Shocking recovery: electric bike therapy may speed up COVID-19 rehab
NCT ID NCT04841746
First seen Jun 24, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026 · Updated 1 time
Summary
This study tested whether adding functional electrical stimulation (FES) to cycling exercises helps people who survived severe COVID-19 recover more quickly. Twenty-two patients who had been on ventilators in the ICU took part in a 4-week rehab program. Half did cycling with FES, the other half without. The goal was to see if FES could reduce time spent sitting or lying down, helping them regain strength and activity.
What this could mean
Our plain-language read of the trial. This is informational only — not medical advice or a prediction.
- Active substance
- functional electrical stimulation (FES) during cycling
- What this could lead to
- If it works, this could point toward a more effective rehab method for severe COVID-19 survivors, helping them recover mobility faster.
- What could go wrong
- This is a very small, early-stage trial with only 22 participants, so results may not apply broadly. The benefit over standard cycling alone is uncertain.
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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
-
Hopital Henry Gabrielle
Saint-Genis-Laval, 69230, France
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