Osteopathy and Physiotherapy Compared to Physiotherapy Alone on Fatigue and Functional Status in Long COVID

Summary

Background: Fatigue is among the most common symptoms of the long-term effects of coronavirus (long COVID). This study aims to compare the effectiveness of osteopathic manipulative treatment (OMT) combined with physiotherapy treatment (PT) compared to PT alone on fatigue and functional limitations after two months post randomization in adults with long COVID.

Methods: This is a study protocol for a two-arm, assessor-blinded, pragmatic randomized controlled superiority trial. Seventy-six participants will be randomly allocated to OMT+PT or PT. The PT includes usual care interventions including motor and respiratory exercises targeting cardiorespiratory and skeletal muscle functions. The OMT entails direct, indirect, visceral, and cranial techniques. Patients will be evaluated before and after a 2-month intervention program, and at 3-month follow-up session. Primary objectives comprise fatigue and functional limitations at 2-month post randomization as assessed by the fatigue severity scale and the Post-COVID Functional State scale. Secondary objectives comprise fatigue and functional limitations at 3 months, and the perceived change post-treatment as assessed by the Perceived Change Scale (PCS-patient).

Conditions

• Covid19
• SARS-CoV-2 Infection

Interventions

OTHER

Osteopathic Manipulative Treatment in addition to Physiotherapy

Participants in this group will receive OMT in addition to the same interventions of PT group. The frequency of treatment will be decided based on the clinical judgment of the osteopath who is accompanying each case, not exceeding 7 consultations in total. At each visit, the participants will receive a full-body osteopathic examination which include clinical exams, observation, screening tests, palpation, and motion testing. The OMT entail direct (high-velocity low-amplitude; muscle energy; and myofascial release), indirect (functional techniques and balanced ligamentous tension), visceral, and cranial techniques(Giusti, 2017). Selection of specific OMT will follow the 'TART' criteria-Tissue texture changes, Asymmetry, Restriction of motion, Tenderness (Basile et al., 2017; Cerritelli et al., 2011; Giusti R., 2017; Pizzolorusso et al., 2011; Seffinger M.A, 2018).

OTHER

Physiotherapy

Participants in this group will receive physiotherapy sessions with a maximum frequency of 2 weekly sessions, as defined by the physiotherapist, according to personalized therapeutic plans for a period of 8 weeks. The physiotherapy approach for patients with long COVID includes motor and respiratory rehabilitation aiming at maintaining and/or improving joint mobility, muscle strength, and functional exercise capacity (Thomas et al., 2020). At each visit, the participants respond by self-report about their general condition. Depending on the case, the physiotherapist will perform a reevaluation with specific tests. The PT group will receive physiotherapy treatment offered by five physiotherapists, with more than 5 years of experience each, duly registered with their class council.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Instituto Brasileiro de Osteopatia

  collaborator OTHER

• Centro Universitário Augusto Motta

  lead OTHER

Principal Investigators

• Ana Christina Ce Curi, MsC · Centro Universitário Augusto Motta

Study Design

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

SINGLE

Model

PARALLEL

Eligibility

Min Age

18 Years

Max Age

80 Years

Sex

ALL

Healthy Volunteers

No

Timeline & Regulatory

Start

2021-09-20

Primary Completion

2023-06-06

Completion

2023-07-06

Countries

• Brazil

Study Locations