Embedded Files
Energy Conservation
Energy conservation is a technique patients can use to manage the energy they have, choosing how they use it on occupations which they value.
In this video, you will see different healthcare professionals explaining the concept of energy conservation and patients explaining how they use energy conservation to live their lives with fatigue in a way that is meaningful to them.
The Spoon Theory
The Spoon Theory
The Spoon theory can help OTs and patients to understand the concept of energy conservation in a tangible way.
The patient is considered to have a set number of spoons per day.
Every imaginable activity is allocated a number of spoons, or 'units' of energy it takes to complete each task.
Every time a task is completed, it takes away that person's spoons from their total daily spoon allocation.
Some activities, such as reading, can help to replenish spoons. These activities will be different for each person.
Pacing
Pacing
The above video considers fatigue in relation to chronic pain conditions. The information covered above can be applied to fatigue related to a variety of conditions.
There are two approaches discussed in the video, here is a quick example of how these may present in practice.
The big push approach
Climb all the stairs at once. You’ll have to rest for 10 minutes at the top, and feel achy and tired the next day.
(RCOT, 2020)
The pacing approach
Climb five steps, rest for 30 seconds and repeat. You won’t need a long rest at the top and won’t feel so tired the next day. (RCOT, 2020)
Top tips for pacing
Break activities up into smaller tasks and spread them throughout the day.
Try adjusting different parts of an activity to reduce the energy demands.
Build rests into your activities; they’re key to recharging your energy.
Stop, pause and rest between activities where possible.
Sit and rest wherever possible.
Now complete the activity below
Activity
Practice completing the activity diary below on yourself, then answer the following questions:
What does the diary demonstrate?
Which day were you the most tired?
Can you recognise which activities contributed the most to your tiredness?
Evidence Based Practice
Occupational Therapy practice needs to be led by evidence.
This is a list of relevant scientific research and articles relevant to sleep in fatigue management.
Please take the time to familiarise yourself with the research base in order to provide the most up-to-date care to your patients.
Relevant Articles
Antcliff, D., Keeley, P., Campbell, M., Oldham, J., & Woby, S. (2013). The development of an activity pacing questionnaire for chronic pain and/or fatigue: a Delphi technique. Physiotherapy, 99(3), 241–246. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2012.12.003
Antcliff, D., Keenan, A., Keeley, P., Woby, S., & McGowan, L. (2019). Survey of activity pacing across healthcare professionals informs a new activity pacing framework for chronic pain/fatigue. Musculoskeletal Care, 17(4), 335–345. https://doi.org/10.1002/msc.1421
Casson, S., Jones, M. D., Cassar, J., Kwai, N., Lloyd, A. R., Barry, B. K., & Sandler, C. X. (2023). The effectiveness of activity pacing interventions for people with chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Disability and Rehabilitation, ahead-of-print(ahead-of-print), 1–15. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2022.2135776
Delbridge, A., Davey, J., Galloway, M., Drummond, A., Lanyon, L., Olley, N., Mason, G., English, C., & Simpson, D. B. (2023). Exploring post-stroke fatigue from the perspective of stroke survivors: what strategies help? A qualitative study. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1–7. https://doi.org/10.1080/09638288.2023.2266363
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