Water-based exercise and cognitive training for recovery in long COVID

Water-based Activity to Enhance Recovery in Long COVID

NIH-funded research Veterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys · NIH-11010368

This study is looking at whether a special program that combines water exercise and brain training can help Veterans with long COVID feel better, and it will compare this program to regular care to see how well it works and how much people like it.

Quick facts

Grant typeNIH-funded research
Study typeNIH-funded research
Funding institutionVeterans Admin Palo Alto Health Care Sys NIH-funded
Lab location1 site (Palo Alto, United States)
Project IDNIH-11010368 on NIH RePORTER

What this research studies

This research investigates the feasibility of a combined water-based exercise and cognitive training program for Veterans suffering from neurological symptoms related to long COVID. The program, known as WATER+CT, aims to enhance recovery through a structured six-month intervention that includes both physical and cognitive activities. Participants will be randomly assigned to either the WATER+CT program or usual care, allowing researchers to assess the effectiveness and acceptability of this innovative approach. The study will focus on recruitment, retention, and the overall impact of the intervention on participants' recovery.

Who could benefit from this research

Good fit: Ideal candidates for this research are Veterans aged 18 to 89 who are experiencing neurological manifestations of long COVID.

Not a fit: Patients who do not have neurological symptoms related to long COVID may not benefit from this research.

Why it matters

Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a novel therapeutic approach to improve recovery outcomes for Veterans with long COVID.

How similar studies have performed: Previous research has shown success with similar multi-component training programs in other cognitively impaired populations, suggesting potential for this approach.

Where this research is happening

Palo Alto, United States

Researchers

About this research

  1. This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
  2. Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
  3. For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page below.
Last reviewed 2026-06-13 by the Find a Trial editorial team. Information on this page is for educational purposes and is not medical advice. Always consult qualified healthcare professionals about clinical trial participation.