Pacing is an activity management technique for managing a long-term health condition or disability, aiming to maximize what a person can do while reducing, or at least controlling, any symptoms that restrict activity. Pacing is commonly used to help manage conditions that cause
chronic pain
Chronic pain is classified as pain that lasts longer than three to six months. In medicine, the distinction between acute and chronic pain is sometimes determined by the amount of time since onset. Two commonly used markers are pain that continues ...
or
chronic fatigue.
Aims
Pacing aims to manage symptoms by avoiding the "boom and bust" cycle that is common among people exceeding their current, limited capacities. This often leads to being forced to stop their activities as a result of pain, fatigue or other symptoms, and then requiring a large amount of rest before being able to resume their activity. The cycle then repeats.
Elements of pacing
There is no consensus regarding what elements are part of pacing.
Pacing typically involves:
* planning activities in advance
* taking regular rest breaks
* choosing activities based on available energy
* prioritizing activities
Uses
Pacing has been used to help manage a wide variety of different illnesses and disabilities, including
neuromuscular diseases like
Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT),
or immune-mediated diseases like
rheumatoid arthritis
Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term autoimmune disorder that primarily affects synovial joint, joints. It typically results in warm, swollen, and painful joints. Pain and stiffness often worsen following rest. Most commonly, the wrist and ...
,
juvenile arthritis
Childhood arthritis (also known as juvenile arthritis, JRA, Juvenile Idiopathic Disease or Arthritis, or Still's Disease) is any form of chronic arthritis or chronic arthritis-related conditions which affects individuals under the age of 16. Most ...
and
fibromyalgia
Fibromyalgia (FM) is a medical condition defined by the presence of chronic widespread pain, fatigue, waking unrefreshed, cognitive symptoms, lower abdominal pain or cramps, and depression. Other symptoms include insomnia and a general hype ...
,
chronic fatigue syndrome
Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also called myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or ME/CFS, is a complex, debilitating, long-term medical condition. The Pathophysiology, causes and mechanisms of the disease are not fully understood. Distinguishing c ...
, and
Ehlers–Danlos syndromes
Ehlers–Danlos syndromes (EDS) are a group of 13 genetic connective-tissue disorders in the current classification, with the latest type discovered in 2018. Symptoms include loose joints, joint pain, stretchy velvety skin, and abnormal scar fo ...
(EDS).
Outcomes
In many health conditions, there are no clinical trials to establish the effectiveness of pacing.
See also
*
Spoon theory
References
Disability
Physical therapy
Chronic fatigue syndrome
Pain management
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