Physical therapy can likely help to treat chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): Study
- July 26, 2016, 11:37 am
- Health News
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Physical therapy can likely help to treat chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS): Study
Islamabad, July 26 (Online):According to recent research, Physical therapy could likely help to treat patients having Chronic Fatigue syndrome (CFS).
Dr. Rowe what it is about nerve and muscle strain that might trigger symptoms of CFS.
The researchers recently published their findings in the journal PLOS One.
Also referred to as myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME), CFS is defined as persistent fatigue that cannot be alleviated with sleep or rest, and that is exacerbated by physical or mental activity.
As well as severe fatigue, symptoms of CFS may include muscle pain, poor memory and concentration, joint pain, headaches, tender lymph nodes in the neck or armpit, sore throat, and problems sleeping.
Diagnosing CFS is tricky; doctors do not know what causes the condition, and there are currently no tests for the disorder. Also, because symptoms of CFS are similar to so many other disorders, the condition often gets overlooked.
The treatment for CFS can be just as tricky as the diagnosis; there are currently no medications approved for the condition, largely because it is not known what causes the disorder.
However, Dr. Rowe and colleagues believe specific forms of physical therapy could be a possible treatment option, after finding certain body movements may provoke symptoms of the condition.
"Our focus was on establishing the potential for nerve/muscle strain to aggravate the cardinal symptoms of ME/CFS, but [the study] was not designed to examine the mechanisms for why it might do so," he told us.
"We do know that a straight leg raise maneuver places traction on the muscles and peripheral nerves in the lower limb, as well as on the lower spinal nerve roots, the meninges, and the sympathetic nervous system chain," he continued.
"In addition, it can impose a downward pull on the spinal cord. How that mechanical strain then might translate into symptoms is unclear at this time."
While further research into the link between nerve and muscle strain and CFS is required, the team believes the findings point to physical therapy as a possible treatment for symptoms of CFS.
