Improving mental health in adolescents and young adults with long COVID through exercise

Project Type(s):

Principal Investigator(s):

Long Covid includes symptoms of fatigue, sleep changes, anxiety and depression lasting at least three months following infection with COVID-19 and occurs in 10-20% of individuals following infection. Approximately 16% of children experience persistent mood symptoms as part of their Long Covid symptoms. This amounts to over two million children with new symptoms of anxiety and depression after COVID-19 in the US since the onset of the pandemic. Studies show that gradual increases in exercise targets or “pacing” improves symptoms in adults with Long Covid, but this treatment remains to be evaluated in children. Most pacing programs require weekly in-person physical therapy visits and therefore, are difficult to access. Our group has demonstrated improvement in mental health outcomes for adolescents following concussion using a virtual paced exercise program, Mobile Subthreshold Exercise Program (MSTEP). This project aims to evaluate MSTEP as an intervention to improve function and improve mental health symptoms in adolescents and young adults with Long Covid.  

Project Period:
January 1, 2023 — December 31, 2023

Funding Type(s):
Philanthropy

Funder(s):
Garvey Institute for Brain Health Solutions

Research Program(s):

Geographic Area(s):
Seattle/Puget Sound

Practice Type(s):
Outpatient

Patient Population(s):
Adolescents, Young Adults

Targeted Condition(s):
Chronic disease