Glass ceiling effect
The Glass Ceiling Effect is the effect whereby people with ME/CFS often make a degree of improvement over the prolonged course of time, but then reach a point at which they are unable to increase their physical activity, despite high levels of motivation.
In a study by Black & McCully, chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) patients were asked to increase their daily physical activity by 30% by walking a prescribed amount each day for a period of four weeks. Daily activity was assessed by an accelerometer worn at the hip.[1] For the first 10 days, CFS patients were able to increase their activity but then experienced a relapse and symptom exacerbation that prevented them from following the activity program any further. According to the authors, "the inability to sustain target activity levels, associated with pronounced worsening of symptomology, suggests the subjects with CFS had reached their activity limit."[2]
Other studies have shown that ME/CFS patients are not able to increase their fitness[3] or amount of daily activity[4] the way healthy persons or other patient groups can, after following an exercise therapy.
See also[edit | edit source]
References[edit | edit source]
- ↑ Black, Christopher D.; O'connor, Patrick J.; McCully, Kevin K. (March 3, 2005). "Increased daily physical activity and fatigue symptoms in chronic fatigue syndrome". Dynamic medicine: DM. 4 (1): 3. doi:10.1186/1476-5918-4-3. ISSN 1476-5918. PMID 15745455.
- ↑ Black, Christopher D; McCully, Kevin K (October 28, 2005). "Time course of exercise induced alterations in daily activity in chronic fatigue syndrome". Dynamic medicine : DM. 4: 10. doi:10.1186/1476-5918-4-10. ISSN 1476-5918. PMC 1280928. PMID 16255779.
- ↑ Pardaens, K; Haagdorens, L; Van Wambeke, P; Van den Broeck, A; Van Houdenhove, B (2006). "How relevant are exercise capacity measures for evaluating treatment effects in chronic fatigue syndrome? Results from a prospective, multidisciplinary outcome study". Clinical Rehabilitation. 20 (1): 56–66. doi:10.1191/0269215506cr914oa. ISSN 0269-2155.
- ↑ White, PD; Goldsmith, KA; Johnson, AL; Potts, L; Walwyn, R; DeCesare, JC; Baber, HL; Burgess, M; Clark, LV (2011). "Comparison of adaptive pacing therapy, cognitive behaviour therapy, graded exercise therapy, and specialist medical care for chronic fatigue syndrome (PACE): a randomised trial". The Lancet. 377 (9768): 823–836. doi:10.1016/S0140-6736(11)60096-2. ISSN 0140-6736.
