Could exercise retrain the heart in long COVID?
NCT ID NCT05530317
First seen Aug 13, 2026 · Last updated Aug 14, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This trial tests whether a structured cardiac rehabilitation program can improve exercise capacity and heart rate response in people with Long COVID. Participants have persistent symptoms and reduced exercise tolerance after a confirmed COVID-19 infection. The program includes personalized exercise prescriptions based on baseline testing, with careful attention to avoid post-exertional malaise. The study measures changes in peak oxygen uptake and heart rate reserve, along with symptoms and quality of life.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- Cardiac rehabilitation, including tailored exercise prescriptions and resistance training
- What this could lead to
- If effective, cardiac rehabilitation could become a standard therapy to improve exercise tolerance and heart rate response in people with Long COVID.
- What could go wrong
- This is a small proof-of-concept trial, so results may not apply broadly. Exercise must be carefully tailored to avoid post-exertional malaise, a common Long COVID symptom.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of California, San Francisco
San Francisco, California, 94110, United States
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