Effects of a Physical Rehabilitation Program on Long COVID (ReabCovid)

June 12, 2026 updated by: Luiz Fábio Magno Falcão, PhD, Universidade do Estado do Pará

Clinical, Functional, and Laboratory Outcomes of a Physical Rehabilitation Program for the Treatment of Long COVID: A Non-Controlled Clinical Trial

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.

Study Overview

Status

Completed

Conditions

Intervention / Treatment

Detailed Description

The objective is to analyze the clinical, functional, and laboratory effects of a rehabilitation protocol aimed at patients with long COVID. This is an experimental analytical study of the uncontrolled clinical trial type conducted in accordance with the TREND recommendation. The present study was conducted at the Cardiorespiratory Diseases Outpatient Clinic (UEAFTO/UEPA). The Cardiorespiratory Diseases Outpatient Clinic is located at UEAFTO, part 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.

The collection and analysis of biological material (blood samples) were performed at the Clinical Analysis and Cytopathology Laboratory (LAC), located at UEPA, in the city of Belém, within the Center for Biological Health Sciences (CCBS), which performs various laboratory tests, contributing to scientific knowledge through collaborative studies and projects with the institution's academic community.

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, training proper, 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% (11-15), and reaching 80% in the final sessions (16-20). Respiratory muscle training (RMT) was performed with an initial load of 25% of Maximum Inspiratory Pressure (MIP), 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. Resistance training for the upper limbs (vertical bench press and front pull) and lower limbs (leg extension machine and 180° leg press) followed a load progression from 55% to 70% of one-repetition maximum (1 RM), with a gradual increase in the number of repetitions (10 to 15). Finally, the cool-down consisted of 10 minutes of seated rest, incorporating diaphragmatic awareness exercises for metabolic and respiratory recovery.

The primary outcomes were changes in handgrip strength (HGS) and the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) from the 1st to the 20th visit. Secondary outcomes included changes in the functional status scale score, pain tolerance threshold (pressure algometry), and percentage of muscle mass and fat mass (bioimpedance), assessed at the beginning and end of the 20 visits. At the initial assessment, sociodemographic data such as sex, age in years, place of birth, education, marital status, and income in minimum wages were collected.

Hand Dynamometry Handgrip Strength (HGS) was assessed using a CROW model hydraulic hand dynamometer. The test was performed according to the recommendations of the American Society of Hand Therapists (ASTH). The participant was asked to perform a maximum contraction for three seconds for each hand.

Six-Minute Walk Test (6MWT) The 6MWT reflects the functional level of patients for performing daily physical activities. For this, the patient will walk in a flat corridor, 30 meters long, as far as possible. They must go back and forth along the corridor for 6 minutes. Through the distance covered in 6 minutes (6MWT), it will be possible to assess the functional exercise capacity in patients with long-term COVID-19. The test was performed according to the recommendations of the American Thoracic Society (ATS) and the reference equations were used as a normality parameter.

Functional Status Scale The functional status of patients with long-term COVID-19 was assessed using the Post-COVID-19 Functional Status Scale, which evaluates the degree of dependence and disability by assigning scores on five scales: grade 0 (No functional limitations); grade 1 (Insignificant functional limitations); grade 2 (Minor functional limitations); grade 3 (Moderate functional limitations); and grade 4 (Severe functional limitations).

Pressure Algometry Pressure algometry was assessed using a Meddor+ digital algometer (Med.dor - Pressure Algometer, Governador Valadares, Brazil) which was positioned on the anterior deltoid, vastus medialis, and vastus lateralis muscles, exerting an increasing and constant pressure of approximately 1 kg/s until the patient reported pain. At this point, pressure was no longer applied, and the device recorded a Pressure Pain Threshold (PPT) value. It was considered that the lower the PPT value, the lower the pressure pain tolerance threshold, and thus, the patient has greater pain sensitivity. The assessment included measurements obtained from the anterior deltoid muscles (right and left), vastus medialis (right and left), and vastus lateralis (right and left).

