Cognitive-sensorimotor effects on walking and balance after long COVID
Official title: Enhancing Veterans Long-COVID Care: A Cognitive-Sensorimotor Framework to Understand Gait and Balance Dysfunction
Run by VA Office of Research and Development · NCT06850350 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This project will test whether thinking, vision, sensation, and muscle changes explain walking and balance problems in adults with long COVID.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 136 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | VA Office of Research and Development Federal |
| Locations | 1 site (Chicago, Illinois) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | April 1, 2026 |
| Main results expected | December 31, 2030 |
| Study ends | December 31, 2030 |
| Registry record updated | May 8, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT06850350 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Adults over 18 with a prior positive COVID test, whose COVID illness began more than three months ago, and who could walk 10 meters with or without assistance before their COVID illness are ideal candidates.
✕Probably not a fit
People with severe unrelated cardiovascular, pulmonary, neurologic, or musculoskeletal conditions, recent concussion or chronic pain syndromes that mimic long COVID, severe cognitive impairment preventing consent, or those who had severe COVID requiring ICU hospitalization are unlikely to benefit from this protocol.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This is an observational study that compares adults with and without post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) to understand contributors to gait and balance dysfunction. Researchers will measure cognition, vision, proprioception, muscle strength, and motor performance and will test gait and balance under cognitive dual-task conditions and in sensory-challenging environments. The protocol emphasizes real-world functional mobility tests designed to reveal how cognitive and sensorimotor deficits interact to impair walking and stability. Findings are intended to inform Veteran Health Administration diagnostic and standard-of-care protocols for restoring mobility and independence in affected patients.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the work could lead to evidence-based diagnostic and treatment protocols that improve walking, balance, and independence for people with long COVID.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research in other populations has shown that cognitive and sensorimotor impairments can drive gait and balance problems, and emerging PASC studies suggest similar links, but application specifically to long COVID-related mobility dysfunction is still relatively new.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Older than 18 years of age * Positive PCR or Rapid COVID-19 test in the past * Onset of COVID-19 illness greater than 3 months prior to their participation in the study * Self-reported ability to walk 10 meters with or without external assistance prior to COVID-19 illness Exclusion Criteria: * Presence of severe cardiovascular and pulmonary disease and/or neurological and musculoskeletal disorders unrelated to COVID-19 (e.g., amputation, stroke, spinal cord injury) * Cognitive impairments precluding ability to provide informed consent. * Severe acute COVID-19 infection requiring hospitalization or diagnosed post-intensive care syndrome. * Presence of musculoskeletal, inflammatory, or neurological conditions mimicking Long COVID-19 symptoms (e.g., concussion within last 5 years, Chronic fibromyalgia, Myofascial pain syndrome, etc.)
Where it's running
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Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL
Chicago, Illinois, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Matthew J. Major, PhD — Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, IL
- Study coordinator: Matthew J Major, PhD
- Email: Matthew.Major2@va.gov
- Phone: (312) 569-6166
Similar studies
Other studies for the same condition or treatment. Recruiting studies are listed first.
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Assessing the impact of COVID-19 on sleep and cognitive health
This study is trying to see how COVID-19 affects sleep and thinking in people who have recovered from the virus, to better understand long-term health issues they might face.
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Testing IV saline for cognitive function in POTS and Long COVID patients
This study is testing whether IV saline can help improve brain fog and mental fatigue in people with POTS and Long COVID.
-
Cardiopulmonary rehabilitation for improving function and quality of life in Long COVID
This trial will try a 12-week cardiopulmonary exercise program to see if it improves symptoms, quality of life, and physical capacity in adults with Long COVID.
How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.