Eyskens, Jan B, Illegems, Jela, De Nil, Luc et al. · Journal of bodywork and movement therapies · 2019 · DOI
This study tested whether two simple physical tests could help diagnose ME/CFS and match how tired patients feel. Researchers had 27 women with ME/CFS do a standing endurance test and a balance-while-thinking test, then compared the results to questionnaires about fatigue and daily functioning. Only the standing test correlated with how patients rated their physical abilities.
ME/CFS currently lacks validated biomarkers or diagnostic tests, making diagnosis difficult and subjective. This study explores whether simple physical tests could provide objective evidence to support diagnosis and track disease progression or treatment effects, potentially improving clinical assessment and research precision.
This study does not establish causation or whether these tests are accurate for diagnosing ME/CFS in diverse populations. The lack of correlation between most measures and the small, female-only sample means these findings may not apply to all ME/CFS patients, and a single correlation does not validate TLS as a standalone diagnostic tool.
About the PEM badge: “PEM required” means post-exertional malaise was an explicit required diagnostic criterion for participant inclusion in this study — not that PEM was studied, observed, or discussed. Studies using criteria that do not require PEM (e.g. Fukuda, Oxford) are tagged “PEM not required”. How the atlas works →
The first block is for the primary paper and is the citation you should use in research work. The atlas-snapshot line only applies if you are specifically referring to this atlas’s reading of the paper on the date shown.
Primary citation
Eyskens, Jan B, Illegems, Jela, De Nil, Luc, Nijs, Jo, Kampen, Jarl K, & Moorkens, Greta (2019). Assessing chronic fatigue syndrome: Self-reported physical functioning and correlations with physical testing.. Journal of bodywork and movement therapies. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2019.03.006
BibTeX
@article{mecfsatlas-eyskens-2019-assessing-chronic,
author = {Eyskens, Jan B and Illegems, Jela and De Nil, Luc and Nijs, Jo and Kampen, Jarl K and Moorkens, Greta},
title = {Assessing chronic fatigue syndrome: Self-reported physical functioning and correlations with physical testing.},
journal = {Journal of bodywork and movement therapies},
year = {2019},
doi = {10.1016/j.jbmt.2019.03.006},
note = {PubMed: 31563377},
url = {https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/eyskens-2019-assessing-chronic},
}Atlas snapshot reference
ME/CFS Atlas. Generator v1 / Scanner v1.4 / policy v0.1. Accessed 2026-05-25. https://www.mecfsatlas.com/evidence/eyskens-2019-assessing-chronic
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