Rainbow at shoreline

The Massachusetts ME/CFS & FM Association, a 501(c)3 founded in 1985, exists to meet the needs of patients with ME (Myalgic Encephalomyelitis), CFS (Chronic Fatigue Syndrome) or FM (Fibromyalgia), their families and loved ones. The Massachusetts ME/CFS & FM Association works to educate health-care providers and the general public regarding these severely-disabling physical illnesses. We also support patients and their families and advocate for more effective treatment and research.

Sunday Conversation - January 2022

January 2022: Physical/Occupational Therapy for ME/CFS and Similar Chronic Illnesses

Dr. Kenneth J. Friedman

 

 

 

Sunday, January 16, 4:00 - 5:00 ET via Zoom
Featuring Kenneth J. Friedman, Ph.D.
Adjunct Associate Professor of Medicine,
School of Osteopathic Medicine of Rowan University, Stratford, NJ

 

Discussants:

Alba Azola, MD
Assistant Professor
Co-director of the PMR Post-Acute COVID-19 Team (JH PACT) Program
Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation
Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine

Amy Mooney, MS OTR/L
Licensed Occupational Therapist
Mom of a severely ill daughter with ME/CFS

The overlap of symptoms in ME/CFS, long-haul COVID, and other post-infectious illnesses suggests that the symptoms are not unique to the individual conditions. Rather, they represent a common response, most likely with similar underlying pathophysiologies. Guiding principles of patient management are then set forward for all healthcare providers including physical and occupational therapists.

Video of the full event 
Playlist

Dr. Friedman video 
Dr. Friedman's slides

Dr Azola video
Dr. Azola's slides

Amy Mooney video
Amy Mooney's slides

Q&A video

Resources from the chat

Dr. Friedman has contributed to three nationally-recognized primers on ME/CFS, written numerous articles about the disease in peer-reviewed journals, participated in the U.S. Department of Health’s Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Advisory Committee, and edited three medical journal issues focused on ME/CFS. His research suggests ME/CFS is one of many post-infectious illnesses with similar symptoms and pathophysiologies, and that advances in one illness could benefit others.

Dr. Azola offers her perspective as a clinician working with over 900 patients in a Long Covid clinic; 30 - 35% meet the criteria for ME/CFS. 

Amy Mooney, MS OTR/L, offers her comments about the unique perspective and guidance that Occupational Therapy offers.

The Moderator for this event is Kerry Lang, LMHC, an expressive art therapist and the Wellness and Mental Health Program Manager at the Dean Center for Tick Borne Illness at Spaulding Rehabilitation Hospital in Boston, MA. She also leads support groups for Long Covid patients.


 

 

New Monthly Discussion Group: Looking at How ME/CFS Research Might Apply to our Care

Monthly Discussion Group Square No Date Time 002

 On Tuesday, December 14, from 5-6:30pm we are launching a new monthly zoom discussion group entitled: 

Looking at How ME/CFS Research Might Apply to our Care.

Click here for more details!

 

 

Video Available: Advances in our Understanding of ME/CFS

We have posted the video of our 2021 Annual Meeting, Advances in our Understanding of ME/CFS and the Effects of Long COVID, featuring presentations from NIH-funded ME/CFS researchers, including Vicky Whittemore (NIH), Avi Nath (NIH), Ian Lipkin (Columbia), Derya Unutmaz (Jackson Laboratory), Maureen Hanson (Cornell), and Cindy Bateman (Bateman-Horne Center). The event drew 560 registrants from 20 countries. If you missed it live, watch it here. The 3 and a half hour event is broken into 12 segments within a video playlist to enable targeted viewing by speaker. Make sure to watch the Q&A section, as well as the 10 minute breaks which are full of relaxing music and interesting facts about ME/CFS.

Notice about names

The Massachusetts ME/CFS & FM Association would like to clarify the use of the various acronyms for Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Chronic Fatigue & Immune Dysfunction Syndrome (CFIDS) and  Myalgic Encephalomyelitis (ME) on this site. When we generate our own articles on the illness, we will refer to it as ME/CFS, the term now generally used in the United States. When we are reporting on someone else’s report, we will use the term they use. The National Institutes of Health (NIH) and other federal agencies, including the CDC, are currently using ME/CFS. 

Massachusetts ME/CFS & FM Association changed its name in July, 2018, to reflect this consensus.