Virtual Physical Rehabilitation for Patients Living with Long COVID

McGill University

Status: Completed

Conditions: COVID-19; Long COVID; Post COVID-19

Treatments: Other: Intervention Group: Virtual home-based rehabilitation plus usual outpatient care

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT05298878

2022-8559

Details and patient eligibility

About

The purpose of this study is to investigate whether a timely, virtual home-based physical rehabilitation program for patients living with long COVID can improve functional mobility compared to usual care.

Enrollment: 132 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18+ years old

Volunteers: No Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

(i) adult patients (18+ years old) who have had a confirmed or probable COVID-19 infection and who have self-reported persisting symptoms of either reduced mobility, muscle weakness, dyspnea, or fatigue;

(ii) participants must be technologically capable of connecting (either independently or through household members) with an online videoconferencing platform through an e-mail invitation; and

(iii) be able to collaborate with the research assistant to complete the virtual assessment sessions or have a family member available to help.

Exclusion criteria

(i) pre-existing or newly identified severe cognitive impairment;

(ii) inability to speak or comprehend English or French;

(iii) known or self-reported acute and/or uncontrolled cardiac, musculoskeletal, or neurological condition that might render rehabilitation participation unsafe.

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: Single Blind

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132 participants in 2 patient groups

Virtual home-based rehabilitation plus usual outpatient care

Experimental group

Description:

An 8-week home-based virtual rehabilitation program consisting of exercises and education plus usual care.

Treatment:

Other: Intervention Group: Virtual home-based rehabilitation plus usual outpatient care

Usual outpatient care

No Intervention group

Description:

The control group will receive usual outpatient care which consists of any medical outpatient follow-up visits. The participants will receive a set of written generic instructions on how to manage symptoms and engage in physical activity after critical illness.