Post-Acute COVID-19NCT06156202
Evaluating a Comprehensive Multimodal Outpatient Rehabilitation Program for PASC Program to Improve Functioning of Persons Suffering From Post-COVID-19 Syndrome: A Randomized Controlled Trial
A study testing Comprehensive Rehabilitation in people with Post-Acute COVID-19 and Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome, run by University of Pennsylvania at 1 site in United States.
Trial summary
About 10-20% of persons who contract SARS CoV-2 will experience persistent post-acute sequelae of SARSCoV-2 infection (referred here as PASC). While treatments offered at emerging outpatient COVID recovery clinics are being informed by previous similar diseases, the need is great for a better understanding of the… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Any age
- Conditions the study is for
- Post-Acute COVID-19, Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome, Post-Acute COVID-19 Infection
- What is being tested?
- Comprehensive Rehabilitation
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 125 participants
- Where
- 1 siteUnited States
- Study dates
- 15 Nov 2023to 30 Nov 2025
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages Any age
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- 18 years if age or older
- English or Spanish speaking
- Previously tested positive for COVID
- Still having symptoms not explained by any other etiologies
- Cognitive impairment
- Fatigue
Who cannot join
- Participation in another clinical trial
- Score greater than 12 on the fatigue scale
- Score greater than 30 on the memory/thinking scale
- Severe cognitive impairment (i.e. Alzheimer's, Dementia)
- Mental or physical inability to participate in the program
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
United States1 site
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, 19145
About this study
Official title: Evaluating a Comprehensive Multimodal Outpatient Rehabilitation Program to Improve the Functioning of Persons Suffering From Post-acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC): A Randomized Controlled
About 10-20% of persons who contract SARS CoV-2 will experience persistent post-acute sequelae of SARSCoV-2 infection (referred here as PASC). While treatments offered at emerging outpatient COVID recovery clinics are being informed by previous similar diseases, the need is great for a better understanding of the unique needs of this growing population and for tested, efficacious rehabilitation programs to address them. We provide both here.The targeted six-week program will be comprised of a core set of therapies, including individually titrated stretching and flexibility, strengthening of accessory breathing muscles and diaphragm, resistance and aerobic conditioning, and vestibular rehabilitation, supplemented by neuropsychological and cognitive remediation tailored to patients' needs.
Read the detailed description
About 10-20% of persons who contract SARS CoV-2 will experience persistent post-acute sequelae of SARSCoV-2 infection (referred here as PASC). Given that persistent symptoms are heterogeneous with multisystem involvement, recent consensus recommendations suggest that a holistic rehabilitation program may be required to manage PASC and restore function. While treatments offered at emerging outpatient COVID recovery clinics are being informed by previous similar diseases, the need is great for a better understanding of the unique needs of this growing population and for tested, efficacious rehabilitation programs to address them. We provide both here. Specifically, our aims are: (1) To quantify the incidence and severity of PASC across different variants and their effects on health and functioning; (2) To develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a patient-centered, interdisciplinary, multimodal comprehensive rehabilitation program among patients with PASC; and (3)To estimate the costs associated with the proposed PASC rehabilitation intervention and to examine the relationship between intervention's costs and effectiveness and their implication for rehabilitation program initiatives. Data from a large and diverse ongoing longitudinal survey of persons who tested for COVID-19 at the study health system will serve as the sampling frame from which to identify and enroll PASC patients in the study. The targeted six-week program will be comprised of a core set of therapies, including individually titrated stretching and flexibility, strengthening of accessory breathing muscles and diaphragm, resistance and aerobic conditioning, and vestibular rehabilitation, supplemented by neuropsychological and cognitive remediation tailored to patients' needs. Using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, the effectiveness of the intervention will be compared to that of usual care augmented by a onetime in-person assessment and patient education materials. In addition to walking speed, a widely used global measure of aerobic capacity and endurance, and patient-reported health and functioning (primary outcomes), we will assess the intervention effectiveness on: (i) cognitive functioning, (ii) pain, (iii) fatigue, (iv) tension, stress, anxiety, and depression, and (v) self-management of PASC symptoms (secondary outcomes). Outcomes will be measured at fixed points in time at 8 weeks (shortly after therapy completion) and at 90 day's post- study entry to examine sustainability of effects. Our overarching hypothesis is that that higher intervention costs in the intervention group will be more than offset by greater improvements in outcomes implying that, overall, persons in the intervention group will receive more cost-effective care than those in usual care group. Given the dearth of rigorous scientific evidence regarding effective assessment and treatment of PASC and the unresolved questions concerning access to and value of post-COVID rehabilitation care, the results of this study will have significant implications for both policy and program development.
