Effects of a Physical Rehabilitation Program on Long COVID

NCT07651371 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: UniversidadeEPA
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 74
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The objective of this clinical trial is to analyze the clinical, functional, and laboratory effects of a rehabilitation protocol designed for patients with long COVID; it may include any of the following: sex/gender, age groups, healthy volunteers. The main questions it aims to answer are: Does handgrip strength improve after the intervention? Does the 6-minute walk test improve after the intervention? Participants must attend all 20 sessions of the physical rehabilitation program.

Conditions

Long Covid

Keywords

Reabilitação Física; trial clinic; functionality; laboratory tests

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• hand grip strength

  Handgrip strength (HGS) was measured using a CROW model manual hydraulic dynamometer. The test was conducted in accordance with the recommendations of the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASTH).

  Through the end of the 20 sessions (up to 10 weeks)

Study Arms (1)

treatment

EXPERIMENTAL

Before-and-after treatment

Other: Physical rehabilitation; Device: Treadmill ergometer; Device: Pulley

Interventions

Physical rehabilitation OTHER

The multidisciplinary rehabilitation program consisted of 20 in-person sessions, each lasting 50 minutes, divided into four phases of progressive load. All sessions were structured in three stages: warm-up, the training itself, and cool-down. The warm-up consisted of 10 minutes of stretching exercises. During the training stage (30 minutes), participants walked on a treadmill for 15 minutes, with intensity controlled by reserve heart rate (HR), progressing from 50% (sessions 1-5) to 60% (6-10), 70% (sessions 11-15), and reaching 80% in the final sessions (16-20). Respiratory muscle training (RMT) was performed with an initial load of 25% of Peak Inspiratory Pressure (PPeak), progressing to 30% starting from the 11th session, with variations in volume ranging from 3 sets of 12 repetitions to 4 sets of 15 repetitions throughout the phases.

treatment

Treadmill ergometer DEVICE

Participants walked on a treadmill for 15 minutes, with intensity controlled by reserve heart rate (HR), progressing from 50% (sessions 1-5) to 60% (6-10), 70% (sessions 11-15), and reaching 80% in the final sessions (16-20)

treatment

Pulley DEVICE

Variable Resistance Machines

treatment

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 70 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: No
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64), Older Adult (65+)

You may qualify if:

• patients of both sexes,
• aged 18 years or older,
• diagnosed with long COVID;

You may not qualify if:

• pregnant women,
• individuals with special needs,
• patients who refuse to sign the informed consent form.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Universidade do Estado do Pará: lead

Study Sites (1)

Ambulatório de Doenças Cardiorrespiratórias (UEAFTO/UEPA)

Belém, Pará, Brazil

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome

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

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NA
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: SINGLE GROUP
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Clinical Professor

Model Details: This is an experimental analytical study in the form of an uncontrolled clinical trial conducted in accordance with the TREND guidelines. The present study was conducted at the Cardiorespiratory Diseases Outpatient Clinic (UEAFTO/UEPA). The Cardiorespiratory Diseases Outpatient Clinic is located at the UEAFTO campus of UEPA, in the city of Belém. The clinic integrates teaching, research, and outreach activities and serves as a reference center for the clinical and multidisciplinary care of patients with cardiorespiratory diseases, including infectious diseases, referred from the state public health system. Clinical muscle and functional assessments were performed at this facility.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: May 28, 2026
• First Posted: June 16, 2026
• Study Start: January 5, 2021
• Primary Completion: December 15, 2023
• Study Completion: December 15, 2024
• Last Updated: June 16, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will share
• Shared Documents: SAP
• Time Frame: 01/01/2025 a 01/01/2028
• Access Criteria: Access will be granted to members of the research group, and only the spreadsheets without individual identifiers

Locations

BR (1)