Clinical Trials Logo

Clinical Trial Summary

The purpose of the pilot study is to examine acceptability and proof of concept effectiveness of a wireless TENS technology to address PACS associated FM. Sample size (n=40) is convenient and designed to explore acceptability and feasibility. Eligible participants will be screened at the BCM Post-COVID-19 Clinic for inclusion criteria. Participants, who satisfy the inclusion and exclusion criteria and sign the informed consent form will be randomly assigned with ratio of 1:1 into two groups. One group will utilize TENS functional devices (Active group, AG); the other group will utilize TENS non-functional devices (Placebo group, PG). The baseline measurements will be performed, and the patients will take the programmed device home for a duration of 4 weeks. Then, the patients will come back after four weeks (4W). At this 4th week visit, both groups will be unblinded and the AG will keep their functional device and the PG group will receive a functional device. Both groups will continue to deliver 3-5 hour of stimulation daily, until their final 8th week follow up visit (8W). The primary outcomes will be pain symptoms, sleep and fatigue. Secondary outcomes include limb strength and perfusion, gait assessment (gait speed, stride length, double stance, and gait steadiness), balance, pulse oximetry, and quality of life. The coordinator will utilize a weekly spreadsheet showing utilization (therapy sessions/day, logged in the Quell health Cloud) so compliance can be monitored and those that are not using the device can be encouraged.


Clinical Trial Description

Postacute COVID-19 syndrome (PACS) is an emerging entity that has been clearly recognized by musculoskeletal pain, fatigue, cognitive, and sleep disturbances, among other symptoms, in patients who have recovered from severe Sars-CoV-2 infection. Hospitalized survivors have reported a significant excess burden of many of these symptoms up to 8 months after discharge. Particularly in the lower extremity, musculoskeletal illness has been associated with prolonged immobilization, high-risk comorbidities, and the use of glucocorticoids that is commonly administered to these patients. These manifestations are the cardinal symptoms of fibromyalgia (FM), a condition thought to be caused by hyperactive sensory signaling due to central sensitization as well as deficient endogenous pain inhibition, triggered among others, by viral infections. Consequently, FM sequelae are one of the most common long-term complications seen in PACS. Thus, it is expected to impose a serious burden on different medical specialties in a near future. In a population that has persistent lack of symptom resolution such as FM, adherence to therapy could be challenging. Patients with constant pain, fatigue, and sleep disturbances, are difficult to keep motivated, especially those pain-medication dependents that often present low quality of life. One practical solution to address the symptomatology characteristic of FM is the use of transcutaneous electrical stimulation therapy (TENS). Studies have demonstrated its ability to manage pain and fatigue in patients with peripheral neuropathy and FM, and has shown to effectively improve lower-extremity perfusion and oxygen delivery in patients with ischemic lesions. However, TENS has not yet been explored for PACS. Since this technology is dose-dependent, the investigators propose a practical daily-basis therapy that patients with persistent associated FM due to previous COVID-19 infection could apply at home, thus, addressing PACS without relying only on medication. In this matter, Neurometrix Inc. (Woburn, MA, USA) has created a wireless TENS device (Quell®) to address pain, gait, sleep, and fatigue. This technology is placed in the lower-extremity and works through the stimulation of nerves that carry non-painful sensations (A-beta fibers) by closing a neurological "gate" in the spinal cord, thus, reducing transmission from pain nerves (A-delta and C fibers) to the brain. This device utilizes a wireless technology manageable through a smart phone application (Quell App) that also tracks symptom-status. Moreover, Baylor College of Medicine has created the Post-COVID-19 Clinic (McNair Campus, BCM St Luke's, Houston, TX, USA) supervised by specialists in critical and pulmonary care. This Clinic has a high volume of patients that present with PACS, particularly those with associated FM (i.e., persistent muscle pain, fatigue, weakness, atrophy, sleep problems, and/or anxiety). Therefore, the investigators believe Baylor institution is a suitable place to perform this pilot study. ;


Study Design


Related Conditions & MeSH terms


NCT number NCT05200858
Study type Interventional
Source Baylor College of Medicine
Contact Bijan Najafi, PhD
Phone 713-798-7538
Email bijan.najafi@bcm.edu
Status Recruiting
Phase N/A
Start date March 1, 2022
Completion date December 31, 2023

See also
  Status Clinical Trial Phase
Withdrawn NCT06065033 - Exercise Interventions in Post-acute Sequelae of Covid-19 N/A
Completed NCT06267534 - Mindfulness-based Mobile Applications Program N/A
Completed NCT05047601 - A Study of a Potential Oral Treatment to Prevent COVID-19 in Adults Who Are Exposed to Household Member(s) With a Confirmed Symptomatic COVID-19 Infection Phase 2/Phase 3
Recruiting NCT05323760 - Functional Capacity in Patients Post Mild COVID-19 N/A
Recruiting NCT04481633 - Efficacy of Pre-exposure Treatment With Hydroxy-Chloroquine on the Risk and Severity of COVID-19 Infection N/A
Completed NCT04537949 - A Trial Investigating the Safety and Effects of One BNT162 Vaccine Against COVID-19 in Healthy Adults Phase 1/Phase 2
Completed NCT04612972 - Efficacy, Safety and Immunogenicity of Inactivated SARS-CoV-2 Vaccines (Vero Cell) to Prevent COVID-19 in Healthy Adult Population In Peru Healthy Adult Population In Peru Phase 3
Recruiting NCT05494424 - Cognitive Rehabilitation in Post-COVID-19 Condition N/A
Active, not recruiting NCT06039449 - A Study to Investigate the Prevention of COVID-19 withVYD222 in Adults With Immune Compromise and in Participants Aged 12 Years or Older Who Are at Risk of Exposure to SARS-CoV-2 Phase 3
Enrolling by invitation NCT05589376 - You and Me Healthy
Completed NCT05158816 - Extracorporal Membrane Oxygenation for Critically Ill Patients With COVID-19
Recruiting NCT04341506 - Non-contact ECG Sensor System for COVID19
Completed NCT04512079 - FREEDOM COVID-19 Anticoagulation Strategy Phase 4
Completed NCT04384445 - Zofin (Organicell Flow) for Patients With COVID-19 Phase 1/Phase 2
Completed NCT05975060 - A Study to Evaluate the Safety and Immunogenicity of an (Omicron Subvariant) COVID-19 Vaccine Booster Dose in Previously Vaccinated Participants and Unvaccinated Participants. Phase 2/Phase 3
Active, not recruiting NCT05542862 - Booster Study of SpikoGen COVID-19 Vaccine Phase 3
Withdrawn NCT05621967 - Phonation Therapy to Improve Symptoms and Lung Physiology in Patients Referred for Pulmonary Rehabilitation N/A
Terminated NCT05487040 - A Study to Measure the Amount of Study Medicine in Blood in Adult Participants With COVID-19 and Severe Kidney Disease Phase 1
Terminated NCT04498273 - COVID-19 Positive Outpatient Thrombosis Prevention in Adults Aged 40-80 Phase 3
Active, not recruiting NCT06033560 - The Effect of Non-invasive Respiratory Support on Outcome and Its Risks in Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus 2 (SARS-COV-2)-Related Hypoxemic Respiratory Failure