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Title
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Can exercise limits prevent post-exertional malaise in chronic fatigue syndrome? An uncontrolled clinical trial
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Author
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Abstract
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| Objective: 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. Design: An uncontrolled clinical trial (semi-experimental design). Setting: Outpatient clinic of a university department. Subjects: Twenty-four patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Interventions: Subjects undertook a walking test with the two concurrent exercise limits. Each subject walked at an intensity where the maximum heart rate was determined by heart rate corresponding to the respiratory exchange ratio = 1.0 derived from a previous submaximal exercise test and for a duration calculated from how long each patient felt they were able to walk. Main outcome measures: The Short Form 36 Health Survey or SF-36, the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptom List, and the Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Activities and Participation Questionnaire were filled in prior to, immediately after and 24 hours after exercise. Results: 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 the 24 subjects experienced a clinically meaningful change in bodily pain (change of SF-36 bodily pain score >= 10); 6 indicated that the exercise bout had slightly worsened their health status, and 2 had a clinically meaningful decrease in vitality (change of SF-36 vitality score >= 20). There was no change in activity limitations/participation restrictions. Conclusion: 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 chronic fatigue syndrome, but was unable to prevent short-term symptom increases. |
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Language
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English
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Source (journal)
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Clinical rehabilitation. - London
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Publication
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London
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2008
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ISSN
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0269-2155
0269-2155
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DOI
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10.1177/0269215507084410
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Volume/pages
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22
:5
(2008)
, p. 426-435
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ISI
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000256132100005
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Full text (Publisher's DOI)
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