Yoga based rehabilitation for improving health-related quality of life in middle aged and older adults with long COVID a protocol of a randomized controlled trial
- 1Department of Public Health Science, Indian Institute of Public Health
- 2Department of Global Public Health, Karolinska Institutet
- 3Indian Institute of Public Health
Abstract
Background Post-COVID syndrome, often referred to as long COVID, is characterized by persistent symptoms following an acute infection of COVID. It has an impact on anyone who has a history of COVID infection, regardless of their age, gender, or severity of the infection. Fatigue, dyspnea, sleep disturbance, and cerebral impairments are some of the most common symptoms. Yoga is a holistic practice that integrates physical, mental, and spiritual well-being and can be beneficial for the prevention and better management of chronic diseases. The current protocol describes a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a yoga intervention program to improve the health-related quality of life in middle-aged and older individuals with long COVID condition as compared to a health promotion program. Methods Using an RCT design, 154 participants (aged 40–75 years) with a confirmed diagnosis of long COVID will be randomized into two groups: a Yoga Intervention Group (YIG) (n = 77) and an active control, Health Promotion Intervention Group (HPIG) (n = 77). YIG will participate in a 12-week yoga program, while the HPIG will receive a health promotion intervention in addition to standard care. The primary outcome of the study is Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), assessed to evaluate participants’ overall well-being and functional status. The primary outcome measure will be assessed through the HRQoL-SF-36 scale. In addition, common symptoms that affect daily functioning, such as fatigue, dyspnea, sleep quality, cognition, depression, and anxiety, will also be measured. Data will be collected at baseline and at the end of the 12-week intervention period. Data analysis will include pre-post comparisons within groups and between groups at baseline and post-intervention, using paired and independent statistical tests to assess intervention effects. Secondary and subgroup analyses will be conducted based on adherence to the intervention, age, gender, and other relevant clinical data. Discussion This study will provide comprehensive, improved knowledge of the management of specific symptoms in individuals with long COVID. This will guide clinicians and public health professionals in developing adjunctive rehabilitation programs and making evidence-based treatment decisions for patients with long COVID. Trial registration: This trial is registered under “The Clinical Trials Registry of India” under registration no. CTRI/2022/10/046151 (Registered on 4-10-2022).
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BibTeX
@article{shah2026yoga,
title = {{Yoga based rehabilitation for improving health-related quality of life in middle aged and older adults with long COVID a protocol of a randomized controlled trial}},
author = {Komal Shah and Nidhi Jain and Aakansha Shukla and Mats Hallgren and Vinod Diwan and Dileep Mavalankar and Deepak Saxena},
journal = {Discover Public Health},
year = {2026},
month = oct,
doi = {10.1186/s12982-026-02957-0},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-026-02957-0},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Yoga based rehabilitation for improving health-related quality of life in middle aged and older adults with long COVID a protocol of a randomized controlled trial
AU - Komal Shah
AU - Nidhi Jain
AU - Aakansha Shukla
AU - Mats Hallgren
AU - Vinod Diwan
AU - Dileep Mavalankar
AU - Deepak Saxena
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/10/25
JO - Discover Public Health
DO - 10.1186/s12982-026-02957-0
UR - https://doi.org/10.1186/s12982-026-02957-0
AB - Background Post-COVID syndrome, often referred to as long COVID, is characterized by persistent symptoms following an acute infection of COVID. It has an impact on anyone who has a history of COVID infection, regardless of their age, gender, or severity of the infection. Fatigue, dyspnea, sleep disturbance, and cerebral impairments are some of the most common symptoms. Yoga is a holistic practice that integrates physical, mental, and spiritual well-being and can be beneficial for the prevention and better management of chronic diseases. The current protocol describes a Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) designed to evaluate the effectiveness of a yoga intervention program to improve the health-related quality of life in middle-aged and older individuals with long COVID condition as compared to a health promotion program. Methods Using an RCT design, 154 participants (aged 40–75 years) with a confirmed diagnosis of long COVID will be randomized into two groups: a Yoga Intervention Group (YIG) (n = 77) and an active control, Health Promotion Intervention Group (HPIG) (n = 77). YIG will participate in a 12-week yoga program, while the HPIG will receive a health promotion intervention in addition to standard care. The primary outcome of the study is Health-Related Quality of Life (HRQoL), assessed to evaluate participants’ overall well-being and functional status. The primary outcome measure will be assessed through the HRQoL-SF-36 scale. In addition, common symptoms that affect daily functioning, such as fatigue, dyspnea, sleep quality, cognition, depression, and anxiety, will also be measured. Data will be collected at baseline and at the end of the 12-week intervention period. Data analysis will include pre-post comparisons within groups and between groups at baseline and post-intervention, using paired and independent statistical tests to assess intervention effects. Secondary and subgroup analyses will be conducted based on adherence to the intervention, age, gender, and other relevant clinical data. Discussion This study will provide comprehensive, improved knowledge of the management of specific symptoms in individuals with long COVID. This will guide clinicians and public health professionals in developing adjunctive rehabilitation programs and making evidence-based treatment decisions for patients with long COVID. Trial registration: This trial is registered under “The Clinical Trials Registry of India” under registration no. CTRI/2022/10/046151 (Registered on 4-10-2022).
SN - 3005-0774
ER -