Long COVIDNCT07553897
Tele-exercise Training Program for Long COVID
A study testing Telehealth exercise training program and Education and self-exercise in people with Long COVID, run by Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH) at 1 site in Taiwan.
Trial summary
Patients with long coronavirus disease (COVID-19) experience multisystem symptoms and reduced quality of life (QOL). Proactive interventions are needed to enhance health outcomes.To investigate the effects of a 12-week tele-exercise training program on long COVID symptoms, cardiorespiratory fitness, and QOL. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 80 years
- Conditions the study is for
- Long COVID
- What is being tested?
- Telehealth exercise training program and Education and self-exercise
- Type of treatment
- Medical device, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 120 participants
- Where
- 1 siteTaiwan
- Study dates
- 12 Oct 2021to 22 Nov 2023
- 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 20 to 80 years
- All sexes
- No healthy volunteers
- Adult, Older adult
Who may be able to join
- Aged 20-80 years
- Diagnosed with long COVID based on the criteria of the World Health Organization
- Able to speak and understand Mandarin
- Able to ambulate independently
- Owns a mobile phone with Internet access
- Willing to participate and undergo randomization
Who cannot join
- History of arrhythmia
- History of mental illness
- Pregnancy
- Acute or unstable chronic diseases (e.g., recent stroke, ongoing cancer treatment, end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis, or major surgery within the previous 3 months) Comorbid neurological or musculoskeletal conditions (e.g., stroke, Parkinson's disease, or dementia) resulting in moderate-to-severe physical disability
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
About this study
Official title: Effectiveness of a Tele-Exercise Training Program on Long COVID Symptoms and Quality of Life in Patients With Long COVID
Patients with long coronavirus disease (COVID-19) experience multisystem symptoms and reduced quality of life (QOL). Proactive interventions are needed to enhance health outcomes.To investigate the effects of a 12-week tele-exercise training program on long COVID symptoms, cardiorespiratory fitness, and QOL.
Read the detailed description
Long COVID is a multi-organ condition with persistent or delayed symptoms lasting weeks after infection, affecting physical and psychological function and reducing quality of life. It can occur regardless of age or initial disease severity, with prevalence ranging from 30% to 87.4%. Common symptoms include fatigue, cardiopulmonary issues, and neurological problems, collectively impairing daily functioning and mental health.
Exercise-based rehabilitation, including tele-exercise training, has emerged as a practical management strategy and may improve symptoms, cardiorespiratory fitness, and quality of life. However, current evidence remains limited due to small sample sizes and inconsistent protocols. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of a 12-week tele-exercise program on symptoms, fitness, and quality of life in Taiwanese patients with long COVID compared with usual care.
- Conditions
- Long COVID
- Being tested
- Telehealth exercise training program, Education and self-exercise
- Keywords
- Telerehabilitation, Long COVID, cardiorespiratory fitness, quality of life, long COVID symptoms
- 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.
Telehealth exercise training programDevice
Each participant received an individual exercise counselling session lasting 10-15 minutes, based on the guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine.
Participants in the home-based telehealth exercise group were provided with a mobile exercise application integrated with heart rate-monitoring clothing. The app delivers real-time heart rate feedback during each session and includes an alert system to ensure participants maintain their prescribed target heart rate based on individualized exercise prescriptions. Upon completion of each session, exercise duration and heart rate data are automatically uploaded to the medical center's cloud system via the monitoring device.
An experienced nurse regularly reviewed the cloud-based data to monitor adherence. Additionally, communication between participants and researchers was facilitated through the LINE platform, enabling timely interaction and support.
Education and self-exerciseBehavioural
Each participant received an individual exercise counselling session lasting 10-15 minutes, based on the guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine.
Participants received usual outpatient care for long COVID, which included general guidance on physical activity, physician-led management of persistent symptoms (e.g., fatigue, dyspnea, and reduced exercise tolerance), and routine follow-up visits as clinically indicated.
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Telehealth exercise training | Experimental | Telehealth exercise training for 12 weeks Receives: Device: Telehealth exercise training program |
| Education and self-exercise | Active comparator | usual outpatient care for 12 weeks Receives: Behavioral: Education and self-exercise |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Long COVID Symptoms
Common long COVID symptoms, based on the participants' subjective reports, include fatigue, shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, palpitations, brain fog, headaches, sleep disturbances, dizziness, changes in taste or smell, and depression or anxiety; these were assessed by a physician using a checklist with a binary response (present or absent).
