Ref (type)	Population	Outcome, Interventions	Results and statistical analysis	Effect size	Favours
Overall improvement
RCT	66 people with CFS (Oxford criteria) In review	Proportion of people who reported feeling 'much better' or 'very much better' on Clinical Global Impression Scale 12 weeks 52% with graded aerobic exercise therapy 27% with control intervention (flexibility and relaxation training) Absolute numbers not reported	P = 0.04	Effect size not calculated	graded exercise therapy
RCT	61 people with CFS (CDC criteria) In review	Proportion of people with self-rated improvement with Clinical Global Impression Scale 12 weeks 29/32 (91%) with graded exercise therapy 22/29 (76%) with control intervention (flexibility and relaxation training)	P = 0.23		Not significant
RCT	49 people with CFS (CDC criteria) In review	Proportion of people who reported feeling 'much better' or 'very much better' in a self-reported rating of improvement 12 weeks 48% with graded exercise therapy 21% with standard medical care Absolute numbers not reported	P = 0.05	Effect size not calculated	graded exercise therapy
RCT 4-armed trial	641 adults with CFS (Oxford criteria)	Proportion of people rating themselves as 'much better' or 'very much better' 52 weeks 62/160 (41%) with graded exercise therapy 38/160 (25%) with specialist medical care	OR 2.0 95% CI 1.2 to 3.5 P = 0.013	Effect size not calculated	graded exercise therapy