This comprehensive guide offers physiotherapists a crucial understanding of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS), providing evidence-based strategies for effective and safe management.
Where can you acquire this resource? “A Physiotherapist’s Guide to Understanding and Managing ME/CFS” is available worldwide through online booksellers like Amazon. Search for the title on your preferred online platform, or buy it directly from Jessica Kingsley Publishers. You can also request your local bookstore to stock it.
Is it available in digital formats? The book is available in print and as an e-book, ensuring accessibility for different learning preferences. Currently, it is not available as an audio recording.
Are there other language options? Presently, the book is exclusively in English, distributed globally. Translation rights are typically licensed to other publishers or organizations, not individuals. Interested parties can contact the publisher regarding translation opportunities.
Can you borrow it from libraries or purchase it from independent bookstores? Stocking the book is at the discretion of individual libraries and bookstores. If you are interested, request them to order a copy from the publishers.
Who is the target audience? This book primarily targets all physiotherapists, providing relevant information adaptable to any physiotherapy practice working with individuals with ME/CFS. It is also beneficial for allied health professionals.
Is this book suitable for individuals with ME/CFS? While structured for health professionals, people with ME/CFS may find the contents interesting and relatively easy to understand. However, it is not intended as a self-help guide. Seek appropriate medical guidance before changing your current regimen or trying a new management approach.
What will you find inside? This book combines evidence-based practices, lived experiences from the ME/CFS community, and practical tools.
- Clear presentation of the evidence base with summaries showing direct application to physiotherapy practice.
- Comments from individuals with ME/CFS, providing context on how clinical information impacts their lives.
- Case studies presenting real-life scenarios demonstrating how a physiotherapist can assist with different ME/CFS presentations.
The book is divided into three main sections:
Section 1: Understanding ME/CFS
- What is ME/CFS? Defining the complexities of the condition for clear understanding.
- Co-Morbidities: Exploring related conditions that often coexist with ME/CFS.
- Severe and Very Severe ME/CFS: Addressing the specific challenges in these extreme cases.
- Paediatric ME/CFS: Focus on the unique aspects of ME/CFS in children and adolescents.
- Management in Acute Post Viral Presentations: Strategies for managing ME/CFS following viral infections.
Section 2: Symptoms and Management
- Post Exertional Malaise (PEM): Understanding and managing the hallmark symptom of PEM.
- Fatigue: Exploring strategies to alleviate persistent fatigue in ME/CFS.
- Cognitive Dysfunction: Addressing cognitive impairments like brain fog and memory issues.
- Sleep Dysfunction: Improving sleep quality and managing sleep disorders.
- Pain: Providing approaches to pain management in individuals with ME/CFS.
- Neurological Impairments: Understanding and addressing neurological symptoms.
- Autonomic Dysfunction: Managing dysregulation of the autonomic nervous system.
- Immune and Neuroendocrine Dysfunction: Exploring the complex interplay of immune and neuroendocrine factors.
Section 3: Physiotherapy Assessment and Management of ME/CFS
- Assessment: Comprehensive assessment techniques tailored for individuals with ME/CFS.
- Energy Management: Strategies for optimizing energy levels and preventing energy depletion.
- Pacing with a Heart Rate Monitor: Implementing pacing techniques using heart rate monitoring.
- Exercise: Safe and appropriate exercise prescription for individuals with ME/CFS.
- Outcome Measures: Utilizing outcome measures to track progress and treatment effectiveness.
The book also includes case studies and an appendix of common medications used in ME/CFS management.
What is the reception? The book has received positive feedback.
“This is an exceptional resource that steers away from cookbook recipes and instead focusses on principles for safe and effective physiotherapy. I encourage professional organizations, even outside physiotherapy, and university programs worldwide to integrate this content into training and continued education initiatives to improve quality of care. I encourage researchers to integrate this knowledge when designing research programs in this field.” – Simon Décary, PT, PhD, Co-Lead Principal Investigator Long COVID Web, Canada.
This book provides education and awareness about ME/CFS to physiotherapists worldwide. Thanks go to the publishers, specialists involved in reviewing earlier drafts, and individuals with ME/CFS who shared their voices and experiences in the case studies. This collaboration provides invaluable insights into the practical and lived experiences of managing ME/CFS.
This guide empowers physiotherapists to provide appropriate, effective, and safe care for individuals living with ME/CFS, improving their quality of life.
