Can exercise limits prevent post-exertional malaise in chronic fatigue syndrome? An uncontrolled clinical trial.

Nijs, J., Almond, F., De Becker, P., Truijen, S. and Paul, L. (2008) Can exercise limits prevent post-exertional malaise in chronic fatigue syndrome? An uncontrolled clinical trial. Clinical Rehabilitation, 22(5), pp. 426-435. (doi: 10.1177/0269215507084410)

Abstract

<b>Objective</b>: It was hypothesized that the use of exercise limits prevents symptom increases and worsening of their health status following a walking exercise in people with Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS). <b>Design</b>: An uncontrolled clinical trial (semi-experimental design). <b>Setting</b>: Outpatient clinic of a university department. <b>Subjects</b>: 24 patients with CFS. <b>Interventions</b>: Subjects undertook a walking test with the two concurrent exercise limits. Each subject walked at an <i>intensity</i> where the maximum heart rate was determined by heart rate corresponding to the respiratory exchange ratio =1.0 derived from a previous sub-maximal exercise test and for a duration calculated from how long each patient felt they were able to walk. <b>Main outcome measures</b>: The Short Form 36 Health Survey or SF-36, the CFS Symptom List, and the CFS-Activities and Participation Questionnaire were filled in prior to, immediately and 24 hours post-exercise. <b>Results</b>: The fatigue increase observed immediately post-exercise (p=0.006) returned to pre-exercise levels 24 hours post-exercise. The increase in pain observed immediately post-exercise was retained at 24 hours post-exercise (p=0.03). Fourteen of 24 subjects experienced a clinically meaningful change in bodily pain (change of SF-36 bodily pain score ³10). Six of 24 participants indicated that the exercise bout had slightly worsened their health status, and 2 of 24 had a clinically meaningful decrease in vitality (change of SF-36 vitality score ³20). There was no change in activity limitations/participation restrictions. <b>Conclusion</b>: It was shown that the use of exercise limits (limiting both the intensity and duration of exercise) prevents important health status changes following a walking exercise in people with CFS, but was unable to prevent short-term symptom increases.

• Item Type: Articles
• Status: Published
• Refereed: Yes
• Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID: Paul, Dr Lorna
• Authors: Nijs, J., Almond, F., De Becker, P., Truijen, S., and Paul, L.
• Subjects: R Medicine > RM Therapeutics. Pharmacology
• College/School: College of Medical Veterinary and Life Sciences > School of Medicine, Dentistry & Nursing > Nursing and Health Care
• Journal Name: Clinical Rehabilitation
• Publisher: SAGE Publications
• ISSN: 0269-2155
• ISSN (Online): 1477-0873
• Copyright Holders: Copyright © 2007 SAGE Publications
• First Published: First published in Clinical Rehabilitation 22(5):426-435
• Publisher Policy: Reproduced in accordance with the copyright policy of the publisher