Question and Answer Forum

Can physical therapy help adolescent CFS?

By David S. Bell, MD, FAAP

Published in Lyndonville News, January 1999

Question: I have a 13-year-old boy with limited activity and a great deal of back pain. Have you found that exercise or physical therapy can help this condition?

Answer: This is a very individual situation. For some people exercising can be of great benefit, while for others, it can cause them to melt into relapses. Our recommendation is to encourage as much activity as can be tolerated. If your son enjoys basketball, maybe you can encourage him to throw a few balls with you. He may be able to throw 2-3 baskets, or play for 5-10 minutes. If he can tolerate a small amount of play without a setback, encourage him to try a bit more. Any activity is encouraged, if your child enjoys it and if it gets him up and moving around. Walking, sports where breaks can be taken frequently, shopping, swimming are all examples of activities that have been tolerated by "some" children with CFS.

There are people who have found some benefits from gentle physical therapy or massage. A massage technique known as myofacial release has been beneficial to some with fibromyalgia pain. The person giving the treatment must be trained in the technique. Some have been fortunate enough to find a Physical Therapist who has this training and were able to have the treatments covered by their insurance. Others have found simple range of motion exercises helpful to keeping the joints limber.

The most important consideration is finding a person who understands CFS/FM. They need to be willing to listen to your child on what is good and what is hurting them. They need to understand that the problems that your child is having are not due to deconditioning but to the nature of the illness. If you are fortunate to find someone knowledgeable about CFS/FM and willing to listen and work with you, this may be another route to getting a little exercise.

As we stated at the beginning, the tolerance of these treatments varies from individual to individual. But we have found success in encouraging activity within the bounds of reason.

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