Measured: 12 weeks
Cardiorespiratory Fitness - Peak Oxygen Uptake (VO₂peak)
Participants will undergo cardiopulmonary exercise testing using a motorized cycle ergometer with an incremental ramp protocol (10 W/min). The test will continue until participants report physical exhaustion or reach maximal exercise capacity, defined by respiratory exchange ratio criteria. Peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak, mL/kg/min) will be estimated from maximal cardiac output and oxygen utilization and identified when oxygen consumption plateaus despite increasing exercise intensity.
Unit of Measure: mL/kg/min
Measured: 12 weeks
Cardiorespiratory Fitness - Peak Workload
During cardiopulmonary exercise testing, peak workload (watts) will be recorded as the highest workload achieved on the cycle ergometer. This reflects participants' ability to tolerate increasing exercise intensity.
Unit of Measure: watts
Measured: 12 weeks
Cardiorespiratory Fitness - Anaerobic Threshold
Anaerobic threshold (AT, mL/kg/min) will be determined during cardiopulmonary exercise testing as the point at which energy production begins to shift from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism.
Unit of Measure: mL/kg/min
Measured: 12 weeks
Health-Related Quality of Life
The brief World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire includes 26 standardized items covering four domains: physical, psychological, social, and environmental. It also contains two general items assessing overall quality of life and general health. The Taiwanese version adds two culturally specific items related to social respect/acceptance and eating/food.
All items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale, where higher scores reflect better quality of life. Scores for each domain are calculated by averaging the item scores within that domain and then multiplying by 4, yielding a final score range from 4 to 20.
Measured: 12 weeks
Secondary outcomes (1)
Safety and adverse events
Adverse events were monitored throughout the 12-week intervention. They were defined as any unfavorable or unintended signs, symptoms, or medical conditions occurring during the study that were considered related or possibly related to the intervention and required medical attention, discontinuation of exercise, or modification of the intervention.
Mild and transient exercise-related responses, such as expected fatigue or delayed-onset muscle soreness that resolved without medical intervention, were not classified as adverse events, in accordance with standard exercise guidelines.
Measured: 12 weeks
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted28 Apr 2026
- Study start12 Oct 2021
- Primary completion8 Nov 2023
- Study completion22 Nov 2023
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Long COVIDStudies 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
- Double blind
- Who is masked
- Investigator, Outcomes assessor
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH)
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Principal investigator, Chia-Ying Lai, Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH)
- Investigators
- Shang-Lin Chiang, PhD, Principal investigator, Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH)
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07553897
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- A202105159-2
- Status last verified
- Apr 2026
- First submitted
- 14 Apr 2026
- Last updated
- 28 Apr 2026
- Results posted
- No
- FDA-regulated drug
- No
- FDA-regulated device
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 28 Apr 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Effectiveness of a Tele-Exercise Training Program on Long COVID Symptoms and Quality of Life in Patients With Long COVID
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT07553897
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- A202105159-2
- Conditions
- Long COVID
- Keywords
- Telerehabilitation, Long COVID, cardiorespiratory fitness, quality of life, long COVID symptoms
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 120 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH)University, hospital or other
- Study start
- 12 Oct 2021 (actual)
- Primary completion
- 8 Nov 2023 (actual)
- Study completion
- 22 Nov 2023 (actual)
- First posted
- 28 Apr 2026 (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.
Patients with long coronavirus disease (COVID-19) experience multisystem symptoms and reduced quality of life (QOL). Proactive interventions are needed to enhance health outcomes.To investigate the effects of a 12-week tele-exercise training program on long COVID symptoms, cardiorespiratory fitness, and QOL.
Detailed description
Long COVID is a multi-organ condition with persistent or delayed symptoms lasting weeks after infection, affecting physical and psychological function and reducing quality of life. It can occur regardless of age or initial disease severity, with prevalence ranging from 30% to 87.4%. Common symptoms include fatigue, cardiopulmonary issues, and neurological problems, collectively impairing daily functioning and mental health.
