Enhancing Veterans Long-COVID Care: A Cognitive-Sensorimotor Framework to Understand Gait and Balance Dysfunction
VA Office of Research and Development
Summary
Growing evidence indicates that many people who have chronic post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC) will experience ongoing neurological and musculoskeletal impairment that can affect gait and balance. Identifying the factors contributing to these impairments and how they influence functional mobility is the first step towards creating effective evaluation and treatment protocols. In this study the investigators will examine cognition, vision, proprioception, muscle strength, gait and balance in persons with and without PASC to understand how PASC may impact functional mobility through a cognitive-sensorimotor lens. Gait and balance will be studied in environments that stress cognitive and sensory abilities. Study outcomes will be critical for the development of evidence-based Veteran Health Administration diagnostic and standard-of-care protocols to address gait and balance dysfunction in Veterans with PASC for restoring their functional mobility and independence.
Description
As many as one in seven COVID-19 survivors will experience symptoms that persist more than two months after their acute illness has resolved. Growing evidence estimates that up to 30% of people who experience this chronic post-COVID disorder (aka post-acute sequelae of SARS-CoV-2 infection (PASC)) will exhibit gait and balance dysfunction. The consequences of impaired mobility are of considerable concern for the Veterans Health Administration (VHA) given that mobility is closely related to quality of life for older adults and almost half of Veterans are 65 years or older. There currently is no…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 18+ years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
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…
Location
- Jesse Brown VA Medical Center, Chicago, ILChicago, Illinois