Effects of an app-based physical training for long- and post-COVID treatment (A PILOT) study: protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial
Long- and post-COVID syndrome (PCS) affect at least 65 million individuals globally, with an estimated incidence of 10% among over 651 million documented cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. PCS impacts nearly every organ system, posing significant challenges for healthcare systems and patients. Despite t...
Saved in:
| Main Authors: | , , , , , , , , , , , |
|---|---|
| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
| Published: |
BMJ Publishing Group
2025-03-01
|
| Series: | BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| Online Access: | https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/11/1/e002540.full |
| Tags: |
Add Tag
No Tags, Be the first to tag this record!
|
| _version_ | 1849761402571456512 |
|---|---|
| author | Birgit Friedmann-Bette Andreas Nieß Peter Deibert Johannes Kirsten Jana Schellenberg Lynn Matits Daniel Alexander Bizjak Sarah Isabel Krieg Lennart Mentz Philipp Maier Michèle Natale Gunnar Erz |
| author_facet | Birgit Friedmann-Bette Andreas Nieß Peter Deibert Johannes Kirsten Jana Schellenberg Lynn Matits Daniel Alexander Bizjak Sarah Isabel Krieg Lennart Mentz Philipp Maier Michèle Natale Gunnar Erz |
| author_sort | Birgit Friedmann-Bette |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Long- and post-COVID syndrome (PCS) affect at least 65 million individuals globally, with an estimated incidence of 10% among over 651 million documented cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. PCS impacts nearly every organ system, posing significant challenges for healthcare systems and patients. Despite this, effective guidelines for multimodal training or rehabilitation remain absent. The app-based physical intervention for long- and post-COVID treatment (A PILOT) study is a prospective, multicentre, two-armed, randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of an app-based multimodal training intervention in patients with PCS. 100 participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention group (IG) or a control group (CG). Over 2 months, the IG will follow a standardised app-based intervention programme incorporating breathing exercises, endurance and strength training and progressive muscle relaxation. The CG will adhere to general WHO exercise recommendations during the waiting period and gain access to the app after the study concludes. Comprehensive assessments, including physical examinations, blood tests, psychological questionnaires, transthoracic echocardiography, electrocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing, will be conducted pre- and post-intervention. The primary endpoints are the effects of app-based multimodal training on physical performance, neurocognitive function and health-related quality of life. Secondary endpoints include mental health outcomes (eg, depression, perceived stress, sleep quality and daytime sleepiness), echocardiographic and anthropometric measures and alterations in inflammatory markers and metabolites of the kynurenine pathway. This study aims to provide critical insights into structured app-based programmes, potentially establishing a framework for improving recovery in PCS patients. |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj-art-ae19d4b7b1ca44649e305eb533548fbc |
| institution | DOAJ |
| issn | 2055-7647 |
| language | English |
| publishDate | 2025-03-01 |
| publisher | BMJ Publishing Group |
| record_format | Article |
| series | BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| spelling | doaj-art-ae19d4b7b1ca44649e305eb533548fbc2025-08-20T03:06:02ZengBMJ Publishing GroupBMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine2055-76472025-03-0111110.1136/bmjsem-2025-002540Effects of an app-based physical training for long- and post-COVID treatment (A PILOT) study: protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trialBirgit Friedmann-Bette0Andreas Nieß1Peter Deibert2Johannes Kirsten3Jana Schellenberg4Lynn Matits5Daniel Alexander Bizjak6Sarah Isabel Krieg7Lennart Mentz8Philipp Maier9Michèle Natale10Gunnar Erz11Department of Sports Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, Germany1Clinic for Internal Medicine, Department of Sports Medicine, University of Tuebingen, GermanyInstitute for Exercise and Occupational Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, GermanySports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, GermanySports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, GermanySports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, GermanySports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, Baden-Württemberg, GermanySports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, GermanySports and Rehabilitation Medicine, Ulm University Hospital, Ulm, GermanyInstitute for Exercise and Occupational Medicine, University of Freiburg, Freiburg im Breisgau, GermanyDepartment of Sports Medicine, University Hospital Heidelberg, Heidelberg, GermanyDepartment of Sports Medicine, Medical