McMasterLogo_New-2017-300x165
Back
Evidence Summary

What is an Evidence Summary?

Key messages from scientific research that's ready to be acted on

Got It, Hide this
  • Rating:

Exercise therapy reduces fatigue in chronic fatigue syndrome

Larun L, Brurberg KG, Odgaard-Jensen J, et al. Exercise therapy for chronic fatigue syndrome. Cochrane Database Syst Rev. 2016 Feb 7;2:CD003200.

Review question

In people who have chronic fatigue syndrome, does exercise improve their symptoms?

Background

People with chronic fatigue syndrome have ongoing extreme tiredness that can't be explained by other underlying illness. Other symptoms include muscle pain, sleep problems, headaches, and difficulty concentrating or remembering things. Treatment is generally aimed at improving symptoms.

How the research was done

8 studies (randomized controlled trials) were published up to May 2014.

The studies included 1518 adults, mostly women, who were, on average 33 to 45 years of age.

All people in the studies had a doctor’s diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome. Specifically, they had fatigue that was unexplained by any other illness, was severe enough to cause disability or distress, and had lasted for at least 6 months.

Most of the studies compared the effects of exercise therapy with control (usual treatment, relaxation techniques, or stretching). Exercise therapy usually involved some type of aerobic exercise, such as walking, swimming, cycling, or dancing. Exercise therapy and control lasted about 3 to 6 months.

What the researchers found

Compared with control, exercise therapy:

  • reduced fatigue;
  • improved the quality of sleep;
  • improved physical function;
  • improved self-rated overall health; and
  • did not increase serious adverse effects (overall, very few adverse effects occurred).

Conclusion

In people who have chronic fatigue syndrome, exercise improves fatigue, sleep, function, and self-rated overall health at the end of treatment

Exercise therapy vs control (usual care, relaxation techniques, or stretching) in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome

Effects of exercise therapy vs control

Number of trials and people

Quality of the evidence

Fatigue scores were reduced by 1.5 to 4 points out of 33 at the end of exercise therapy

3 studies (540 people)

Moderate

Fatigue scores were reduced by 3 to 10 points out of 42 at the end of exercise therapy

3 studies (152 people)

Moderate

Sleep quality was improved by 0 to 3 points out of 20 at the end of exercise therapy

2 studies (323 people)

Low

Physical function was improved by 2 to 24 points out of 100 at the end of exercise therapy

5 studies (575 people)

Low

18 more people out of 100 said that their overall health improved at the end of exercise therapy

4 studies (489 people)

Moderate

Exercise therapy did not differ from control for serious adverse effects (about 1 out of 100 people in each group)*

1 study (319 people)

Moderate

*Serious adverse effects were worsening symptoms and function.



Related Topics


Glossary

Randomized controlled trials
Studies where people are assigned to one of the treatments purely by chance.

Related Web Resources

  • Several non-invasive treatments work for neck pain

    Institute for Work & Health
    Educational videos, exercise, and neck mobilization were more beneficial for treating neck pain or whip lash than ultrasound or electrical stimulation. Laser therapy, exercise and massage or acupuncture may help with chronic pain. Hard or soft collars did not work.
  • Headaches: Should I Take Medicine to Prevent Migraines?

    OHRI
    This patient decision aid helps people considering taking medicine every day to prevent migraines decide on whether or not to use preventive treatment by comparing the benefits, risks and side effects of both options.
  • Managing Pain From a Broken Hip: A Guide for Adults and Their Caregivers.

    OHRI
    This patient decision aid helps older adults (more than 50 years old) who is in a hospital because of a hip fracture decide on methods of managing pain. It outlines options such as using acetaminophen, opioid analgesics, nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs), and other treatments and compares the benefits and side effects associated with each option
DISCLAIMER These summaries are provided for informational purposes only. They are not a substitute for advice from your own health care professional. The summaries may be reproduced for not-for-profit educational purposes only. Any other uses must be approved by the McMaster Optimal Aging Portal (info@mcmasteroptimalaging.org).

Register for free access to all Professional content

Register