Physio Finds: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Cautions Against Using Graded Exercise Therapy for COVID-19 Patients

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Person exercising with text overlay: Physio Finds: National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Cautions Against Using Graded Exercise Therapy for COVID-19 Patients

The UK organization, National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), states graded exercise therapy (GET) in patients with fatigue post-COVID-19 may not be appropriate. They are recommending ‘pacing’ instead. Below is a portion of their statement released on July 21st, 2020. 

“NICE’s guideline on ME/CFS (CG53) was published in 2007, many years before the current pandemic and it should not be assumed that the recommendations apply to people with fatigue following COVID-19. The recommendations on graded exercise therapy in CG53 only apply to people with a diagnosis of ME/CFS as part of specialist care, and CG53 is clear that this should be part of an individualised, person-centred programme of care, with GET only recommended for people with mild to moderate symptoms. As the guideline is currently being updated, it is possible that these recommendations may change.”

You can read the full statement here. The British Medical Journal (BMJ) explains how the large number of patients experiencing post-viral fatigue after COVID-19 has opened the door to discuss contentions regarding GET. You can read more on that, and the history of GET, here

As per BMJ's website terms, this article is made freely available for use in accordance with BMJ's website terms and conditions for the duration of the covid-19 pandemic or until otherwise determined by BMJ. If the study has become gated, members can request a full-text PDF by copying and pasting the title into this request form.

Physio Finds is a monthly News Update series in collaboration with PABC’s Knowledge Services Manager

Terri McKellar. 


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