The latest release from ME Association:

Saturday, October 29, 2005

Caution urged in exercise programme referrals

The medical magazine PULSE yesterday reported that 'GPs are shunning exercise referral schemes because of scepticism over their effectiveness and concerns over legal liability'.

Legal concerns are once again in the news following the death of a 46-year-old woman from Cardiff who died after being taken ill at a supervised gym session following a GP referral.

Two new research studies on GP exercise referrals are also reported in this news item:

Firstly, a study in the (online) Journal of Public Health, which found that a small minority of GPs were responsible for the vast majority of exercise referrals.

Secondly, a study to be published in the Journal of Ergonomics, found that many GPs were reluctant to make referrals because of lack of evidence, concerns over medicolegal responsibility, and lack of knowledge.

The medical defence organisations have repeatedly warned doctors that referrals should only be made to exercise programmes where the exercise professional is properly registered. This is because most GPs are not qualified in sports medicine and in many cases are not therefore in a position to say whether a patient is fit to participate in an exercise regime.

[Source: PULSE, October 29, pages 14 - 15]

The MEA has produced advice on the medico-legal aspects of exercise referrals for people with ME/CFS in section 7:3 of our booklet for doctors - 'ME/CFS/PVFS: An Exploration of the Key Clinical Issues ' - and on page 8 of the Spring 2005 issue of ME Essential.

We would also like to hear from anyone who believes that their condition has been made worse as a result of being sent on an inappropriate exercise programme. Please click on this link to contact us: ME Connect