Researchers at the University of Leeds have demonstrated that a World Health Organization (WHO) rehabilitation program can support long-term recovery for people dealing with lingering COVID-19 symptoms. In a targeted trial, participants experienced a notable reduction in fatigue episodes, with occurrences dropping roughly threefold over the study period. The findings are reported in the Journal of Medical Virology.
The trial enrolled 31 individuals who were experiencing a prolonged course of COVID-19. On average, they had endured symptoms for about 17 months before joining the rehabilitation program. The cohort reported a range of ongoing issues, including persistent fatigue, brain fog, breathing difficulties, headaches, and episodes of heart palpitations. These challenges are characteristic of long COVID and can significantly affect daily functioning and quality of life.
The rehabilitation approach centered on a careful, stepwise increase in physical activity, delivered primarily in a home setting to maximize accessibility and adherence. Participants followed the WHO CR-10 Borg Pacing Protocol, a structured framework that guides progressive exertion through five distinct activity levels. This pacing strategy aims to balance energy expenditure with recovery time, helping individuals gradually rebuild endurance without triggering post-exertional malaise.
The program began with a preparatory phase designed to ease participants back into activity. Exercises emphasized controlled breathing techniques and gentle stretching to improve lung function, posture, and overall flexibility. As the weeks progressed, the regimen incorporated light aerobic activities and mobility work, while continuously monitoring symptoms to avoid overexertion. The final phase marked a return to the normal activity levels each person had before the onset of COVID-19, with adjustments made to sustain gains in stamina and wellbeing.
Before rehabilitation started, participants reported an average of three episodes per week of severe fatigue that could be triggered by even mild physical or mental effort. By the six-week mark of the program, the frequency of these episodes had declined to about one per week, signaling a meaningful improvement in energy stability and functional capacity. Observers note that improvements extended beyond fatigue reduction, with some participants reporting better cognitive clarity, reduced breathlessness, and a more consistent daily routine.
Experts emphasize that home-based rehabilitation models like this one can be particularly practical for long COVID patients who face barriers to in-person care, including travel constraints, scheduling conflicts, or ongoing symptom variability. The study underscores the value of a structured, patient-led pacing approach that combines respiratory work, gentle movement, and progressive activity to rebuild tolerance gradually. While the results are encouraging, researchers acknowledge that long COVID presents a diverse symptom spectrum, and individualized adjustments remain essential to optimize outcomes for different patients.
Overall, the Leeds program demonstrates that a well-supervised, home-centered rehabilitation plan—driven by a clear pacing framework and regular symptom monitoring—can help many people with long COVID regain physical stamina and reduce fatigue episodes. Continued investigation will determine how best to tailor this strategy across varying severities and symptom profiles, but the current evidence supports the broader use of patient-centered pacing in recovery efforts. [citation attribution]