RecruitingNot Applicable

Water-based Activity to Enhance Recovery in Long COVID-19

United States50 participantsStarted 2024-12-01

Plain-language summary

This two-year study will evaluate the feasibility and safety of an exercise + cognitive training program to improve neurological symptoms of long-COVID. This is a two-phased trial: 1) an exercise phase and 2) a cognitive training phase. The exercise phase will be an aquatic based exercise program. A combination exercise + memory training programs designed for persons with cognitive impairment have significantly improved memory more than other single intervention groups (exercise only, cognitive training only) and given the success of combination training programs with healthy adults, it is important to adapt these programs for persons with neurological symptoms of long-COVID.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 89 Years

Sex

ALL

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Veterans, age 18 to 89, of any racial or ethnic group * Previous COVID-19 infection at least 6 months after diagnosis documented in clinical record * Persistent neurological symptoms (e.g., "brain fog", cognitive impairment) occurring within 3 months of onset of COVID-19 infection and lasting at least 8 weeks in duration * Visual and auditory acuity to allow neuropsychological testing * Willingness to participate in clinical trial for 8 months * Approval by Primary Care Provider to participate in water-based physical exercise Exclusion Criteria: Psychiatric Exclusions * Current, uncontrolled severe psychotic disorder determined by the Mini International Neuropsychiatric Interview (MINI) Medical Exclusions * History of neurological (e.g., multiple sclerosis, seizure disorder, stroke,) neurodegenerative (e.g., Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease) or system illness affecting CNS function (e.g., liver failure, kidney failure, congestive heart failure, systemic cancer) occurring before COVID-19 diagnosis * Current severe cardiac disease (e.g., uncontrolled atrial fibrillation, defined as mean 24 hour heart rate \>85 beats/min, or 24 hour maximal ventricular rate \>150 beats/min; uncontrolled ventricular arrhythmias, defined as recurrent ventricular tachycardia \>3 beats in succession, or 24 hour PVC count \>20%; active pericarditis or myocarditis; Class III/IV heart failure and / or ejection fraction \< 20%; thrombophlebitis; pulmonary disease with a…

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1This trial is described as a feasibility study for a water-based activity program in Long COVID — what does that mean in practical terms, and does it tell us anything yet about whether this kind of exercise actually helps symptoms like mine?
2Since this is listed as Phase NA and is measuring feasibility rather than treatment outcomes, would joining this study mean I'm helping researchers figure out if the program is even doable, rather than testing whether it works — and is that the right stage of research for someone in my situation?
3What does the water-based activity program actually involve week to week, and given how unpredictable my energy levels can be with Long COVID, is it realistic for me to commit to that kind of schedule right now?
4Are there any concerns about recommending physical activity in water for someone with my specific Long COVID symptoms, such as post-exertional malaise, and how would the study team handle it if I had a setback during the program?
5Before considering this trial, should we first look at what standard care or other established rehabilitation options are available for Long COVID, and how would this study fit alongside or instead of those?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Feasibility of Intervention Measure

Timeframe: At the end of study completion, an average of 8 months

Trial details

NCT IDNCT06142253

SponsorVA Office of Research and Development

Sponsor typeFED

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2026-12-31

Contact for this trial

Jennifer K Fairchild, PhD

(650) 439-5000 JenniferKaci.Fairchild@va.gov

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Long COVID trials