Clinical trial NCT06952127: Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of a Group-based Telerehabilitation Program in People With Post-COVID-19 Sequelae (TEPCO).
Official title: Pilot Study Evaluating the Feasibility and Appropriateness of a Telerehabilitation Exercise Program in People With Post-COVID-19 Sequelae: a Single-center Randomized Trial.
Study type: INTERVENTIONAL
Overall status: COMPLETED
Phase: NA
Conditions: Long COVID-19 Syndrome
Long COVID
Long COVID Syndrome
Keywords: telerehabilitation
Lead sponsor: Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec
Sponsor class: OTHER
First posted: 2025-04-30
Enrollment: 22
Sex: ALL
Minimum age (years): 18
Standard ages: ADULT
OLDER_ADULT
Accepts healthy volunteers: no
Allocation: RANDOMIZED
Intervention model: PARALLEL
Primary purpose: TREATMENT

Brief summary: The goal of this study pilot randomized controlled study is to evaluate the feasibility of the study procedures and to compare the preliminary efficacy of a rehabilitation program given in a "remote" (telerehabilitation) or "face-to-face" model for adult patients who had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and still have symptoms after eight weeks of infection. The main question it aims to answer is:

* Are the study procedures feasible?
* Will the two groups have similar results for the preliminary efficacy outcomes?

Researchers will compare group telerehabilitation to a face-to-face group to see if it's comparable.

Participants will:

* Take part in a 60-minute training session, 3 times a week in person or remotely
* Visit the clinic before starting the training program and after 8 weeks of training
* Keep a diary of their symptoms, if any


Eligibility criteria: Inclusion Criteria:

* adult patients (≥18 years)
* confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection defined by positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and/or antigen test results
* referred to the pneumology clinic for a modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea score of 2-3 after a minimum of eight weeks of infection
* VO₂max of less than 80% of the predicted value
* receiving a medical prescription for rehabilitation following initial assessment by a pulmonologist
* being able to walk independently
* providing informed consent
* having a good internet connection (i.e., a minimum download speed of 4 Mbps and an upload speed of 4 Mbps)
* being in possession of a computer or tablet equipped with a camera enabling videoconferencing.

Exclusion Criteria:

* requiring in-hospital rehabilitation at discharge
* evidence of medical instability (i.e., moderate or severe cardiac disease, ischemic or severe hemorrhagic stroke, or neurodegenerative disease, unstable fracture)
* history of severe cognitive or mental impairment
* already enrolled in another rehabilitation program

Primary outcomes:
measure: The feasibility of study procedures
timeFrame: 8 weeks
Secondary outcomes:
measure: Exercise capacity
timeFrame: 8 weeks
measure: Walking capacity
timeFrame: 8 weeks
measure: Lower-limb endurance
timeFrame: 8 weeks
measure: Physical performance
timeFrame: 8 weeks
measure: Change in Independence in activities of daily living
timeFrame: 8 weeks
measure: Change in Clinical Frailty
timeFrame: 8 weeks
measure: Change in Quality of life
timeFrame: 8 weeks
Other outcomes:
Locations:
city: Trois-Rivières
country: Canada
facility: Centre hospitalier affilié universitaire régional
state: Quebec
Study officials:
References: