Long COVID-19 SyndromeTEPCONCT06952127
Feasibility and Preliminary Efficacy of a Group-based Telerehabilitation Program in People With Post-COVID-19 Sequelae (TEPCO).
A study testing Rehabilitation program in people with Long COVID-19 Syndrome and Long COVID, run by Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec at 1 site in Canada.
Trial summary
The goal of this study pilot randomized controlled study is to evaluate the feasibility of the study procedures and to compare the preliminary efficacy of a rehabilitation program given in a "remote" (telerehabilitation) or "face-to-face" model for adult patients who had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and still have… Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 18 years and older
- Conditions the study is for
- Long COVID-19 Syndrome, Long COVID, Long COVID Syndrome
- What is being tested?
- Rehabilitation program
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 22 participants
- Where
- 1 siteCanada
- Study dates
- 7 Apr 2023to 29 Mar 2024
- 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 18 years and older
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- adult patients (≥18 years)
- confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection defined by positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and/or antigen test results
- referred to the pneumology clinic for a modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea score of 2-3 after a minimum of eight weeks of infection
- VO₂max of less than 80% of the predicted value
- receiving a medical prescription for rehabilitation following initial assessment by a pulmonologist
- being able to walk independently
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- providing informed consent
- having a good internet connection (i.e., a minimum download speed of 4 Mbps and an upload speed of 4 Mbps)
- being in possession of a computer or tablet equipped with a camera enabling videoconferencing.
Who cannot join
- requiring in-hospital rehabilitation at discharge
- evidence of medical instability (i.e., moderate or severe cardiac disease, ischemic or severe hemorrhagic stroke, or neurodegenerative disease, unstable fracture)
- history of severe cognitive or mental impairment
- already enrolled in another rehabilitation program
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Canada1 site
Centre hospitalier affilié universitaire régional
Trois-Rivières, Quebec, G8Z 3R9
About this study
Official title: Pilot Study Evaluating the Feasibility and Appropriateness of a Telerehabilitation Exercise Program in People With Post-COVID-19 Sequelae: a Single-center Randomized Trial.
The goal of this study pilot randomized controlled study is to evaluate the feasibility of the study procedures and to compare the preliminary efficacy of a rehabilitation program given in a "remote" (telerehabilitation) or "face-to-face" model for adult patients who had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and still have symptoms after eight weeks of infection. The main question it aims to answer is:
- Are the study procedures feasible?
- Will the two groups have similar results for the preliminary efficacy outcomes?
Read more
Researchers will compare group telerehabilitation to a face-to-face group to see if it's comparable.
Participants will:
- Take part in a 60-minute training session, 3 times a week in person or remotely
- Visit the clinic before starting the training program and after 8 weeks of training
- Keep a diary of their symptoms, if any
- Conditions
- Long COVID-19 Syndrome, Long COVID, Long COVID Syndrome
- Being tested
- Rehabilitation program
- Keywords
- telerehabilitation
- Medical subject headings
- Post-Acute COVID-19 Syndrome
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Rehabilitation programOther
- 5-minute warm-up including easy global exercises
- 5 resistance training exercises targeting upper and lower muscle groups
- 30 secondes break between sets
- Cooldown with breathing and stretching exercises
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Telerehabilitation group | Experimental | Rehabilitation program including cardiovascular, muscular and balance training and, if necessary, respiratory physiotherapy using the Teams platform supervised by a certified kinesiologist. The rehabilitation will be conducted 3 times a week for 8 weeks in group of 5 or 6 persons. Receives: Other: Rehabilitation program |
| Face-to-face group | Active comparator | Rehabilitation program including cardiovascular, muscular and balance training and, if necessary, respiratory physiotherapy at the university kinesiology clinic supervised by a certified kinesiologist. The rehabilitation will be conducted 3 times a week for 8 weeks in group of 5 or 6 persons. Receives: Other: Rehabilitation program |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
The feasibility of study procedures
This will be evaluated by % of participants that accept to participate in the study (recruitment rate), % of participants who drop out or withdraw from a study (attrition rate), % completed session (adherence rate); number of adverse events and % of participants satisfaction.
Measured: 8 weeks
Secondary outcomes (7)
Exercise capacity
Pedaling time on a cycle ergometer at constant load (i.e., 60% of maximum load).
Measured: 8 weeks
Walking capacity
6-minute walk test Total distance walked in meters
Measured: 8 weeks
Lower-limb endurance
1-minute sit-to-stand test The number of completed sit-to-stand repetitions is record.
Measured: 8 weeks
Physical performance
Short Physical Performance Battery test Is made up of a set of three tests: standing static balance in three positions (score 0-4); lower limb strength and power through getting up and sitting on a chair(score 0-4); and walking speed at normal pace (score 0-4). And an overall score on 12.
Measured: 8 weeks
Change in Independence in activities of daily living
The Barthel Index Ten items are scored with a number of points (the scoring is as follows: 0 = unable, 1 = needs assistance/help, 2 = independent), and then a final score is calculated by summing the points awarded to each functional skill. The higher the score, the more independent the patient is.
Measured: 8 weeks
Change in Clinical Frailty
Clinical Frailty Scale (CFS) Frailty score ranging from 1 (very fit) to 9 (terminally ill)
Measured: 8 weeks
Change in Quality of life
Saint George's Hospital Respiratory Questionnaire (SGHRQ). Scores ranging from 0 to 100 are calculated for each component, as well as a total score that summarizes the responses to all items. A zero score indicates no impairment of quality of life, and higher scores indicate more limitations.
Measured: 8 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted30 Apr 2025
- Study start7 Apr 2023
- Primary completion29 Mar 2024
- Study completion29 Mar 2024
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Publications (1)Papers the sponsor has linked to this study.
