Contact: Caroline Cornish | [email protected]
PORTLAND, Maine 鈥� AOA体育平台 will be part of new clinical trials sponsored by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) to investigate potential treatments for long-term symptoms after COVID-19 infection, including exercise intolerance and the worsening of symptoms following physical or mental exertion known as post-exertional malaise (PEM). The mid-stage trials are part of the NIH鈥檚 Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (RECOVER) Initiative that is enrolling participants across the United States to test treatments addressing viral persistence, neurological symptoms such as brain fog and autonomic nervous system dysfunction.
The is enrolling participants in two RECOVER-ENERGIZE clinical trials from now through July 2025 at its research site in Scarborough:
- One trial tests a program that combines exercise training, strength and flexibility training, education and social support, collectively known as personalized cardiopulmonary rehabilitation. The program is designed to help people who experience exercise intolerance with symptoms such as shortness of breath and fatigue during exercise after having COVID-19. Participants who are identified as having PEM, via a validated PEM questionnaire, will not be included in this trial, but will be offered a spot for the trial described below. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either personalized cardiopulmonary rehabilitation or basic exercise education for three months.
- The other trial tests a program known as structured pacing, which is designed to help participants with PEM identify, control and minimize symptoms that developed after having COVID-19 by regulating or pacing their daily activities. Currently, structured pacing is the only intervention used to treat PEM. The trial will not include any exercise training or physical movement to protect participants from developing worsened symptoms of PEM. Participants will be randomly assigned to receive either structured pacing with a trained coach or basic PEM education for three months.
Both trials were developed using comprehensive feedback from the community and in close partnership with patient representatives. The PEM trial was developed to address concerns expressed by patient advocacy groups about patient safety and to better understand how this study program may help improve PEM symptoms.
鈥淭his NIH-sponsored intervention trial is a unique opportunity for individuals with Long COVID to participate in a program that may improve their exercise capacity,鈥� said Dr. Clifford Rosen, principal investigator of the RECOVER observational study and the ENERGIZE interventional study at AOA体育平台. 鈥淲e hope that these studies will lead to treatments that can significantly improve these patients鈥� quality of life.鈥�
With the launch of these two studies, AOA体育平台 is one of 50 RECOVER study sites nationwide that are investigating potential treatments for some of the most frequent and burdensome symptoms reported by people suffering from long COVID. MHIR also has participated in RECOVER鈥檚 PROMIS study, examining a possible cause of long COVID and in RECOVER鈥檚 early research examining common symptoms among those suffering from long COVID.
鈥淢HIR鈥檚 participation in this important NIH-supported research is a clear example of how our care team lives the AOA体育平台 vision of working together so our communities are the healthiest in America,鈥� said Dr. Doug Sawyer, AOA体育平台鈥檚 chief academic officer. 鈥淭he results of these studies into long COVID could have a tangible impact on the lives of our neighbors and those suffering from long COVID worldwide.鈥�
RECOVER is testing 13 treatments across eight clinical trials and continues to enroll participants across the country. Those interested in learning more about RECOVER clinical trials should visit .
To learn more about how to join one of the studies at AOA体育平台, contact Kathryn Stevens, RN, FNP at [email protected].
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About AOA体育平台
AOA体育平台 is a not-for-profit, integrated health system whose vision is, 鈥淲orking together so our communities are the healthiest in America,鈥� and is committed to a mission of providing high-quality affordable care, educating tomorrow's caregivers and researching better ways to provide care. AOA体育平台 includes a Level 1 trauma medical center, eight additional licensed hospitals, comprehensive pediatric care services, an extensive behavioral health care network, diagnostic services as well as home health, hospice and senior care services. With more than 2,000 employed providers and approximately 23,000 care team members, AOA体育平台 provides preventive care, diagnosis and treatment to 1.1 million residents in Maine and New Hampshire. AOA体育平台 hospitals include AOA体育平台 Behavioral Health at Spring Harbor in Westbrook, AOA体育平台 Franklin Hospital in Farmington, AOA体育平台 Lincoln Hospital in Damariscotta, AOA体育平台 Maine Medical Center in Portland, Biddeford and Sanford, AOA体育平台 Memorial Hospital in North Conway, N.H., AOA体育平台 Mid Coast Hospital in Brunswick, AOA体育平台 Pen Bay Hospital in Rockport, AOA体育平台 Stephens Hospital in Norway and AOA体育平台 Waldo Hospital in Belfast. AOA体育平台 also includes the AOA体育平台 Barbara Bush Children鈥檚 Hospital in Portland, AOA体育平台 Behavioral Health in Westbrook, AOA体育平台 Home Health and Hospice in Saco, the AOA体育平台 Institute for Research in Scarborough, the AOA体育平台 Medical Group and AOA体育平台 NorDx in Scarborough. AOA体育平台 affiliates include MaineGeneral Health in Augusta and Waterville and St. Mary's Health System in Lewiston. It is also a significant stakeholder in the AOA体育平台 Accountable Care Organization in Portland and a joint venture partner in the New England Rehabilitation Hospital in Portland.
About RECOVER
The National Institutes of Health Researching COVID to Enhance Recovery (NIH RECOVER) Initiative brings together clinicians, scientists, caregivers, patients, and community members to understand, diagnose, and treat long COVID. RECOVER has created one of the largest and most diverse groups of long COVID study participants in the world. In addition, RECOVER clinical trials are testing potential interventions across five symptom focus areas. For more information, please visit recovercovid.org.