Qigong for Post Acute Sequelae of COVID-19 Infection

NCT05675995 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: 1846783
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 40
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The purpose of this study is to conduct a pilot feasibility study of a combination of external and internal qigong on health-related quality of life in individuals with prolonged symptoms following COVID-19 infection.

Conditions

Long COVID

Keywords

Qigong

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Changes in physical and mental health

  Changes in PROMIS-29 summary scores from before to after intervention in all participants

  8 weeks

Study Arms (2)

Immediate

EXPERIMENTAL

Receives 6 sessions of qigong first.

Behavioral: Qigong

Waitlist Control

OTHER

Receives 6 sessions of qigong after the immediate group

Behavioral: Qigong

Interventions

Qigong BEHAVIORAL

6 sessions of combined external and internal qigong delivered in a group-based format once a week.

Immediate; Waitlist Control

Eligibility Criteria

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

You may qualify if:

• English-speaking adults age 18 or greater
• History of a COVID-19 infection with lingering symptoms lasting longer than 12 weeks
• Willing and able to access the internet to complete questionnaires
• Willing and able to travel to the qigong sessions to participate in person in Sacramento, CA.

You may not qualify if:

• Lung scarring secondary to COVID-19 infection as evidenced by signs of parenchymal lung damage on imaging or FVC \< 80% (any patient with post COVID-related shortness of breath must have PFTs to be considered for enrollment).
• Dementia
• Any other condition that makes it difficult for the individual to complete questionnaires or attend the qigong sessions.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of California, Davis: lead

Study Sites (1)

University of California Davis Health

Sacramento, California, 95817, United States

Location

Related Publications (1)

• Joy M, Adams N, Yanuck M, Dossett ML. Experiences with Qi and changes in post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC) symptoms with qigong: a qualitative analysis of participants' experiences in a pilot clinical trial. BMC Complement Med Ther. 2025 Nov 28;25(1):434. doi: 10.1186/s12906-025-05161-w.

  PMID: 41316170 DERIVED

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome

Interventions

Qigong

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

COVID-19; 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)

Breathing Exercises; Mind-Body Therapies; Complementary Therapies; Therapeutics; Exercise Movement Techniques; Physical Therapy Modalities

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: SINGLE
• Who Masked: OUTCOMES ASSESSOR
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Assistant Professor in Residence

Model Details: Randomized, waitlist controlled design

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 4, 2023
• First Posted: January 9, 2023
• Study Start: January 4, 2023
• Primary Completion: May 15, 2024
• Study Completion: May 15, 2024
• Last Updated: January 13, 2026

Record last verified: 2025-07

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

US (1)