- Conditions
- Post-Acute COVID-19, Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome, Post-Acute COVID-19 Infection, Long COVID, Long Covid19, Dyspnea
- Being tested
- Comprehensive Rehabilitation, Augmented Usual Care
- Keywords
- PASC, Long COVID
- Medical subject headings
- Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome, Dyspnea, Dizziness, Cognitive Dysfunction
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Comprehensive RehabilitationOther
Subjects will be given the option to undergo the comprehensive rehabilitation program including speech therapy and physical therapy. Progression through the rehabilitation program will be personalized and designed based on impairments identified during the comprehensive baseline assessment and previous sessions. Subjects will undergo 12 one- hour sessions over the course of six weeks. The exercise program will be graded and targeted to the person's physical capacity with the goal of slowly advancing the exercise duration or intensity to effect physiological strengthening and increased physical function.
Augmented Usual CareOther
Following randomization, subjects in the augmented usual care group will be given the results of their in-person baseline assessment as well as the WHO Guide "Support for Rehabilitation Self-Management after COVID-19 Related Illness." This guide consists of ways to manage: breathlessness, difficulty with voice, eating, drinking and swallowing; problems with attention, memory and thinking clearly; limitations in activities of daily living, manage stress and mood dysfunction and advice for when to contact healthcare professionals. Follow-up interviews will assess process measures, including use of outpatient rehabilitation clinics, to examine possible contamination effects
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Augmented Usual Care | Active comparator | Following randomization, subjects in the augmented usual care group will be given the results of their in-person baseline assessment as well as the WHO Guide "Support for Rehabilitation Self-Management after COVID-19 Related Illness." This guide consists of ways to manage: breathlessness, difficulty with voice, eating, drinking and swallowing; problems with attention, memory and thinking clearly; limitations in activities of daily living, manage stress and mood dysfunction and advice for when to contact healthcare professionals. Follow-up interviews will assess process measures, including use of outpatient rehabilitation clinics, to examine possible contamination effects Receives: Other: Augmented Usual Care |
| Comprehensive Rehabilitation | Experimental | Subjects will be given the option to undergo the comprehensive rehabilitation program including speech therapy and physical therapy. Progression through the rehabilitation program will be personalized and designed based on impairments identified during the comprehensive baseline assessment and previous sessions. Subjects will undergo 12 one- hour sessions over the course of six weeks. The exercise program will be graded and targeted to the person's physical capacity with the goal of slowly advancing the exercise duration or intensity to effect physiological strengthening and increased physical function. Receives: Other: Comprehensive Rehabilitation |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Six minute walk test
Measured: At week 1 and week 8
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted5 Dec 2023
- Study start15 Nov 2023
- Primary completion30 Nov 2025
- Study completion30 Nov 2025
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (5)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Post-Acute COVID-19Studies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by University of PennsylvaniaThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 125 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- University of Pennsylvania
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Medical College of Wisconsin, National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Timothy Dillingham, MD, MS, Principal investigator, University of Pennsylvania
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06156202
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 853695
- Status last verified
- Jan 2026
- First submitted
- 28 Nov 2023
- Last updated
- 20 Jan 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- Yes
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Pezzin LE, Larson ER, Lorber W, McGinley EL, Dillingham TR. Music-instruction intervention for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder: a randomized pilot study. BMC Psychol. 2018 Dec 19;6(1):60. doi: 10.1186/s40359-018-0274-8.
PubMed 30567598Abramoff BA, Dillingham TR, Caldera FE, Ritchie MD, Pezzin LE. Inpatient Rehabilitation Outcomes After Severe COVID-19 Infections: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2021 Dec 1;100(12):1109-1114. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000001885.
PubMed 34657085Dillingham T, Kenia J, Shofer F, Marschalek J. A Prospective Assessment of an Adjustable, Immediate Fit, Transtibial Prosthesis. PM R. 2019 Nov;11(11):1210-1217. doi: 10.1002/pmrj.12133. Epub 2019 Apr 1.
PubMed 30734517McCloskey C, Kenia J, Shofer F, Marschalek J, Dillingham T. Improved Self-Reported Comfort, Stability, and Limb Temperature Regulation with an Immediate Fit, Adjustable Transtibial Prosthesis. Arch Rehabil Res Clin Transl. 2020 Dec;2(4):100090. doi: 10.1016/j.arrct.2020.100090. Epub 2020 Nov 2.
