Studies Show Exercise and Therapy Effective in Treating Chronic Fatigue Syndrome

Those who suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome may find relief in cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and graded exercise therapy (GET).

According to Dr. Peter D. White, a professor of psychological medicine at Barts and the London School of Medicine and a psychiatrist at St Bartholomew's Hospital in London, "Patients who received either graded exercise therapy or cognitive behavior therapy reported less fatigue and better function than those who received either adaptive pacing therapy or specialist medical care alone" (as reported by US News and World Report).

There is a tendency for victims of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome to avoid strenuous activities for fear of aggravating their condition. Yet this only causes a vicious cycle. Cognitive behavioral therapy, therefore, targets the mental inhibitions that can often exacerbate the symptoms of CFS.

Graded exercise therapy aims to reduce debilitating fatigue by gradually increasing patients' levels of activity in order to improve physical fitness.

In a recent British study, 60 percent of patients reported improvements in stamina and their ability to function when therapists encouraged them to increase their level of activity. Meanwhile, patients whose therapists encouraged them to accept the limits of their condition and adapt accordingly experienced significantly less improvement (as reported by Reuters).

Yet Dr. Nancy Klimas cautions against overdoing it with the exercise. Many of these patients have only a limited capacity for physical activity. That's why it's important not to push them too hard. As she told US News and World Report, "You have to work within this 'energy envelope,' because if you push beyond the threshold they will relapse. So often, what we're talking about is about five minutes of exercise before taking a rest."

PubMed defines Chronic Fatigue Syndrome as "a condition of prolonged and severe tiredness or weariness (fatigue) that is not relieved by rest and is not directly caused by other conditions."

One famous victim of CFS is Cher. In a BBC interview, Cher described how a diseased called the Epstein Barr virus gave her symptoms of chronic fatigue. She also experienced frequent bouts of pneumonia and colds that would turn into bronchitis. She ended up having to take almost three years off from work because of the debilitating fatigue.

Emmy Award-winning television writer Susan Harris is another famous victim of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. According to her IMDB biography, CFS actually prevented her from taking a more active role in the production of "The Golden Girls." Yet the show was able to raise awareness about CFS when Dorothy's character was diagnosed with the disease.