Comparison of two exercise testing protocols in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome.

This study examined whether a linear exercise stress-testing protocol generated different peak exercise performance variables than a stepwise exercise testing protocol in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS). We conducted a comparative study with patients randomly allocated to one of two exercise testing protocols. Twenty-eight women with CFS completed two self-reported measures (the CFS Symptom List and the CFS Activities and Participation Questionnaire) and then performed until exhaustion either the linear or the stepwise exercise testing protocol with continuous monitoring of physiological variables (heart rate and oxygen uptake).