Testing COVIDEx for long-COVID
Official title: Pursuing Reduction in Fatigue After COVID-19 Via Exercise and Rehabilitation (PREFACER): A Randomized Feasibility Trial
- 2 groups
- One site, in London
- Recruiting
Interventions
- Other intervention
COVIDEx
The COVIDEx intervention was developed by triangulating patient preferences/needs, clinicians' expertise, and best current evidence specific to Long COVID and adapted from interventions for other complex fatigue disorders, which are consistent with evidence informed practice. The program is delivered by trained instructors and comprises of two 50-minute sessions each week for eight weeks. The intervention is designed to be delivered virtually in groups of 6 patients, to eliminate travel requirements for the study. The components of the program are: (i) warm-up (1 min), (ii) cardio training (5 min), (iii) rest (3 min), (iv) balance training (5 min), (v) breathing exercises (3 min), (vi) cognitive training (5 min), (vii) strengthening training (5 min), and (viii) stretching (10min). The COVIDEx program will be paced in order to prevent post-exertional malaise (PEM) in participants.
Canadian Sites (1)
1 of 1 recruiting
- Recruiting
Parkwood Hospital - St. Joseph's Health Care London
London, Ontario
Eligibility Criteria
See who this study is looking for17 criteria
The trial’s own eligibility text, word for word from the registry. Only the trial site can say who takes part.
Inclusion
- +Minimal functional capability: able to walk 10-15 minutes and be recovered within 30-60 minutes or without significant post-exertional malaise (PEM)
- +Adults of at least 18 years of age
- +Able to provide informed consentInformed consentThe process of being told what taking part involves, then choosing freely.Read more →
- +Can speak and understand English
- +Documented history of SARS-CoV-2 infection (positive PCR/antigen test during acute illness or clinical diagnosis by physician during or after the acute illness)
- +Fatigue symptoms within 3 months of COVID-19 infection, lasting at least 2 months
- +Fatigue symptoms cannot be explained by an alternative diagnosis
- +Fatigue symptoms may be new onset following initial recovery from an acute COVID-19 infection or persist from the initial illness
- +Fatigue symptoms may have an episodic nature, fluctuate or relapse over time
- +Has applicable technology to access Microsoft Teams and Webex (i.e., computer, laptop, tablet)
Exclusion
- −Active SARS-CoV-2 infection
- −Pre-existing physical, cognitive, and/or mental health conditions that make exercise contraindicated, consentInformed consentThe process of being told what taking part involves, then choosing freely.Read more → unattainable, or that cause symptoms similar to those seen in post COVID-19 (e.g., major neurocognitive disorder, schizophrenia, chronic fatigue syndrome) that could affect data
- −Inability to follow study procedures
- −Received investigational agents as part of a separate study within 30 days of the screening visitScreeningThe checks done before joining, to see whether a study fits.Read more →
- −Has any type of metal bodily implant in head or heart (i.e., pins, plates, pacemakers)
- −Current participation in other studies related to COVID-19, exercise, and/or fatigue interventions OR participation within 30 days of the screening visit
- −Pregnant and/or breastfeeding
In plain language
Assembled directly from this trial’s registry record. Every sentence traces to a field below — nothing here is generated or interpreted.
What this study is
This study is testing a treatment for a condition.
This study is not organised into the usual phase numbers — that is common for device, behavioural, and diagnostic research.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.designInfo.primaryPurpose
- designModule.phases
Who receives what
There are 2 groups in this study.
Group A receives COVIDEx.
Registry label: A: COVIDEx
Group B receives no study treatment and is followed for comparison.
Registry label: B: Standard of Care
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].label
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].interventionNames
How the study is run
Which group you would be placed in is decided by chance, like a coin flip — not by you and not by your doctor.
One group of people involved — usually the participants — is not told which treatment is which.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.designInfo.allocation
- designModule.designInfo.maskingInfo.masking
Is there a placebo?
This study does not list a placeboPlaceboA dummy treatment with no active medicine, used for comparison.Read more → group.
One group receives no study treatment at all, and is followed for comparison.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].interventionNames
Who the study is looking for
The study lists a minimum age of 18 years, with no upper limit given.
The study is open to people of any sex.
The study does not accept healthy volunteersHealthy volunteerSomeone without the condition being studied who takes part anyway.Read more →.
These are the criteria the study lists. Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can decide whether someone can take part.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.sex
- eligibilityModule.healthyVolunteers
How big and how long
The study aims to enrol about 60 people.
The study is currently expected to finish around April 2026.