PubMed 33381750Abramoff B, Dillingham T, Rybicki AK, Shofer F, McGinley E, Verma SS, Kuns MC, Barry JT, Pezzin LE. Evaluating a Comprehensive Multimodal Outpatient Rehabilitation Program to Improve the Functioning of Persons Suffering from Post-acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC): A Randomized Controlled Trial. Res Sq [Preprint]. 2025 Aug 18:rs.3.rs-7375832. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7375832/v1.
PubMed 40894014
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 20 Jan 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Evaluating a Comprehensive Multimodal Outpatient Rehabilitation Program to Improve the Functioning of Persons Suffering From Post-acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 Infection (PASC): A Randomized Controlled
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06156202
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- 853695
- Conditions
- Post-Acute COVID-19, Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome, Post-Acute COVID-19 Infection, Long COVID, Long Covid19, Dyspnea
- Keywords
- PASC, Long COVID
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 125 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- University of PennsylvaniaUniversity, hospital or other
- Collaborators
- Medical College of Wisconsin, National Institutes of Health (NIH)
- Study start
- 15 Nov 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 30 Nov 2025 (actual)
- Study completion
- 30 Nov 2025 (actual)
- First posted
- 5 Dec 2023 (actual)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
About 10-20% of persons who contract SARS CoV-2 will experience persistent post-acute sequelae of SARSCoV-2 infection (referred here as PASC). While treatments offered at emerging outpatient COVID recovery clinics are being informed by previous similar diseases, the need is great for a better understanding of the unique needs of this growing population and for tested, efficacious rehabilitation programs to address them. We provide both here.The targeted six-week program will be comprised of a core set of therapies, including individually titrated stretching and flexibility, strengthening of accessory breathing muscles and diaphragm, resistance and aerobic conditioning, and vestibular rehabilitation, supplemented by neuropsychological and cognitive remediation tailored to patients' needs.
Detailed description
About 10-20% of persons who contract SARS CoV-2 will experience persistent post-acute sequelae of SARSCoV-2 infection (referred here as PASC). Given that persistent symptoms are heterogeneous with multisystem involvement, recent consensus recommendations suggest that a holistic rehabilitation program may be required to manage PASC and restore function. While treatments offered at emerging outpatient COVID recovery clinics are being informed by previous similar diseases, the need is great for a better understanding of the unique needs of this growing population and for tested, efficacious rehabilitation programs to address them. We provide both here. Specifically, our aims are: (1) To quantify the incidence and severity of PASC across different variants and their effects on health and functioning; (2) To develop and evaluate the effectiveness of a patient-centered, interdisciplinary, multimodal comprehensive rehabilitation program among patients with PASC; and (3)To estimate the costs associated with the proposed PASC rehabilitation intervention and to examine the relationship between intervention's costs and effectiveness and their implication for rehabilitation program initiatives. Data from a large and diverse ongoing longitudinal survey of persons who tested for COVID-19 at the study health system will serve as the sampling frame from which to identify and enroll PASC patients in the study. The targeted six-week program will be comprised of a core set of therapies, including individually titrated stretching and flexibility, strengthening of accessory breathing muscles and diaphragm, resistance and aerobic conditioning, and vestibular rehabilitation, supplemented by neuropsychological and cognitive remediation tailored to patients' needs. Using a randomized controlled trial (RCT) design, the effectiveness of the intervention will be compared to that of usual care augmented by a onetime in-person assessment and patient education materials. In addition to walking speed, a widely used global measure of aerobic capacity and endurance, and patient-reported health and functioning (primary outcomes), we will assess the intervention effectiveness on: (i) cognitive functioning, (ii) pain, (iii) fatigue, (iv) tension, stress, anxiety, and depression, and (v) self-management of PASC symptoms (secondary outcomes). Outcomes will be measured at fixed points in time at 8 weeks (shortly after therapy completion) and at 90 day's post- study entry to examine sustainability of effects. Our overarching hypothesis is that that higher intervention costs in the intervention group will be more than offset by greater improvements in outcomes implying that, overall, persons in the intervention group will receive more cost-effective care than those in usual care group. Given the dearth of rigorous scientific evidence regarding effective assessment and treatment of PASC and the unresolved questions concerning access to and value of post-COVID rehabilitation care, the results of this study will have significant implications for both policy and program development.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Single blind (outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Augmented Usual Care | Active comparator | Other: Augmented Usual CareFollowing randomization, subjects in the augmented usual care group will be given the results of their in-person baseline assessment as well as the WHO Guide "Support for Rehabilitation Self-Management after COVID-19 Related Illness." This guide consists of ways to manage: breathlessness, difficulty with voice, eating, drinking and swallowing; problems with attention, memory and thinking clearly; limitations in activities of daily living, manage stress and mood dysfunction and advice for when to contact healthcare professionals. Follow-up interviews will assess process measures, including use of outpatient rehabilitation clinics, to examine possible contamination effects |
