Newcastle University researchers have shed light on one of the most common side effects of COVID-19: fatigue. They may indeed have a treatment for this debilitating condition.
They have begun a new study to test the effectiveness of a TENS machine to alleviate the fatigue in patients with long COVID. This device is most commonly used in childbirth to alleviate pain.
This is according to a press release by the institution published on Thursday.
They found that people with post-COVID fatigue showed underactivity in three specific areas of the nervous system. “These abnormalities in the results on objective tests show that fatigue in long Covid is a measurable disease and these tests may, in time, help us understand how changes in the nervous system contribute to fatigue,” said Dr. Demetris Soteropoulos, Senior Lecturer in Motor Systems Neuroscience at Newcastle University who led the research. The new study followed a group of 37 volunteers with post-COVID fatigue who underwent a series of non-invasive behavioral and neurophysiological tests. Their results were compared to those of 52 control subjects, matched for age and sex, who underwent the same tests.
I am interested in the potential benefits for treatment of fatigue associated with Long Covid. As far as I know I have not had Covid but I was diagnosed as having Chronic Fatigue some 17 years ago and am aware of the comparisons between the two conditions and I would be interested in participating in any research that might be appropriate.
Hi Peter, thanks for your comment. We continue to learn about post-acute sequelae of COVID-19 (PASC), aka “long COVID”, and how it overlaps with other post-infectious syndromes and chronic fatigue syndrome. As investigators continue to develop new clinical trials, you can find more information at https://clinicaltrials.gov.
The study conducted by the institution to evaluate the effectiveness of a TENS machine in relieving fatigue among long COVID patients is a promising development. The use of TENS machines, commonly employed in childbirth for pain relief, may offer a non-invasive and potentially beneficial approach to address post-COVID fatigue. The research findings revealed that individuals with long COVID fatigue exhibited reduced activity in specific areas of the nervous system. This discovery suggests that fatigue in long COVID can be objectively measured and potentially contributes to a better understanding of the role of the nervous system in fatigue. Led by Dr. Demetris Soteropoulos, the study involved 37 volunteers with post-COVID fatigue, comparing their results with those of 52 control subjects. These results could pave the way for future advancements in the treatment and management of long COVID fatigue.
Effective therapies for long COVID are desperately needed, and we hope to see more results from studies with rigorous design to guide management of long COVID patients.
James Lawler, MD, MPH, FIDSA
Global Center for Health Security
University of Nebraska Medical Center