In journal no. 3/2011 claims Larun & Malterud that individualized graded exercise has positive health effects of chronic fatigue syndrome and the research does not provide evidence that such therapy is associated with side effects, for example. in the form of more pain ( 1 ).
The claim that graded exercise therapy is effective treatment for chronic fatigue syndrome is not durable. White and colleagues ( 2 ) found in a recent study that only 28% of those with “chronic fatigue” achieved average (mean ± 1 SD) scores for fatigue and physical function after graded exercise therapy, compared with 15% of those who received standard medical treatment. The placebo effect of behavioral intervention is 14%.
You can read the rest of this comment here: http://tidsskriftet.no/2011/05/brev-til-redaktoren/gradert-treningsterapi-kan-ha-skadelige-effekter
Comment on: Exercise therapy for patients with chronic fatigue syndrome. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2011
Source: Twisk FN, Maes M, Festvåg L. Graded exercise therapy can have harmful effects. Tidsskr Nor Laegeforen. 2011 May 6;131(8):803. doi: 10.4045/tidsskr.11.0244. [Article in Norwegian] http://tidsskriftet.no/2011/05/brev-til-redaktoren/gradert-treningsterapi-kan-ha-skadelige-effekter (Full article)