OBJECTIVETo study the effects of tuina on the mechanical properties of skeletal muscles of four limbs in patients with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

METHODSThirty CFS patients were recruited as the test group, while another 30 healthy volunteers were recruited as the healthy control group. Patients in the test group received tuina therapy, 30 min each time, once every other day, for totally 10 times. Isokinetic testing technology was used to compare peak torque (PT), total watt (TW), average power (AP), and flexor/extensor (F/E) ratio in the elbow and knee muscles of CFS patients before and after treatment. The Functional Assessment of Chronic Illness Therapy (FACIT) fatigue scale was used to evaluate the fatigue degree before and after treatment, and compared with the healthy control group.

RESULTSAfter treatment the FACIT fatigue scale score decreased significantly in the test group when compared with before treatment (27.5 +/- 9.1 vs 42.5 +/- 11.2), showing statistical difference (P < 0.05). The pre-treatment PT, TW, AP, and F/E ratio in the skeletal muscle were all lower in the test group than in the healthy control group. Compared with before treatment in the test group, patients' elbow 60 degrees/s angular velocity values during exercise extensor PT and TW, knee 60 degrees/s and 180 degrees/s angular velocity values during exercise flexor PT and TW increased significantly; elbow extensor and knee extensor, flexor AP was significantly elevated; knee in 180 degrees/s angular velocity of movement F/E ratio significantly increased, and all the differences were statistically significant (P < 0.05). The improvement of the fatigue degree in CFS patients and elbow in 60 degrees/s angular velocity values under the flexor and extensor TW, and flexor AP value of the degree of improvement were negatively correlated (r = -0.282, -0.482, -0.285, P < 0.05, P < 0.01). Meanwhile, the muscles with the knee in 180 degrees/s angular velocity was negatively correlated with the F/E ratio of the degree of improvement (r = -0. 330, P < 0.05).

CONCLUSIONSCFS patients have lowered mechanical properties of four limbs. Tuina therapy can improve the biomechanical properties of limb skeletal muscle and reduce the overall degree of fatigue in patients. The changes of limb skeletal muscle and mechanical properties can provide objective reference for the clinical diagnosis and assessment of CFS.