Exercise therapy looks promising for alleviating symptoms of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Jul 21 2004

Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS) is persistent, medically unexplained fatigue lasting more than six months.

As many as 3 in a hundred people are estimated to have it. The condition often renders sufferers unable to work or do normal daily activities.

Exercise therapy is commonly prescribed for CFS, and a recent review of the evidence cautiously concludes that this is beneficial. A total of five studies were included in the review.

The results showed that after three months of therapy, fatigue was generally improved as were health-related quality of life, sleep and functional work capacity. As CFS is an ongoing condition, the possibility that a low-cost therapy, with minimal adverse effects, will be effective is extremely promising.

The Cochrane Library - Issue 3 of 2004 is published this week by Wiley, and this newsletter highlights some of the key health care conclusions reached by new Cochrane reviews and their implications for practice.

www.cochrane.org