Exercise-based rehabilitation, including tele-exercise training, has emerged as a practical management strategy and may improve symptoms, cardiorespiratory fitness, and quality of life. However, current evidence remains limited due to small sample sizes and inconsistent protocols. Therefore, this study evaluated the effects of a 12-week tele-exercise program on symptoms, fitness, and quality of life in Taiwanese patients with long COVID compared with usual care.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Treatment
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Parallel groups
- Masking
- Double blind (investigator, outcomes assessor)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Telehealth exercise training | Experimental | Device: Telehealth exercise training programTelehealth exercise training for 12 weeks |
| Education and self-exercise | Active comparator | Behavioral: Education and self-exerciseusual outpatient care for 12 weeks |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 80 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Not accepted
- Age groups
- Adult, Older adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Aged 20-80 years
- Diagnosed with long COVID based on the criteria of the World Health Organization
- Able to speak and understand Mandarin
- Able to ambulate independently
- Owns a mobile phone with Internet access
Key exclusion criteria (4 listed)
- History of arrhythmia
- History of mental illness
- Pregnancy
- Acute or unstable chronic diseases (e.g., recent stroke, ongoing cancer treatment, end-stage renal disease requiring dialysis, or major surgery within the previous 3 months) Comorbid neurological or musculoskeletal conditions (e.g., stroke, Parkinson's disease, or dementia) resulting in moderate-to-severe physical disability
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 |
|---|---|---|
| Telehealth exercise training programEach participant received an individual exercise counselling session lasting 10-15 minutes, based on the guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine. Participants in the home-based telehealth exercise group were provided with a mobile exercise application integrated with heart rate-monitoring clothing. The app delivers real-time heart rate feedback during each session and includes an alert system to ensure participants maintain their prescribed target heart rate based on individualized exercise prescriptions. Upon completion of each session, exercise duration and heart rate data are automatically uploaded to the medical center's cloud system via the monitoring device. An experienced nurse regularly reviewed the cloud-based data to monitor adherence. Additionally, communication between participants and researchers was facilitated through the LINE platform, enabling timely interaction and support. | Device | Telehealth exercise training |
| Education and self-exerciseEach participant received an individual exercise counselling session lasting 10-15 minutes, based on the guidelines of the American College of Sports Medicine. Participants received usual outpatient care for long COVID, which included general guidance on physical activity, physician-led management of persistent symptoms (e.g., fatigue, dyspnea, and reduced exercise tolerance), and routine follow-up visits as clinically indicated. | Behavioural | Education and self-exercise |
Primary outcome
Long COVID Symptoms
Time frame: 12 weeks
Common long COVID symptoms, based on the participants' subjective reports, include fatigue, shortness of breath, cough, chest pain, palpitations, brain fog, headaches, sleep disturbances, dizziness, changes in taste or smell, and depression or anxiety; these were assessed by a physician using a checklist with a binary response (present or absent).
Cardiorespiratory Fitness - Peak Oxygen Uptake (VO₂peak)
Time frame: 12 weeks
Participants will undergo cardiopulmonary exercise testing using a motorized cycle ergometer with an incremental ramp protocol (10 W/min). The test will continue until participants report physical exhaustion or reach maximal exercise capacity, defined by respiratory exchange ratio criteria. Peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak, mL/kg/min) will be estimated from maximal cardiac output and oxygen utilization and identified when oxygen consumption plateaus despite increasing exercise intensity. Unit of Measure: mL/kg/min
Cardiorespiratory Fitness - Peak Workload
Time frame: 12 weeks
During cardiopulmonary exercise testing, peak workload (watts) will be recorded as the highest workload achieved on the cycle ergometer. This reflects participants' ability to tolerate increasing exercise intensity. Unit of Measure: watts
Cardiorespiratory Fitness - Anaerobic Threshold
Time frame: 12 weeks
Anaerobic threshold (AT, mL/kg/min) will be determined during cardiopulmonary exercise testing as the point at which energy production begins to shift from aerobic to anaerobic metabolism. Unit of Measure: mL/kg/min
Health-Related Quality of Life
Time frame: 12 weeks
The brief World Health Organization Quality of Life questionnaire includes 26 standardized items covering four domains: physical, psychological, social, and environmental. It also contains two general items assessing overall quality of life and general health. The Taiwanese version adds two culturally specific items related to social respect/acceptance and eating/food. All items are rated on a 5-point Likert scale, where higher scores reflect better quality of life. Scores for each domain are calculated by averaging the item scores within that domain and then multiplying by 4, yielding a final score range from 4 to 20.
1 secondary outcome
Safety and adverse events
Time frame: 12 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 28 Apr 2026.
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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.
Shang-Lin Chiang, PhD principal investigator
Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH)
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Telehealth exercise training program and Education and self-exercise in people with Long COVID, run by Tri-Service General Hospital (TSGH) at 1 site in Taiwan.
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 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 28 Apr 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 Taiwan. 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?
Long COVID Symptoms (time frame: 12 weeks). The study lists 5 primary outcomes in all. It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
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 28 Apr 2026.