| Comprehensive Rehabilitation | Experimental | Other: Comprehensive RehabilitationSubjects will be given the option to undergo the comprehensive rehabilitation program including speech therapy and physical therapy. Progression through the rehabilitation program will be personalized and designed based on impairments identified during the comprehensive baseline assessment and previous sessions. Subjects will undergo 12 one- hour sessions over the course of six weeks. The exercise program will be graded and targeted to the person's physical capacity with the goal of slowly advancing the exercise duration or intensity to effect physiological strengthening and increased physical function. |
Who may qualify
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Child, Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- 18 years if age or older
- English or Spanish speaking
- Previously tested positive for COVID
- Still having symptoms not explained by any other etiologies
- Cognitive impairment
Key exclusion criteria (5 listed)
- Participation in another clinical trial
- Score greater than 12 on the fatigue scale
- Score greater than 30 on the memory/thinking scale
- Severe cognitive impairment (i.e. Alzheimer's, Dementia)
- Mental or physical inability to participate in the program
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Comprehensive RehabilitationSubjects will be given the option to undergo the comprehensive rehabilitation program including speech therapy and physical therapy. Progression through the rehabilitation program will be personalized and designed based on impairments identified during the comprehensive baseline assessment and previous sessions. Subjects will undergo 12 one- hour sessions over the course of six weeks. The exercise program will be graded and targeted to the person's physical capacity with the goal of slowly advancing the exercise duration or intensity to effect physiological strengthening and increased physical function. | Other | Comprehensive Rehabilitation |
| Augmented Usual CareFollowing randomization, subjects in the augmented usual care group will be given the results of their in-person baseline assessment as well as the WHO Guide "Support for Rehabilitation Self-Management after COVID-19 Related Illness." This guide consists of ways to manage: breathlessness, difficulty with voice, eating, drinking and swallowing; problems with attention, memory and thinking clearly; limitations in activities of daily living, manage stress and mood dysfunction and advice for when to contact healthcare professionals. Follow-up interviews will assess process measures, including use of outpatient rehabilitation clinics, to examine possible contamination effects | Other | Augmented Usual Care |
Primary outcome
Six minute walk test
Time frame: At week 1 and week 8
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 20 Jan 2026.
- Background: PubMed 30567598Pezzin LE, Larson ER, Lorber W, McGinley EL, Dillingham TR. Music-instruction intervention for treatment of post-traumatic stress disorder: a randomized pilot study. BMC Psychol. 2018 Dec 19;6(1):60. doi: 10.1186/s40359-018-0274-8.
- Background: PubMed 34657085Abramoff BA, Dillingham TR, Caldera FE, Ritchie MD, Pezzin LE. Inpatient Rehabilitation Outcomes After Severe COVID-19 Infections: A Retrospective Cohort Study. Am J Phys Med Rehabil. 2021 Dec 1;100(12):1109-1114. doi: 10.1097/PHM.0000000000001885.
- Background: PubMed 30734517Dillingham T, Kenia J, Shofer F, Marschalek J. A Prospective Assessment of an Adjustable, Immediate Fit, Transtibial Prosthesis. PM R. 2019 Nov;11(11):1210-1217. doi: 10.1002/pmrj.12133. Epub 2019 Apr 1.
- Background: PubMed 33381750McCloskey C, Kenia J, Shofer F, Marschalek J, Dillingham T. Improved Self-Reported Comfort, Stability, and Limb Temperature Regulation with an Immediate Fit, Adjustable Transtibial Prosthesis. Arch Rehabil Res Clin Transl. 2020 Dec;2(4):100090. doi: 10.1016/j.arrct.2020.100090. Epub 2020 Nov 2.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 40894014Abramoff B, Dillingham T, Rybicki AK, Shofer F, McGinley E, Verma SS, Kuns MC, Barry JT, Pezzin LE. Evaluating a Comprehensive Multimodal Outpatient Rehabilitation Program to Improve the Functioning of Persons Suffering from Post-acute Sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC): A Randomized Controlled Trial. Res Sq [Preprint]. 2025 Aug 18:rs.3.rs-7375832. doi: 10.21203/rs.3.rs-7375832/v1.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Timothy Dillingham, MD, MS principal investigator
University of Pennsylvania
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Comprehensive Rehabilitation in people with Post-Acute COVID-19 and Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome, run by University of Pennsylvania at 1 site in United States.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 5 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 20 Jan 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in United States. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Six minute walk test (time frame: At week 1 and week 8). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
On the ClinicalTrials.gov record for NCT06156202, which also lists 5 linked publications.
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 20 Jan 2026.