Physical function and psychosocial outcomes after a 6-month self-paced aquatic exercise program for individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome

Suzanne Broadbent; Sonja Coetzee; Angela Calder; Rosalind Beavers

doi:10.1007/s00421-025-05759-5

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Physical function and psychosocial outcomes after a 6-month self-paced aquatic exercise program for individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome

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Physical function and psychosocial outcomes after a 6-month self-paced aquatic exercise program for individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome

Suzanne Broadbent, Sonja Coetzee, Angela Calder and Rosalind Beavers

European Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol.125, pp.2515-2528

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-025-05759-5

PMCID: PMC12423189

PMID: 40186656

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Abstract

ME/CFS

aquatic exercise

fibromyalgia

physical capacity

fatigue

depression

Purpose A randomized-controlled trial to investigate the efficacy of a 6-month self-paced aquatic exercise intervention on physical function, symptoms and psychosocial measures in individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Methods Thirty-two individuals diagnosed with ME/CFS (55.0 ± 13.9 yr) were randomized into an intervention group (INT, n = 17) or control group (CON, n = 15) for a 6-month trial of two 20-min sessions per week of self-paced aquatic movements and stretches. Pre- and post-intervention outcomes included physiological measures, 6-min walk test, hand-grip strength, Sit-to-Stand, Apley’s shoulder test, Sit–Reach test, perceived exertion, fatigue (FACIT), anxiety/depression (HADS) questionnaires, and tiredness and pain scores (VAS 0–10 scale). Results The INT group significantly increased walk test distance (13.7%, P < 0.001), Sit-to-Stand scores (33.7%, P < 0.001) and peak expiratory pulmonary flow (12.9%, P = 0.028) post-intervention. Fatigue (29.5%, P = 0.005), depression (21.7%, P = 0.010), combined anxiety/depression scores (16.9%, P = 0.047) and resting diastolic blood pressure (4.8%, P < 0.001) also significantly improved for the INT group. Sit–Reach scores were significantly lower for the INT group compared to CON post-intervention (− 4.0 ± 10.4 vs + 4.3 ± 10.7 cm, P = 0.034). There were no adverse events or worsening of symptoms during the trial. Conclusions Self-paced, low–moderate-intensity aquatic exercise improved walk distance, lower limb strength, fatigue, depression and peak expiratory flow without worsening ME/CFS symptoms. This mode of low-intensity physical activity may confer mental health and physical benefits provided the activity is self-paced and within patient energy limits. Trial registration number Australian and New Zealand Clinical Trials Registry ANZCTRN12618001683224.

Details

Title: Physical function and psychosocial outcomes after a 6-month self-paced aquatic exercise program for individuals with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome
Authors: Suzanne Broadbent - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Sports & Exercise Science
Sonja Coetzee - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Sports & Exercise Science
Angela Calder - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, School of Health - Sports & Exercise Science
Rosalind Beavers - Southern Cross University
Publication details: European Journal of Applied Physiology, Vol.125, pp.2515-2528
Publisher: Springer
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.1007/s00421-025-05759-5
ISSN: 1439-6327
PMID: 40186656; PMC12423189
Copyright note: This article is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License, which permits use, sharing, adaptation, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, as long as you give appropriate credit to the original author(s) and the source, provide a link to the Creative Commons licence, and indicate if changes were made. The images or other third party material in this article are included in the article's Creative Commons licence, unless indicated otherwise in a credit line to the material. If material is not included in the article's Creative Commons licence and your intended use is not permitted by statutory regulation or exceeds the permitted use, you will need to obtain permission directly from the copyright holder. To view a copy of this licence, visit http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/.
Data Availability: Deidentified data may be supplied upon request to the research team.
Grant note: This study was funded by the Mason Foundation ME/CFS grant.
Organisation Unit: Healthy Ageing Research Cluster; Cancer Research Cluster; Engage Research Lab; School of Health - Sports & Exercise Science
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991115152302621
Output Type: Journal article

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