Resolution of Long COVID and ME/CFS symptoms following kanshoho, a low-pressure muscle relaxation technique, 2026, Amitani

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https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1550830726000613

EXPLORE​

Volume 22, Issue 3, May–June 2026, 103374

Case Report​

Haruka Amitani a, Takashi Sakato b, Akihiro Asakawa a

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Highlights​

• •
  Kanshoho coincided with complete remission of Long COVID/ME/CFS symptoms.
• •
  Fatigue VAS improved from 79 mm to 0 mm after 10 sessions over ∼2.5 months.
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  Performance status improved from 7 to 0; POMS-2 TMD decreased from 136 to −19.
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  Kanshoho applies ∼5 N focal load with ∼1 cm contact to limit physical burden.
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  Kanshoho may be relevant when PEM limits exercise-based rehabilitation and pacing is needed.

Abstract​

Post-COVID-19 condition (Long COVID) can cause persistent multi-system symptoms such as fatigue, pain, and cognitive dysfunction (“brain fog”), and a subset of patients meet diagnostic criteria for myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS).

Treatment options remain limited, particularly when post-exertional malaise (PEM) restricts exercise-based rehabilitation.

A 41-year-old woman developed refractory symptoms after acute SARS-CoV-2 infection, including severe fatigue, posterior neck and shoulder pain, bilateral upper extremity numbness, brain fog, and insomnia.

Despite up-titration of sertraline to 50 mg/day by a previous physician and trials of other symptomatic medications, her symptoms did not show meaningful improvement.

After exclusion of alternative organic causes, she was diagnosed with Long COVID and met diagnostic criteria for ME/CFS.

Kanshoho, a low-pressure muscle relaxation technique, was administered as the primary intervention, with brief advice on activity pacing; sertraline (50 mg/day) was continued initially and later tapered at the patient’s request, without clear symptom worsening, and subsequently discontinued. After 10 sessions over 2.5 months, all symptoms resolved at the final assessment.

Fatigue visual analog scale (VAS) improved from 79 mm to 0 mm, performance status improved from 7 to 0, and the Profile of Mood States, Second Edition Total Mood Disturbance raw score decreased from 136 to −19.

Although causality cannot be inferred from a single case, this low-load approach may warrant evaluation in controlled studies, especially for patients in whom PEM limits conventional rehabilitation.

 

[Utsikt]

Declaration of competing interest​

Takashi Sakato serves as CEO/representative director of Japan Health Organization, which holds the registered trademark “Kanshoho®/緩消法®” (Registration No 5982,592). He is the patent owner and is listed as the inventor on the granted U.S. patent related to Kanshoho (US 11,207,238 B2). He also receives honoraria and training/educational fees for workshops and lectures related to Kanshoho. No fees or other remuneration were paid by the authors or their institution to Takashi Sakato or Japan Health Organization for the technical guidance provided for this study. The other authors declare no competing interests.