Patients with ME/CFS have problems like trouble concentrating, difficulty sleeping and issues with their muscles such as fatigue, pain, and weakness. Exercise leads to a worsening of symptoms (post-exertional malaise), which can last for days to weeks. The main aim of the MuscleME project is to better understand what is happening in the muscles of people with ME/CFS. The researchers will look at blood and muscle samples from these patients and compare them to samples from people without the disease to see if there are any changes in how their muscles work and their structure. They will also explore why exercise makes people with ME/CFS feel worse and whether there’s a connection between the immune system and the way muscles change. By doing this research, they will be adding to our knowledge of ME/CFS, finding ways to diagnose it better, and maybe even discover new ways to help people with these muscle-related problems.