Bioimpedance Body composition was analyzed using a digital bioimpedance scale, model HBF - 514C (Omron Healthcare Co Ltd, Kyoto, Japan). The patient was asked to step onto the scale without metal jewelry, barefoot, distributing weight evenly, and remain upright and still until the measurement was completed. The percentages of muscle mass and fat mass were used for the analyses in this study.

Laboratory Tests Blood will be collected from all patients selected for the study via peripheral vein puncture, in 6 tubes of 5ml. Laboratory evaluation will include the following measurements: red blood cell series: Red blood cells, Hemoglobin, Hematocrit, Mean Corpuscular Volume (MCV), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin (MCH), Mean Corpuscular Hemoglobin Concentration (MCHC), Red Cell Distribution Width (RDW); muscle function: Creatine Kinase (CK), Lactate Dehydrogenase (LDH) and inflammatory markers: Erythrocyte Sedimentation Rate (ESR), C-Reactive Protein (CRP), Ferritin).

Study Type

Interventional

Enrollment (Actual)

74

Phase

  • Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

This section provides the contact details for those conducting the study, and information on where this study is being conducted.

Study Locations

  • Brazil
    • Pará
      • Belém, Pará, Brazil
        • Ambulatório de Doenças Cardiorrespiratórias (UEAFTO/UEPA)

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

Eligibility Criteria

Ages Eligible for Study

  • Adult
  • Older Adult

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

No

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

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

Exclusion Criteria:

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

Study Plan

This section provides details of the study plan, including how the study is designed and what the study is measuring.

How is the study designed?

Design Details

  • Primary Purpose: Treatment
  • Allocation: N/A
  • Interventional Model: Single Group Assignment
  • Masking: None (Open Label)

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm
Intervention / Treatment
Experimental: treatment
Before-and-after treatment
Other: Physical rehabilitation
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.
Device: Treadmill ergometer
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)
Device: Pulley
Variable Resistance Machines

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure
Measure Description
Time Frame
hand grip strength
Time Frame: Through the end of the 20 sessions (up to 10 weeks)
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)

Collaborators and Investigators

This is where you will find people and organizations involved with this study.

Sponsor

Universidade do Estado do Pará

Study record dates

These dates track the progress of study record and summary results submissions to ClinicalTrials.gov. Study records and reported results are reviewed by the National Library of Medicine (NLM) to make sure they meet specific quality control standards before being posted on the public website.

Study Major Dates

Study Start (Actual)

January 5, 2021

Primary Completion (Actual)

December 15, 2023

Study Completion (Actual)

December 15, 2024

Study Registration Dates

First Submitted

May 28, 2026

First Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 12, 2026

First Posted (Actual)

June 16, 2026

Study Record Updates

Last Update Posted (Actual)

June 16, 2026

Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria

June 12, 2026

Last Verified

June 1, 2026

More Information

Terms related to this study

Keywords

Additional Relevant MeSH Terms

Other Study ID Numbers

  • UniversidadeEPA

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?

YES

IPD Plan Description

After the data is collected and entered into a spreadsheet, each participant's identifying information will be converted into codes and then shared with members of the research team.

IPD Sharing Time Frame

01/01/2025 a 01/01/2028

IPD Sharing Access Criteria

Access will be granted to members of the research group, and only the spreadsheets without individual identifiers

IPD Sharing Supporting Information Type

  • SAP

Drug and device information, study documents

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product

No

Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product

No

This information was retrieved directly from the website clinicaltrials.gov without any changes. If you have any requests to change, remove or update your study details, please contact register@clinicaltrials.gov. As soon as a change is implemented on clinicaltrials.gov, this will be updated automatically on our website as well.

Clinical Trials on Long Covid

Clinical Trials on Physical rehabilitation

Search Similar Trials

Sponsors and Collaborators

Medical Conditions

Drug Interventions

CROs by country

CROs in Kosovo

Conditions

Rare Diseases

Drug Interventions

Dietary Supplements

Sponsor/Collaborators

Locations

Subscribe