ArticleAdvances in rehabilitation science and practice
HEART Rate Variability Biofeedback for LOng COVID Dysautonomia (HEARTLOC): Results of a Feasibility Study.
Article in Advances in rehabilitation science and practice. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. It is linked to trial NCT05228665 (HEART Rate Variability Biofeedback in LOng COVID-19), which is not on this map. Cited by 16 papers.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
HEART Rate Variability Biofeedback in LOng COVID-19 (HEARTLOC)
Who cites it
16 citing papers in PubMed, 23 citations in OpenAlex.
- A digital platform with activity tracking for energy management support in long COVID: a randomised controlled trial.Nature communications · 2026Trial
- Heart rate variability biofeedback in adults with chronic spinal cord injury: a randomised feasibility study.BMC neurology · 2025Trial
- Pacing and energy management with digital tools for conditions with chronic fatigue: What we know so far in ME/CFS and Long COVID.PLOS digital health · 2026Article
- Large-Scale Psychometric Assessment and Validation of the Modified COVID-19 Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale Patient-Reported Outcome Measure for Long COVID or Post-COVID Syndrome.Journal of medical virology · 2026Article
- The body and the brain keep the score: a data-driven conceptual model linking trauma and postural tachycardia syndrome.Frontiers in psychology · 2026Review
- Characterization of Post-Viral Infection Behaviors Among Patients With Long COVID: Prospective, Observational, Longitudinal Cohort Analyses of Fitbit Data and Patient-Reported Outcomes.JMIR formative research · 2025Observational
- Physiological Sensors Equipped in Wearable Devices for Management of Long COVID Persisting Symptoms: Scoping Review.Journal of medical Internet research · 2025Article
- Treatments for Long COVID autonomic dysfunction: a scoping review.Clinical autonomic research : official journal of the Clinical Autonomic Research Society · 2025Article
- Rehabilitation interventions and outcomes for post-COVID condition: a scoping review.BMJ public health · 2025Article
- Normative data for the 10-min lean test in adults without orthostatic intolerance.Frontiers in neurology · 2025Article
- A Personalised Pacing and Active Rest Rehabilitation Programme for Post-Exertional Symptom Exacerbation and Health Status in Long COVID (PACELOC): A Prospective Cohort Study.Journal of clinical medicine · 2024Article
- Slow-Paced Breathing Intervention in Healthcare Workers Affected by Long COVID: Effects on Systemic and Dysfunctional Breathing Symptoms, Manual Dexterity and HRV.Biomedicines · 2024Article
- Cardiovascular disease and covid-19: A systematic review.International journal of cardiology. Heart & vasculature · 2024Review
- Resonant breathing improves self-reported symptoms and wellbeing in people with Long COVID.Frontiers in rehabilitation sciences · 2024Article
- Harnessing non‑invasive vagal neuromodulation: HRV biofeedback and SSP for cardiovascular and autonomic regulation (Review).Medicine internationalReview
- Using a Wearable Brain Activity Sensing Device in the Treatment of Long COVID Symptoms in an Open-Label Clinical Trial.Journal of primary care & community healthArticle
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
10 authors at 5 institutions in 1 country.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
Introduction: Post-COVID-19 syndrome, or Long Covid (LC) refers to symptoms persisting 12 weeks after the COVID-19 infection. LC comprises a wide range of dysautonomia symptoms, including fatigue, breathlessness, palpitations, dizziness, pain and brain fog. This study tested the feasibility and estimated the efficacy, of a Heart Rate Variability Biofeedback (HRV-B) programme via a standardised slow diaphragmatic breathing technique in individuals with LC. Methods: LC patients underwent a 4-week HRV-B intervention for 10 minutes twice daily for 4 weeks using the Polar H10 ECG (Electrocardiogram) chest strap and Elite HRV phone application. Outcome measures C19-YRSm (Yorkshire Rehabilitation Scale modified), Composite Autonomic Symptom Score (COMPASS-31), WHO Disability Assessment Schedule (WHODAS), EQ5D-5L (EuroQol 5 Dimensions) and Root Mean Square of Successive Differences between heartbeats (RMSSD) using a Fitbit device were recorded before and after the intervention. The study was pre-registered at clinicaltrials.gov NCT05228665. Results: A total of 13 participants (54% female, 46% male) completed the study with high levels of independent use of technology, data completeness and intervention adherence. There was a statistically significant improvement in C19YRS-m ( Conclusion: HRV-B using diaphragmatic breathing is a feasible intervention for LC. The small sample size limits generalisability. HRV-B in LC warrants further exploration in a larger randomised controlled study.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.