People with Long Covid and ME/CFS Exhibit Similarly Impaired Balance and Physical Capacity: A Case-Case-Control Study

Hayes, Lawrence D.; Sanal-Hayes, Nilihan E.M.; Mclaughlin, Marie; Berry, Ethan C.J.; Sculthorpe, Nicholas F.

Abstract

Purpose: Postural sway and physical capacity had not previously been compared between people with long COVID and people with myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS). Therefore, this study determined postural sway and physical capacity in people with long COVID (∼16-month illness duration; n = 21) and ME/CFS (∼16-year illness duration; n = 20), vs age-matched healthy controls (n = 20). Methods: Postural sway was during a 30-s static stand test. Physical capacity was determined using the Timed Up and Go test and 5 Times Sit to Stand test. Throughout, participants wore isoinertial measurement units. Results: Postural sway was worse (ie, greater) in people with long COVID and ME/CFS than controls, but not different between long COVID and ME/CFS. Performance of the Timed Up and Go test and 5 Times Sit to Stand test were worse in long COVID and ME/CFS than controls, but not different between long COVID and ME/CFS. Of long COVID and ME/CFS participants, 87% and 13% exceeded the threshold for muscle weakness in the 5 Times Sit to Stand test and Timed Up and Go test, respectively. Conclusions: These data suggest that both people with long COVID and people with ME/CFS have similarly impaired balance and physical capacity. Therefore, there is an urgent need for interventions to target postural sway and physical capacity in people with ME/CFS, and given the current pandemic, people with long COVID.

Citation

Hayes, L. D., Sanal-Hayes, N. E., Mclaughlin, M., Berry, E. C., & Sculthorpe, N. F. (2023). People with Long Covid and ME/CFS Exhibit Similarly Impaired Balance and Physical Capacity: A Case-Case-Control Study. American Journal of Medicine, https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2023.06.028

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 26, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jul 23, 2023
• Publication Date: 2023
• Deposit Date: Sep 29, 2023
• Publicly Available Date: Sep 29, 2023
• Journal: American Journal of Medicine
• Print ISSN: 0002-9343
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2023.06.028
• Keywords: Balance; Chronic fatigue syndrome; Functional capacity; Myalgic encephalomyelitis; Post-exertional malaise; Postural control
• Public URL: https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/output/4402868