COVID-19 is an emerging pandemic disease caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS-CoV-2), and although most of those infected are asymptomatic or have mild symptoms, some develop severe symptoms that can affect their quality of life—and functional capacity. SARS-CoV-2 leads to the involvement and sequelae of systems, especially the musculoskeletal, in addition to the respiratory system. Some of these symptoms persist for a long period, called post-COVID-19 syndrome, directly interfering with the functional capacity and quality of life of these participants. Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation exercises are focused on restoring functional capacity in patients affected by cardiopulmonary diseases.

To evaluate the clinical and functional effects of a quarterly Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation exercise program for participants with post-COVID-19 syndrome.

Randomized controlled clinical trial, with three parallel groups and intention-to-treat analysis. This study will be carried out in Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil. A total of 90 participants will be randomized into three groups, one of which will be a control, one will perform face-to-face Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation exercises (12 weeks, twice a week), and another with home intervention (12 weeks of exercises guided by a self-explanatory booklet). Recruitment began in July 2022. The control group will be instructed not to carry out any intervention during this period. The expected results will demonstrate the clinical effects of a supervised Cardiopulmonary Rehabilitation program and a self-performed exercise program guided by a validated booklet for handling musculoskeletal disorders and persistent symptoms. The results will be analyzed using mixed linear models of repeated measures. The study is double-blind since neither the volunteers nor the professional who performed the protocol are aware of the objectives and clinical valence that will be measured by the study.

The findings of this study will help in clinical decision-making regarding the need to carry out a cardiopulmonary rehabilitation program in person or at home, understanding if it is fundamental for the effectiveness of the treatment of this population.

This trial was prospectively registered in Clinical Trials (NTC20457) in May 2022.