Symptom fluctuations and daily physical activity in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome: a case-control study, Nijs et al (2011)

A study that is of interest because it measured activity levels with an accelerometer.

https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/22032215

Unfortunately the authors did not investigate further to find out the "direction of these relations".

 

Probably because that would have required time travel to see if increased symptoms the next day could lead to more activity the previous day... I think I've just confused myself...

This, however, I do understand. What they're saying here is that pacing works.

 

It doesn't require time travel, it just requires cloning, of many identical people with ME.

And a few decades, so possibly some form of technology to keep people asleep without ageing for 30 or so years would be needed. To stop them getting bored waiting for the research to start.

Maybe that doesn't exist yet but possibly easier than time travel.

Maybe.

Fairly sure that's considered unethical for some reason.

...and yes, pacing works, sort of.

 

@Keela Too @adambeyoncelowe @sarahbonser

See Ravn comment above

 

@saranbonser

 

Am I correct in understanding that a difference between the CFS group and the sedentary controls is that the CFS group were in general either active or resting, whereas the sedentary controls pottered more?

Does this mean that CFS group are seeking to maximise what they can do, ie pacing themselves, whereas the healthy but sedentary controls did not have a need structure what they did when? I suppose the big question is then, does this separating into distinct spells of activity and of rest increase what an individual with ME is able to do overall? Unfortunately not a question this experimental set up can answer.

 

I think it does.

When I stop in time and rest (or doing something different, lighter) , after some time I can go on with the task I was doing. Sadly after every rest I have to stop sooner and in the end I have to stop all together and lay down.