Can exercise improve symptoms of chronic fatigue syndrome?

For many CFS patients, common activities of daily living like cleaning, taking a shower, and yard work can be extremely difficult and need to be broken down into short bouts of activity. Exercise programs that are recommended for healthy people are not well-tolerated by individuals with CFS. However, some evidence suggests that patients with CFS may see improvements in sleep, physical function, and general health after engaging in an exercise treatment program.^[1] It is recommended that CFS patients “listen to their bodies” regarding physical activity and use an individualized, flexible, and careful approach to any exercise program.^[2]