Exercise and Post-COVID/ Long-COVID: Effects of Different Training Modalities on Various Parameters in People Affected by the Sequelae of COVID-19
Condition: Long COVID-19; Post-COVID-19 Syndrome; COVID-19
MeSH terms: COVID-19; Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
Study type: Interventional

Summary: 
      The current COVID-19 pandemic is the most severe health crisis of the 21st century. This is
      not only due to the deaths caused by the disease. People that were affected by COVID-19 and
      supposedly recovered may suffer from long lasting sequelae. The presence of symptoms longer
      than 3 months after the infection with SARS-CoV-2 is referred to as Post-COVID-19 Syndrome or
      Long COVID-19. It is estimated that 10-20 percent of all infected people are affected. The
      most common symptoms include persistent fatigue, reduced physical capacity, dyspnoea,
      ageusia, anosmia, musculoskeletal pain and neuropsychological complaints such as depression,
      anxiety, insomnia and a loss of concentration.

      Considering the novelty of the pathology, evidence on the successful treatment of
      Post-COVID/Long-COVID is scarce. Physical activity has been established as a treatment option
      for chronic diseases that have similar symptomatic manifestations to those of
      Post-COVID/Long-COVID. For example, exercise therapy has shown positive effects on the health
      status of patients with lung disease, depression, anxiety, insomnia and cognitive impairment.
      However, there has been controversy whether so-called Graded Exercise Therapy (GET) is a safe
      treatment strategy for patients with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). This population may
      experience Post Exertional Malaise (PEM), a worsening of symptoms after physical, cognitive
      or emotional exertion. Since COVID-19 might be an infectious trigger for CFS, particular
      caution has to be taken when recruiting participants and when screening them for adverse
      events and worsening of symptoms during an exercise intervention.

      It can be hypothesized that patients suffering from Post-COVID/Long-COVID can benefit from
      exercise in various ways, guaranteed that there is sufficient screening for PEM before and
      during the intervention and training volume and intensity are increased slowly and
      progressively.

      The current study investigates the effects of two different training modalities, endurance
      training and a combination of endurance training and resistance training, on various
      parameters in people affected by Post-COVID/Long-COVID.
    


Intervention name(s): endurance training; concurrent training
Intervention type(s): Other; Other
Intervention description(s): endurance training of low to moderate intensity on a bicycle ergometer, crosstrainer or treadmill performed for 30-60 minutes per session; combination of endurance training of low to moderate intensity on a bicycle ergometer, crosstrainer or treadmill performed for 20-40 minutes per session and resistance training of moderate intensity performing 2-3 sets of leg press, leg curls, chest press and seated horizontal rows
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention model: Parallel Assignment
Masking: None (Open Label)
Primary purpose: Supportive Care
Keywords: exercise; exercise therapy; endurance training; concurrent training; physical peformance; inflammatory markers; quality of life; concentration performance; heart rate variability