Energy Conservation Techniques

Original Editor - User Name

Top Contributors - Trista Chan, Lucinda hampton, Kim Jackson and Aminat Abolade  


Energy Conservation[edit | edit source]

Energy conservation refers to the way activities are done to minimize muscle fatigue, joint stress, and pain. By using the body efficiently and sequentially doing things, you can save energy. Work Simplification and Energy Conservation principles will allow a person to remain independent and be less frustrated by their illness when their energy lasts throughout the day[1].

  • Energy conservation techniques are not synonymous with promoting the “art of laziness.” Rather, energy conservation techniques allow users to redistribute efforts to complete tasks that are most important to them.[2]

Examples of people who benefit with energy conservation techniques include people with:

[3]

Techniques[edit | edit source]

Below is a general list of ideas you can work on with your patient:

  • Educate your patient on pacing during the task and taking rest breaks throughout the day when they feel fatigued.
  • Discuss planning and prioritizing the day around completing the most important tasks first, as well as the importance of not over-planning the day.
  • Work with your patient to modify or simplify difficult tasks.
  • Discuss delegating tasks as needed to family members, friends, or hired caregivers.
  • Educate patients on the use of assistive equipment during ADLs. eg: Have grab bars installed in the bathroom, grab bars can help to stand and help prevent falls; Elevate toilet seat and elevate the chairs in your home. You use lots of energy getting to a standing position.
  • Discuss completing ADLs and IADLs in the seated position. (It is useful to have chairs in every living area to take breaks.)
  • Provide education and visual handouts on pursed lip breathing to complete as needed[2].

Energy Conservation Tips[edit | edit source]

Remember: The most important energy conservation tip is to listen to your body. Stop and rest BEFORE you get tired. Plan rest times. Rest often.

Educate clients to:

Dressing and Hygiene

  • Sit when you can.
  • Organize and lay out clothing the night before.
  • Begin dressing your lower half first as this uses more energy.
  • Avoid bending and reaching. Instead, use a reacher, sock aid or long-handled shoe horn or lift your legs onto the bed or chair.
  • Dry off with a terry cloth robe. You use less energy than drying off with a towel.
  • If you have a weaker limb or limbs, it is easier to dress the weaker limb first. It is easier to undress your strong limb first.
  • Wear clothes that are easy to put on and take off. For example, use: clothes and shoes with velcro® instead of small buttons, clasps or laces.
  • Use the bathroom equipment suggested by your Occupational Therapist. For example using a bath bench, bath stool, grab bars or a raised toilet seat can make bathing and toileting easier and safer.

Cooking

  • Cook and bake in steps to reduce energy use.
  • Gather all ingredients and utensils before starting.
  • Plan ahead with meal preparation.
  • Make large meals and freeze in servings for later use.
  • Use lightweight cookware and dishes to conserve energy. Use paper plates and cups to eliminate dishwashing.
  • Use electric appliances such as can openers, blenders, food processors and dishwasher to conserve energy.
  • Put items on shelves that are at eye or waist level. It takes more energy to reach over your head or bend at your waist.
  • Consider buying easy to prepare or frozen meals, or using a meal delivery service[4]

Multidisciplinary Team[edit | edit source]

Fatigue management involves a multidisciplinary team, such as physiotherapists, occupational therapists, dietitians, psychologists, and other members of the primary care team, working collaboratively to implement effective strategies and establish support systems tailored to patients' needs.

Telehealth appointments: To offer a more convenient and accessible way to manage fatigue, telehealth appointments allow patients to receive consultations from the comfort of their homes. It reduces travel and waiting time[5], thus, reduces associated physical and mental strain. Moreover, telehealth appointments allow for more flexibility[6] in scheduling. Hence, patients can easily adjust their appointment times based on changes in their energy level.

Physiotherapists[edit | edit source]

Physiotherapists are responsible for exercise prescription and management tailored to patients' life goals. The types of exercises generally include aerobic and resistance training[7], targeting cardiovascular fitness as well as strength and endurance of major muscle groups, with patients specific needs and preferences taken into consideration. The concept of pacing and planning should be incorporated into their exercise routines. They are also responsible for educating patients about the importance of exercise in managing fatigue as exercise helps to gradually increase the energy threshold, hence improving fatigue in the long run[8].

Occupational therapists[edit | edit source]

Occupational therapists help patients manage fatigue by integrating various energy conservation techniques into their daily lives, which involves activity and environmental modifications, and prescription of adaptive equipment [9]. Some techniques used include prioritisation of tasks and activity logbooks to monitor energy patterns[9]. Tailored home modification and equipment, such as height adjustment of furniture and prescription of shower chairs, are included to help reduce energy expenditure in activities of daily living.

Dietitians[edit | edit source]

Dietitian plays an important role in fatigue management, crafting personalised dietary habits and plans, in adjunct with energy conservation technique. This ensures that nutritional intake aligns with the energy demands of daily living. By offering evidence-based advice on dietary choices, they ensure that individual nutritional requirements are met according to patients' presenting conditions. Some examples of medical conditions that benefit from specialised diet targeting fatigue are diabetes[10], cancer[11], multiple sclerosis[12], fibromyalgia[13] and more.

