Title
Evaluation of the effects of a training programme for patients with prolonged fatigue on physiological parameters and fatigue complaints
Author
Joosen, M.
Sluiter, J.
Joling, C.
Frings-Dresen, M.
TNO Kwaliteit van Leven
Publication year
2008
Abstract
Objectives: Complaints of prolonged fatigue are considered as a major health problem, as it can affect daily functioning and may lead to work disability. To increase knowledge about the effectiveness of interventions focussing on fatigued patients, a study was designed to evaluate an established training programme for patients with prolonged fatigue. Materials and Methods: Eighteen patients who reported fatigue to be one of their major health complaints and who were suffering from functional impairments attended a training programme of six weeks, three times a week. The training consisted mainly of physical endurance training, relaxation therapy and breathing exercises in rest. At baseline, time- and frequency-domain measures of heart rate variability (HRV) and respiration rate measurements were recorded during rest and during recovery after bicycle exercise. Furthermore, fatigue complaints were assessed with the Checklist Individual Strength (CIS). These measurements were repeated at three weeks and six weeks from baseline. Results: After three weeks, HRV increased significantly in rest - SDNN, i.e. standard deviation of normal beat-to-beat intervals (p = 0.02), very low frequency (p = 0.04) and low frequency (p = 0.04) - and showed a positive trend in the remaining HRV components. No significant HRV changes during recovery were found. Respiration rate decreased significantly after six weeks during rest (from 11.8, SD = 4.65 to 8.1, SD = 2.57 bXmin-1) and during recovery (from 15.1, SD = 4.90 to 10.4, SD = 2.97 bXmin-1). In all patients, CIS scores decreased after six weeks training (from 106, SD = 13.3 to 78, SD = 21.8, p = 0.001). Conclusions: The results suggest that a six-week training programme has a beneficial effect on physiological and subjective parameters in patients with severe complaints of fatigue.
Subject
Workplace
Veilig en Gezond Werken
Autonomic nervous system
Heart rate variability
Physiological parameters
Prolonged fatigue
Respiration rate
Training programme
Aged
Breathing exercise
Breathing rate
Checklist
Endurance
Functional disease
Health program
Human experiment
Job performance
Physiology
Adult
Breathing Exercises
Chronic Disease
Fatigue
Female
Humans
Male
Middle Aged
Physical Education and Training
Physical Endurance
Program Evaluation
Relaxation Therapy
Young Adult
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DOI
https://doi.org/10.2478/v10001-008-0025-9
TNO identifier
240609
ISSN
1232-1087
Source
International Journal of Occupational Medicine and Environmental Health, 21 (3), 237-246
Document type
article