Clinic, University of Tübingen, Tübingen, GermanyLong- and post-COVID syndrome (PCS) affect at least 65 million individuals globally, with an estimated incidence of 10% among over 651 million documented cases of SARS-CoV-2 infection. PCS impacts nearly every organ system, posing significant challenges for healthcare systems and patients. Despite this, effective guidelines for multimodal training or rehabilitation remain absent. The app-based physical intervention for long- and post-COVID treatment (A PILOT) study is a prospective, multicentre, two-armed, randomised controlled trial to evaluate the effectiveness of an app-based multimodal training intervention in patients with PCS. 100 participants will be randomly assigned to an intervention group (IG) or a control group (CG). Over 2 months, the IG will follow a standardised app-based intervention programme incorporating breathing exercises, endurance and strength training and progressive muscle relaxation. The CG will adhere to general WHO exercise recommendations during the waiting period and gain access to the app after the study concludes. Comprehensive assessments, including physical examinations, blood tests, psychological questionnaires, transthoracic echocardiography, electrocardiography and cardiopulmonary exercise testing, will be conducted pre- and post-intervention. The primary endpoints are the effects of app-based multimodal training on physical performance, neurocognitive function and health-related quality of life. Secondary endpoints include mental health outcomes (eg, depression, perceived stress, sleep quality and daytime sleepiness), echocardiographic and anthropometric measures and alterations in inflammatory markers and metabolites of the kynurenine pathway. This study aims to provide critical insights into structured app-based programmes, potentially establishing a framework for improving recovery in PCS patients.https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/11/1/e002540.full |
| spellingShingle | Birgit Friedmann-Bette Andreas Nieß Peter Deibert Johannes Kirsten Jana Schellenberg Lynn Matits Daniel Alexander Bizjak Sarah Isabel Krieg Lennart Mentz Philipp Maier Michèle Natale Gunnar Erz Effects of an app-based physical training for long- and post-COVID treatment (A PILOT) study: protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| title | Effects of an app-based physical training for long- and post-COVID treatment (A PILOT) study: protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial |
| title_full | Effects of an app-based physical training for long- and post-COVID treatment (A PILOT) study: protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial |
| title_fullStr | Effects of an app-based physical training for long- and post-COVID treatment (A PILOT) study: protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial |
| title_full_unstemmed | Effects of an app-based physical training for long- and post-COVID treatment (A PILOT) study: protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial |
| title_short | Effects of an app-based physical training for long- and post-COVID treatment (A PILOT) study: protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial |
| title_sort | effects of an app based physical training for long and post covid treatment a pilot study protocol for a multicentre randomised controlled trial |
| url | https://bmjopensem.bmj.com/content/11/1/e002540.full |
| work_keys_str_mv | AT birgitfriedmannbette effectsofanappbasedphysicaltrainingforlongandpostcovidtreatmentapilotstudyprotocolforamulticentrerandomisedcontrolledtrial AT andreasnieß effectsofanappbasedphysicaltrainingforlongandpostcovidtreatmentapilotstudyprotocolforamulticentrerandomisedcontrolledtrial AT peterdeibert effectsofanappbasedphysicaltrainingforlongandpostcovidtreatmentapilotstudyprotocolforamulticentrerandomisedcontrolledtrial AT johanneskirsten effectsofanappbasedphysicaltrainingforlongandpostcovidtreatmentapilotstudyprotocolforamulticentrerandomisedcontrolledtrial AT janaschellenberg effectsofanappbasedphysicaltrainingforlongandpostcovidtreatmentapilotstudyprotocolforamulticentrerandomisedcontrolledtrial AT lynnmatits effectsofanappbasedphysicaltrainingforlongandpostcovidtreatmentapilotstudyprotocolforamulticentrerandomisedcontrolledtrial AT danielalexanderbizjak effectsofanappbasedphysicaltrainingforlongandpostcovidtreatmentapilotstudyprotocolforamulticentrerandomisedcontrolledtrial AT sarahisabelkrieg effectsofanappbasedphysicaltrainingforlongandpostcovidtreatmentapilotstudyprotocolforamulticentrerandomisedcontrolledtrial AT lennartmentz effectsofanappbasedphysicaltrainingforlongandpostcovidtreatmentapilotstudyprotocolforamulticentrerandomisedcontrolledtrial AT philippmaier effectsofanappbasedphysicaltrainingforlongandpostcovidtreatmentapilotstudyprotocolforamulticentrerandomisedcontrolledtrial AT michelenatale effectsofanappbasedphysicaltrainingforlongandpostcovidtreatmentapilotstudyprotocolforamulticentrerandomisedcontrolledtrial AT gunnarerz effectsofanappbasedphysicaltrainingforlongandpostcovidtreatmentapilotstudyprotocolforamulticentrerandomisedcontrolledtrial |