Psychologists[edit | edit source]

Fatigue and mental well-being is closely related, and chronic fatigue may manifest as depression and anxiety[14]. Psychologists provide therapeutic intervention to address psychological factors contributing to fatigue, including negative self-talk, emotional exhaustion, stress, sleep disturbances etc. It is found that self-efficacy and self-motivation is associated with better compliance in self-management and adherence to exercise[15]. An example intervention is cognitive-behavioural therapy[16], which helps patients to develop coping mechanisms to combat chronic fatigue.

References[edit | edit source]

  1. Duke University Energy Conversation Available:https://sites.duke.edu/ptot/outpatient-services/patient-resources/energy-conservation/ (accessed 17.11.2021)
  2. 2.0 2.1 My OT spot Educating Your Patients About Energy Conservation Techniques Available: https://www.myotspot.com/energy-conservation-techniques/(accessed 17.11.2021)
  3. Rehab HQ. Managing Fatigue: Strategies to improve your energy and. your life [Internet]. YouTube. 2020. Available from: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SOfeJ1FyjSQ
  4. St Josephs Health care Energy Conservation Available: https://www.stjoes.ca/patients-visitors/patient-education/a-e/PD%208278%20Energy%20Conservation.pdf (accessed 17.11.20210
  5. Galiano‐Castillo N, Cantarero‐Villanueva I, Fernández-Lao C, Ariza-García A, Díaz‐Rodríguez L, Del-Moral-Ávila R, et al. Telehealth system: A randomized controlled trial evaluating the impact of an internet-based exercise intervention on quality of life, pain, muscle strength, and fatigue in breast cancer survivors. Cancer [Internet]. 2016 Jun 22;122(20):3166–74. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1002/cncr.30172
  6. Fernandes LG, Devan H, Fioratti I, Kamper SJ, Williams CM, Saragiotto BT. At my own pace, space, and place: a systematic review of qualitative studies of enablers and barriers to telehealth interventions for people with chronic pain. Pain [Internet]. 2021 Jun 14;163(2):e165–81. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1097/j.pain.0000000000002364
  7. Physical activity guidelines resources [Internet]. ACSM_CMS. Available from: https://www.acsm.org/education-resources/trending-topics-resources/physical-activity-guidelines
  8. Cataldi S, Greco G, Mauro M, Fischetti F. Effect of exercise on cancer-related fatigue: A systematic review. Journal of Human Sport and Exercise [Internet]. 2020 Jan 1;16(3). Available from: https://doi.org/10.14198/jhse.2021.163.01
  9. 9.0 9.1 Pergolotti M, Williams GR, Campbell C, Munoz LA, Muss HB. Occupational therapy for Adults with Cancer: Why it matters. Oncologist [Internet]. 2016 Feb 10;21(3):314–9. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1634/theoncologist.2015-0335
  10. Mijatovic J, Capling L, Cheng S, Stamatakis E, Louie JCY, Cheung NW, et al. From: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10060698%7CAssociations of Diet and Physical Activity with Risk for Gestational Diabetes Mellitus: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis. Nutrients [Internet]. 2018 May 30;10(6):698. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3390/nu10060698
  11. Maurer T, Belau MH, Von Grundherr J, Schlemmer Z, Patra S, Becher H, et al. Randomised controlled trial testing the feasibility of an exercise and nutrition intervention for patients with ovarian cancer during and after first-line chemotherapy (BENITA-study). BMJ Open [Internet]. 2022 Feb 1;12(2):e054091. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-054091
  12. Essery R, Geraghty AWA, Kirby S, Yardley L. Predictors of adherence to home-based physical therapies: a systematic review. Disability and Rehabilitation [Internet]. 2016 Apr 21;39(6):519–34. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2016.1153160
  13. Bjørklund G, Dadar M, Chirumbolo S, Aaseth J. Fibromyalgia and nutrition: Therapeutic possibilities? Biomedicine & Pharmacotherapy [Internet]. 2018 Jul 1;103:531–8. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.biopha.2018.04.056
  14. Torossian M, Jacelon CS. Chronic Illness and Fatigue in Older Individuals: A Systematic review. Rehabilitation Nursing [Internet]. 2020 Jul 13;46(3):125–36. Available from: https://doi.org/10.1097/rnj.0000000000000278
  15. Essery R, Geraghty AWA, Kirby S, Yardley L. Predictors of adherence to home-based physical therapies: a systematic review. Disability and Rehabilitation [Internet]. 2016 Apr 21;39(6):519–34. Available from: https://doi.org/10.3109/09638288.2016.1153160
  16. Moss‐Morris R, Norton S. Aerobic exercise, cognitive behavioural therapy and energy conservation management for multiple sclerosis (MS) fatigue: Are three trials better than one? Multiple Sclerosis Journal [Internet]. 2017 Sep 26; Available from: https://doi.org/10.1177/1352458517731159