Cold water hydrotherapy to support rehabilitation in Post-COVID Syndrome
Effects of Kneipp Hydrotherapy During Inpatient Post-Covid-19 Rehabilitation: A Randomized Controlled Trial
This tests whether adding cold water hydrotherapy to standard rehabilitation helps people with Post-COVID Syndrome improve their quality of life.
Quick facts
| Phase | Not applicable |
|---|---|
| Study type | Interventional |
| Enrollment | 50 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years and up |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | Schön Klinik Berchtesgadener Land Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Schönau am Königssee, Bavaria) |
| Trial ID | NCT07013903 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This is a randomized controlled study comparing standard rehabilitation plus Kneipp-style cold water hydrotherapy to standard rehabilitation alone in patients with Post-COVID Syndrome. Participants are referred to a single German reference center and will receive baseline and follow-up assessments including quality-of-life questionnaires and heart rate variability monitoring via a smartphone app. The intervention is intended as an adjunct to usual rehab care and targets autonomic regulation, microcirculation, inflammation, and musculoskeletal recovery through repeated cold-water applications. The primary outcome is change in quality of life compared with standard rehabilitation alone.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Adults diagnosed with Post-COVID Syndrome (ICD-10 U08.9) who are referred for Post-COVID rehabilitation, have a Barthel Index over 80, own a smartphone for digital questionnaires and HRV monitoring, and can provide written informed consent.
Not a fit: Patients with contraindications to cold hydrotherapy (for example severe cardiovascular disease, acute deep vein thrombosis, uncontrolled epilepsy) or those who already practice Kneipp applications regularly are unlikely to benefit from this intervention.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, the intervention could accelerate functional recovery and reduce symptom burden, leading to meaningful improvements in quality of life for people with Post-COVID Syndrome.
How similar studies have performed: Cold hydrotherapy and thermo-stimulation have shown physiological benefits for autonomic balance and circulation in other conditions, but randomized evidence specifically in Post-COVID populations is limited.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * Diagnosis of Post-COVID Syndrome (ICD-10 code: U08.9) * Barthel-Index \>80 * Referred to the reference center for Post-COVID rehabilitation * Owning a smartphone to receive digital questionnaires and to use the measurement app for heart rate variability * Written informed consent Exclusion Criteria: * Existing contraindications for Kneipp hydrotherapy like severe cardiovascular diseases (e.g., decompensated heart failure, unstable angina pectoris, acute myocardial infarction), severe venous diseases (e.g., acute deep vein thrombosis of the leg), severe neurological diseases (e.g., uncontrolled epilepsy) * Prior regular practice of Kneipp applications
Where this trial is running
Schönau am Königssee, Bavaria
- Schön Klinik Berchtesgadener Land — Schönau am Königssee, Bavaria, Germany (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Rembert Koczulla, MD — Schön Klinik Berchtesgadener Land
- Study coordinator: Rainer Gloeckl, PhD
- Email: rgloeckl@schoen-klinik.de
- Phone: +498652931630
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.