The main measurement is taken over: BaselineBaselineYour starting measurements, taken before treatment begins.Read more →.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- designModule.enrollmentInfo.count
- statusModule.completionDateStruct.date
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
What the study measures
Recruitment — measured over BaselineBaselineYour starting measurements, taken before treatment begins.Read more →.
Intervention Fidelity — measured over Week 24.
Retention — measured over Week 24.
Zelen Design Acceptability — measured over Week 24.
From the trial registry
Built from these fields:
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].measure
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
Source: NCT06156176 on ClinicalTrials.gov. The full registry text is further down this page — this summary never replaces it.
Not medical advice. What do these terms mean?
What is being tested — in plain terms
About COVIDExOther
The COVIDEx intervention was developed by triangulating patient preferences/needs, clinicians' expertise, and best current evidence specific to Long COVID and adapted from interventions for other complex fatigue disorders, which are consistent with evidence informed practice. The program is delivered by trained instructors and comprises of two 50-minute sessions each week for eight weeks. The intervention is designed to be delivered virtually in groups of 6 patients, to eliminate travel requirements for the study. The components of the program are: (i) warm-up (1 min), (ii) cardio training (5 min), (iii) rest (3 min), (iv) balance training (5 min), (v) breathing exercises (3 min), (vi) cognitive training (5 min), (vii) strengthening training (5 min), and (viii) stretching (10min). The COVIDEx program will be paced in order to prevent post-exertional malaise (PEM) in participants.
From the trial registry — its own words, unedited.
What a other is here: An intervention the registry did not place in another category.
Read the full explanation → · in clinical review
Common questions
Answered from this trial’s registry record. Where the record doesn’t say, these answers say so rather than filling the gap.
Am I eligible for this trial?
Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can decide whether someone can take part. Concord cannot make that determination, and neither can any tool that has not examined you.
What the study lists: a minimum age of 18 years.
The full inclusionInclusion criteriaThe things you must have or be for a study to consider you.Read more → and exclusion criteriaExclusion criteriaThe things that would prevent someone from taking part.Read more → are published on this page, exactly as the study team wrote them.
The useful next step is to bring this trial to your doctor. Answering a few questions first gives them something concrete to review.
From the trial registry
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.eligibilityCriteria
Is there a placebo?
This study does not list a placeboPlaceboA dummy treatment with no active medicine, used for comparison.Read more → group.
One group receives no study treatment and is followed for comparison.
From the trial registry
- armsInterventionsModule.armGroups[].type
Would I know which treatment I am getting?
One group of people involved — usually the participants — is not told which treatment is which.
Which group you would be placed in is decided by chance, like a coin flip — not by you and not by your doctor.
From the trial registry
- designModule.designInfo.maskingInfo.masking
- designModule.designInfo.allocation
Who can join?
The study lists a minimum age of 18 years, with no upper limit given.
It is open to people of any sex.
It does not accept healthy volunteersHealthy volunteerSomeone without the condition being studied who takes part anyway.Read more →.
Only the trial siteTrial siteA hospital or clinic where a study is actually run.Read more → can confirm whether a particular person can take part.
From the trial registry
- eligibilityModule.minimumAge
- eligibilityModule.sex
- eligibilityModule.healthyVolunteers
How long would this take?
The study's main measurement is taken over: BaselineBaselineYour starting measurements, taken before treatment begins.Read more →.
The study as a whole is currently expected to finish around 2026-04-01.
How long any one person takes part can differ from the study length. The study team can tell you what the schedule looks like in practice.
From the trial registry
- outcomesModule.primaryOutcomes[].timeFrame
- statusModule.completionDateStruct.date
How many people are taking part?
The study aims to enrol about 60 people.
From the trial registry
- designModule.enrollmentInfo.count
Where is this happening?
This study lists one location: London, Ontario, Canada.
Sites can open and close during a study, so confirm with the team before travelling.
From the trial registry
- trial_locations
About This Trial
Long COVID is a complex condition that affects approximately 1.4 million Canadians following SARS-CoV-2 infection. Fatigue is the most common symptom of Long COVID. This feasibility trial will evaluate a new rehabilitation program called COVIDEx for treating fatigue after COVID-19, and compare its effectiveness to the standard treatment currently used. The experimental treatment group will receive an 8-week multi-modal rehabilitation program with two 50-minute sessions per week. 60 participants will be recruited, randomly assigned to the COVIDEx program or standard of care (SoC) and followed for 24 weeks.
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See if this trial could fit youThis page is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. Clinical trial eligibility can only be determined by the trial site after proper screening. Trial information is sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov and may not reflect the most current status. Always consult your healthcare provider before making decisions about clinical trial participation.