervention tailored to each patient based on their symptoms, functional limitations, and goals.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: September 8, 2021
• First Posted: September 10, 2021
• Study Start: March 4, 2022
• Primary Completion: August 9, 2023
• Study Completion: November 30, 2023
• Last Updated: August 29, 2023

Record last verified: 2022-11

Locations

CA (2)