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.

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Jun 26, 2023
• Online Publication Date: Jul 23, 2023
• Deposit Date: Feb 20, 2024
• Publicly Available Date: Jul 24, 2024
• Journal: The American Journal of Medicine
• Electronic ISSN: 1555-7162
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.amjmed.2023.06.028
• Keywords: General Medicine