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Effects of Respiratory Muscle Training in Individuals With Long-term Post-COVID-19 Symptoms

Effects of Respiratory Muscle Training Combined With an Exercise Training Program in Individuals With Long-term Post-COVID-19 Symptoms

Status
Completed
Phases
NA
Study type
Interventional
Source
ClinicalTrials.gov
Registry ID
NCT05597774
Enrollment
64
Registered
2022-10-28
Start date
2022-10-28
Completion date
2023-09-22
Last updated
2023-09-28

For informational purposes only — not medical advice. Sourced from public registries and may not reflect the latest updates. Terms

Conditions

Covid19, Post-acute COVID-19 Syndrome

Keywords

Respiratory Muscle Training, Tele-rehabilitation, Quality of Life, Exercise

Brief summary

The main objective of the present study is to observe the short-term effects of respiratory muscle training combined with an exercise training program on quality of life and exercise tolerance in individuals with long-term post-COVID-19 symptoms. As secondary objectives, the effects on respiratory muscle function, physical and lung function, as well as on the psychological state of these individuals.

Detailed description

It is a double-blind randomized clinical trial study. Each participant will be randomly assigned to one of the following groups: 1) Exercise training program + Inspiratory muscle training + Expiratory muscle training, 2) Exercise training program + Sham Inspiratory muscle training + Sham Expiratory muscle training. The exercise training program will be delivered in hospital and will be applied 2 sessions per week during 8 weeks. The exercise component will be lasted for 1hour and it consisted of cardiovascular exercises. The respiratory muscle training program will be applied twice a day, 3 sessions per week during 8 weeks by a threshold device. The evening sessions will be supervised by a physiotherapist through a virtual platform. Participants received baseline assessments at the beginning of the intervention and post-intervention assessments at the end of the 8th week.

Interventions

Participants will perform an inspiratory and expiratory muscle training including warm-up, recovery between intervals and return to calm.

OTHERInspiratory + expiratory muscle training sham group

Participants will perform an inspiratory and expiratory muscle training including warm-up, recovery between intervals and return to calm.

Participants will perform a cardiovascular exercise program including warm-up, recovery between intervals and return to calm by cycloergometer.

Sponsors

Colegio Profesional de Fisioterapeutas de la Comunidad de Madrid
CollaboratorUNKNOWN
Universidad Complutense de Madrid
Lead SponsorOTHER

Study design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Intervention model
PARALLEL
Primary purpose
TREATMENT
Masking
TRIPLE (Subject, Investigator, Outcomes Assessor)

Eligibility

Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 100 Years
Healthy volunteers
No

Inclusion criteria

* Over 18 years who presented long-term post-COVID-19 symptoms of fatigue and dyspnoea for at least 3 months after the COVID-19 diagnosis

Exclusion criteria

* Progressive respiratory, neuromuscular or neurological disorders and/or psychiatric or cognitive conditions that hindered their ability to cooperate * Comorbidity that could interfere with the study interventions * Any contraindication to the training interventions * Previous inclusion in a rehabilitation program for their long-term post-COVID-19 symptoms (previous 3 months)

Design outcomes

Primary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in quality of lifeBaseline and 1-week post-intervention (9 weeks from baseline)Change in quality of life between baseline and post-intervention, as measured by the EuroQol-5D questionnaire which consists of 5 dimensions with 5 response options based on severity level, ranging from 1 to 5. An index score is provided, ranging from 0 (death) to 1 (full health).
Change in exercise toleranceBaseline and 1-week post-intervention (9 weeks from baseline)Change in exercise tolerance between baseline and post-intervention, as measured by a cardiopulmonary exercise test

Secondary

MeasureTime frameDescription
Change in respiratory muscle functionBaseline and 1-week post-intervention (9 weeks from baseline)Change in inspiratory/expiratory muscle strength and inspiratory muscle endurance between baseline and post-intervention, as measured by maximum static inspiratory and expiratory pressures and by a constant load breathing test
Change in physical functionBaseline and 1-week post-intervention (9 weeks from baseline)Change in lower and upper limb strength between baseline and post-intervention, as measured by 1-min Sit-to-Stand and peripheral muscle force (dynamometry)
Change in pulmonary functionBaseline and 1-week post-intervention (9 weeks from baseline)Change in pulmonary function and diffusion capacity for carbon monoxide between baseline and post-intervention, as measured by pulmonary function tests
Change in psychological statusBaseline and 1-week post-intervention (9 weeks from baseline)Change in anxiety/depression levels between baseline and post-intervention, as measured by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale

Countries

Spain

Outcome results

None listed

Source: ClinicalTrials.gov · Data processed: Feb 4, 2026