Randomized Trial of Cold Water Hydrotherapy Added to Inpatient Post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation Assessing Quality of Life and Symptom Improvement

What this Trial Is About

Researchers are evaluating the effects of cold water hydrotherapy as an addition to standard rehabilitation in patients recovering from Post-COVID Syndrome, a condition marked by ongoing fatigue, autonomic nervous system imbalance, microcirculatory problems, and mild inflammation. The study aims to see if this hydrotherapy improves quality of life compared to standard rehabilitation alone. This randomized controlled trial is sponsored by Schn Klinik Berchtesgadener Land and focuses on functional recovery during Post-COVID rehabilitation. Participants receive either standard multimodal inpatient rehabilitation with cold water hydrotherapy sessions lasting 5 to 10 minutes twice daily during the 3-week inpatient program and once daily during a 6-month follow-up, or the same rehabilitation without hydrotherapy. The study includes a 3-week inpatient treatment period plus a 6-month follow-up to monitor lasting effects. Hydrotherapy is applied as cold water treatments designed to support autonomic regulation, improve circulation, reduce inflammation, and aid muscle recovery. During the study, participants provide baseline information including symptoms, smoking history, comorbidities, and severity of their initial COVID-19 illness. They undergo pulmonary function tests, autonomic function assessments, and blood pressure measurements. Researchers track quality of life using the Short Form-12 Health Survey and evaluate fatigue, sleep quality, autonomic function, blood pressure, work absence, heart rate variability, and symptom severity. Adherence to hydrotherapy and any adverse events are monitored throughout the intervention and follow-up, with daily well-being diaries kept. The total participation lasts about six months from baseline.

Effects of Hydrotherapy During Post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation