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 (medicine), acute and Chronic condition, chronic pain is sometimes determined by the amount of time since onset. Two commonly ...

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 A neuromuscular disease is any disease affecting the peripheral nervous system (PNS), the neuromuscular junction, or skeletal muscle, all of which are components of the motor unit. Damage to any of these structures can cause muscle atrophy and w ...

like Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease (CMT), rheumatoid or immune-mediated diseases like

rheumatoid arthritis Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is a long-term autoimmune disorder that primarily affects joints. It typically results in warm, swollen, and painful joints. Pain and stiffness often worsen following rest. Most commonly, the wrist and hands are involv ...

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 hyp ...

chronic fatigue syndrome Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS), also called myalgic encephalomyelitis (ME) or ME/CFS, is a complex, debilitating, long-term medical condition. The causes and mechanisms of the disease are not fully understood. Distinguishing core symptoms are ...

, 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.

References

Disability Physical therapy Chronic fatigue syndrome Pain management {{disability-stub

Aims

Elements of pacing

Uses

Outcomes

See also

References