A Physiotherapist's Guide to Understanding and Managing ME/CFS

by Karen Leslie, Nicola Clague-Baker, Natalie Hilliard, Michelle Bull

Overview

Myalgic encephalomyelitis, also known as Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, is a deeply complex and multi-system condition which has historically suffered from a lack of awareness within physiotherapy education and practice. Similarities in presentation between this condition and Long Covid make this comprehensive and evidence-based guide for physiotherapists even more timely and important.
This guide includes an in-depth explanation and history of ME/CFS whilst also describing symptoms, varying degrees of severity, and how to manage ME/CFS in children. It also provides detailed management advice and discussion on how the information can directly inform physiotherapy practice, supplemented with patient case studies.

Product Details

ISBN-13:	9781839971433
Publisher:	Jessica Kingsley Publishers
Publication date:	08/21/2023
Pages:	320
Product dimensions:	5.91(w) x 8.98(h) x 0.79(d)

About the Author

Karen Leslie is a chartered physiotherapist specialising in neurological rehabilitation. She works in private practice with people who have disorders or damage to the brain, spinal cord or nervous system and developed an interest in ME/CFS through her clinical work. Karen also has a background in journalism and communications.
Dr Nicola Clague-Baker is a chartered physiotherapist with over 30 years' experience and currently teaches neurological physiotherapy and research at the University of Liverpool. She has a special interest in ME/CFS as her closest friend has been living with the condition for over 30 years, which inspires Nicola to continue to find solutions through research and education.
Since qualifying as a chartered physiotherapist over 30 years ago, Dr Michelle Bull has worked in clinical and non-clinical roles with an emphasis on supported self-management of long-term conditions, including cardiac rehabilitation, cancer rehabilitation, physical activity promotion and more recently Long Covid. She has extensive knowledge and experience of ME/CFS due to the condition affecting family members.
Natalie Hilliard works clinically as a chartered physiotherapist in private practice, covering musculoskeletal and neurological conditions and specialising in the management of ME/CFS and Long Covid. Natalie was inspired by her close friend, who has post-viral severe ME, and it is through knowing her friend that Natalie has learnt so much more about this illness. Natalie continues to be inspired to learn more and to help others with ME/CFS.

Editorial Reviews

Every fields of physiotherapy have their own fundamentals text. This book is the one for physiotherapists working in the field of post-infectious conditions. I am amazed by the depth of the science in this book. This is an exceptional resource that steers away from cookbook recipes and instead focusses on principles for safe and effective physiotherapy. I encourage professional organizations, even outside physiotherapy, and university programs worldwide to integrate this content into training and continued education initiatives to improve quality of care. I encourage researchers to integrate this knowledge when designing research programs in this field.

Simon Décary