- Other trials for Long COVID-19 SyndromeStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- 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
- None (open label)
- Enrolment
- 22 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Marie-Claude Lehoux, Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06952127
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- 2023-667
- Other IDs
- 889
- Acronym
- TEPCO
- Status last verified
- Apr 2025
- First submitted
- 24 Apr 2025
- Last updated
- 30 Apr 2025
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
- Individual data sharing
- No
Publications
Lehoux MC, Houle M, Saey D, Tetreau C, Lefebvre A, Mathieu E, Drapeau C. Evaluating the feasibility and preliminary effects of a group-based telerehabilitation program in individuals with persistent dyspnea after COVID-19 (TEPCO): a pilot randomized controlled study. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2026 Jul 7. doi: 10.1186/s40814-026-01876-w. Online ahead of print.
PubMed 42415194
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 30 Apr 2025. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Pilot Study Evaluating the Feasibility and Appropriateness of a Telerehabilitation Exercise Program in People With Post-COVID-19 Sequelae: a Single-center Randomized Trial.
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT06952127
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- TEPCO / 2023-667
- Conditions
- Long COVID-19 Syndrome, Long COVID, Long COVID Syndrome
- Keywords
- telerehabilitation
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 22 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-QuébecUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- 7 Apr 2023 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 29 Mar 2024 (actual)
- Study completion
- 29 Mar 2024 (actual)
- First posted
- 30 Apr 2025 (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.
The goal of this study pilot randomized controlled study is to evaluate the feasibility of the study procedures and to compare the preliminary efficacy of a rehabilitation program given in a "remote" (telerehabilitation) or "face-to-face" model for adult patients who had confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection and still have symptoms after eight weeks of infection. The main question it aims to answer is:
- Are the study procedures feasible?
- Will the two groups have similar results for the preliminary efficacy outcomes?
Researchers will compare group telerehabilitation to a face-to-face group to see if it's comparable.
Participants will:
- Take part in a 60-minute training session, 3 times a week in person or remotely
- Visit the clinic before starting the training program and after 8 weeks of training
- Keep a diary of their symptoms, if any
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- None (open label)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Telerehabilitation group | Experimental | Other: Rehabilitation programRehabilitation program including cardiovascular, muscular and balance training and, if necessary, respiratory physiotherapy using the Teams platform supervised by a certified kinesiologist. The rehabilitation will be conducted 3 times a week for 8 weeks in group of 5 or 6 persons. |
| Face-to-face group | Active comparator | Other: Rehabilitation programRehabilitation program including cardiovascular, muscular and balance training and, if necessary, respiratory physiotherapy at the university kinesiology clinic supervised by a certified kinesiologist. The rehabilitation will be conducted 3 times a week for 8 weeks in group of 5 or 6 persons. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 18 years and older
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (9 listed)
- adult patients (≥18 years)
- confirmed SARS-CoV-2 infection defined by positive polymerase chain reaction (PCR) testing and/or antigen test results
- referred to the pneumology clinic for a modified British Medical Research Council (mMRC) dyspnea score of 2-3 after a minimum of eight weeks of infection
- VO₂max of less than 80% of the predicted value
- receiving a medical prescription for rehabilitation following initial assessment by a pulmonologist
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- requiring in-hospital rehabilitation at discharge
- evidence of medical instability (i.e., moderate or severe cardiac disease, ischemic or severe hemorrhagic stroke, or neurodegenerative disease, unstable fracture)
- history of severe cognitive or mental impairment
- already enrolled in another rehabilitation 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 |
|---|---|---|
| Rehabilitation program* 5-minute warm-up including easy global exercises * 5 resistance training exercises targeting upper and lower muscle groups * 30 secondes break between sets * Cooldown with breathing and stretching exercises | Other | Face-to-face group, Telerehabilitation group |
Primary outcome
The feasibility of study procedures
Time frame: 8 weeks
This will be evaluated by % of participants that accept to participate in the study (recruitment rate), % of participants who drop out or withdraw from a study (attrition rate), % completed session (adherence rate); number of adverse events and % of participants satisfaction.
7 secondary outcomes
Exercise capacity
Time frame: 8 weeks
Walking capacity
Time frame: 8 weeks
Lower-limb endurance
Time frame: 8 weeks
Physical performance
Time frame: 8 weeks
Change in Independence in activities of daily living
Time frame: 8 weeks
Change in Clinical Frailty
Time frame: 8 weeks
Change in Quality of life
Time frame: 8 weeks
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 30 Apr 2025.
- Derived from this study: PubMed 42415194Lehoux MC, Houle M, Saey D, Tetreau C, Lefebvre A, Mathieu E, Drapeau C. Evaluating the feasibility and preliminary effects of a group-based telerehabilitation program in individuals with persistent dyspnea after COVID-19 (TEPCO): a pilot randomized controlled study. Pilot Feasibility Stud. 2026 Jul 7. doi: 10.1186/s40814-026-01876-w. Online ahead of print.
- Individual participant dataSharing planned: No
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Epigenetic Changes in Long COVID Patients
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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.
The record lists no contact. Use the official record to reach the sponsor.
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Rehabilitation program in people with Long COVID-19 Syndrome and Long COVID, run by Centre intégré universitaire de santé et de services sociaux de la Mauricie-et-du-Centre-du-Québec at 1 site in Canada.
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 9 inclusion and 4 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 30 Apr 2025. 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 Canada. 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?
The feasibility of study procedures (time frame: 8 weeks). 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 NCT06952127, which also lists 1 linked publication.
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 30 Apr 2025.