title: Randomised controlled trial of graded exercise in chronic fatigue syndrome.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To investigate whether 12 weeks of graded exercise with pacing would improve specific physiological, psychological and cognitive functions in people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).
  
  
  METHODS
  Randomised controlled trial.
  
  
  METHODS
  Human performance laboratory at the University of Western Australia.
  
  
  METHODS
  61 patients aged between 16 and 74 years diagnosed with CFS.
  
  
  METHODS
  Either graded exercise with pacing (32 patients) or relaxation/flexibility therapy (29 patients) performed twice a day over 12 weeks.
  
  
  METHODS
  Changes in any of the physiological, psychological or cognitive variables assessed.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Following the graded exercise intervention, scores were improved for resting systolic blood pressure (P = 0.018), work capacity (W.kg(-1)) (P = 0.019), net blood lactate production (P = 0.036), depression (P = 0.027) and performance on a modified Stroop Colour Word test (P = 0.029). Rating of perceived exertion scores, associated with an exercise test, was lower after graded exercise (P = 0.013). No such changes were observed in the relaxation/flexibility condition, which served as an attention-placebo control.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Graded exercise was associated with improvements in physical work capacity, as well as in specific psychological and cognitive variables. Improvements may be associated with the abandonment of avoidance behaviours.
authors.affiliation: School of Human Movement and Exercise Science, University of Western Australia, Stirling Highway, Nedlands, WA 6009, Australia. kwallman@cyllene.uwa.edu.au
authors.forename: Karen E
authors.initials: KE
authors.lastname: Wallman
authors.forename: Alan R
authors.initials: AR
authors.lastname: Morton
authors.forename: Carmel
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Goodman
authors.forename: Robert
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Grove
authors.forename: Andrew M
authors.initials: AM
authors.lastname: Guilfoyle
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D003071:Cognition; D003866:Depressive Disorder / Q000150:complications / Q000175:diagnosis; D015444:Exercise; D015673:Fatigue Syndrome, Chronic / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology / Q000628:therapy*; D005260:Female; D006439:Hemodynamics; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D011594:Psychometrics; D012064:Relaxation Therapy