Fatigability in Long COVID-19

The overall goal of this project is to advance the understanding of underlying mechanisms impacting performance fatigability and perceived fatigability in Veterans with post-COVID-19 fatigue and explore the safety and feasibility of a home-based "minimal-dose" resistance exercise program in this population. The central hypothesis is that declines in force capacity, skeletal muscle oxygen extraction, and affective responses to physical activity offer potential mechanisms through which fatigability is increased in Veterans with post-COVID-19 fatigue. Moreover, home-based resistance exercise delivered remotely may provide a safe and feasibility treatment option for targeting neuromuscular and neurobehavioral factors influencing fatigability severity in this population.

Inclusion Criteria:ambulatory patients (with or without a gait aid)50 years of age or olderwith a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) test, antibody test or clinical diagnosisthe symptom of fatigue reported greater than 12-weeks post-infection (reporting fatigue: yes/no)receiving care at the DC VAMCthe ability to speak and read English, and orientation to person, place, and timethe comparison group will include ambulatory patients (with or without a gait aid)50 years of age or olderwith a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 by PCR test, antibody test or clinical diagnosiswithout the symptom of fatigue reported greater than 12-weeks post-infectionreceiving care at the DC VAMCthe ability to speak and read English, and orientation to person, place, and timeExclusion Criteria:<50 years of age without a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 by PCR testantibody test or clinical diagnosis or with a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 of <12-weeksnon-ambulatory individualsVeterans who do not use the DC VAMC as their main site for carebody mass index 40 kg/m2diagnosis of psychiatric disorder(s)any medically uncontrolled cardiovascularmusculoskeletal disease, or other conditions that, in the opinion of the principal investigator, could make participation in the study unsafeany orthopedic or joint pain which would prevent the participant from safely engaging in the study protocoladditionally, individuals with plans to relocate from the DC metro area within one year will not be eligible for the intervention portion of the study