391
Views
37
CrossRef citations to date
0
Altmetric
Special Section Review

The role of deconditioning and therapeutic exercise in chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS)

&
Pages 237-252 | Published online: 06 Jul 2009
 

Abstract

Background: Patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) complain of tiredness or exhaustion, which is made worse by physical exertion. This results in their avoidance of exercise, which may lead to physical deconditioning. We do not know whether this deconditioning maintains the illness or is a consequence. Graded exercise therapy aims to reverse this cycle of inactivity and deconditioning, and to subsequently reduce the fatigue and disability associated with CFS.

Aims: To review the literature relating to the role of deconditioning in perpetuating CFS and the literature relating to the role of graded exercise therapy as a treatment of CFS.

Method: Non-systematic review of published papers concerning deconditioning and therapeutic exercise in patients with CFS.

Findings: Patients with CFS are at least as deconditioned as sedentary but healthy controls. Supervised graded exercise therapy reduces fatigue and disability in ambulant patients with CFS; efficacy may be independent of reversing deconditioning.

Conclusions: Graded exercise has an important role to play in the treatment of patients with CFS. Further work is necessary to elucidate the risks, benefits, and mechanisms of such treatment, especially in children and the severely disabled. Patient education is necessary to inform patients of the positive benefit/risk ratio in order to improve acceptance and adherence.

Reprints and Corporate Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

To request a reprint or corporate permissions for this article, please click on the relevant link below:

Academic Permissions

Please note: Selecting permissions does not provide access to the full text of the article, please see our help page How do I view content?

Obtain permissions instantly via Rightslink by clicking on the button below:

If you are unable to obtain permissions via Rightslink, please complete and submit this Permissions form. For more information, please visit our Permissions help page.