Pacing – Activity management concepts (a longer than usual post)

This study used actigraphy to monitor movements, and correlated this data with self-reported pain and fatigue. This study found that “high pacers” had more severe, escalating symptoms, and activity pacing was related to lower physical activity. Karsdorp & Vlaeyen (2009) found that activity avoidance but not activity pacing was associated with disability, and challenged the notion that pacing as an intervention is essential in pain management.  van Huet, Innes, & Whiteford (2009) on the other hand, found that “graduates” from a pain  management programme continued to use pacing strategies years after completing a programme, but made no comments as to the effect on outcomes although they did comment that “the application of pacing tended to be individualised, with the use of self-selected time increments and novel strategies providing structure to limit over-activity” (p. 2036). Andrews, Strong & Meredith (2012) completed a systematic review of activity pacing in relation to avoidance, endurance and functioning.  This study found that pacing was linked to better psychological functioning but more pain and disability, but couldn’t comment on the direction of this relationship. What about people with chronic pain, what do they think? People with chronic pain indicate that they use pacing in studies within the qualitative literature. The problem is that these describes rarely include definitions of pacing.  van Huet, Inne...
Source: HealthSkills Weblog - Category: Occupational Therapists Authors: Tags: 'Pacing' or Quota Chronic pain Clinical reasoning Coping strategies Pain conditions Research activity disability pain management Therapeutic approaches Source Type: blogs