Systemic Exertional Intolerance Disease, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis, or Chronic Fatigue Syndrome? What’s In the Name and Why It Matters for Physical Therapists

Myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is a syndrome involving intolerance of physical exertion that causes disabling fatigue. Postexertional symptoms are so pervasive in ME/CFS that the Institute of Medicine (IOM) advocates renaming ME/CFS as systemic exertional intolerance disease (SEID). The unique symptomatology of ME/CFS/SEID places PTs in a unique position to identify ME/CFS/SEID and direct its appropriate management through both physical therapy interventions and referral to other health care providers for consultation. In this session, clinicians and researchers will provide information about the clinical management of ME/CFS/SEID and cover the development of the IOM and National Institutes of Health reports and the clinical features and pathoetiology of ME/CFS/SEID. The presenters also will discuss the roles of cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) in the diagnosis and measurement of functional deficits in people with MC/CFS/SEID, and etiological clues from CPET in people with ME/CFS/SEID and how hypothesized etiology affects the rehabilitation process