Approach to activity engagement and differences in activity participation in chronic pain: A five‐day observational study

Abstract

Results suggest that activity pacing does not negatively impact on activity participation in chronic pain populations. 'Pacers' spent a similar amount of time resting, and had a slightly better balance between productive tasks and leisure/social activities, when compared to 'overactives'. The results of this study can be incorporated into patient education and highlight potential treatment avenues for individuals with chronic pain who are habitually overactive.

Learned pacing for adults with chronic pain: A randomised controlled trial feasibility study

“…Consistent with other studies, this study found that when used as an outcome measure, the BPI is able to capture clinically important changes in pain severity and pain interference (Keller et al, 2004;Mease et al, 2011). Pacing is often used as an intervention within pain management programs (Andrews et al, 2018); however, findings from this feasibility study suggest that pacing, as a learned strategy, do not noticeably negatively or positively influence the severity or interference of pain. These findings differ from previous studies that reported an associated increased pain with learned pacing (Andrews et al, 2012).…”

“…Given there is no cure available, the treatment for chronic pain targets a self‐management approach which is often provided by multidisciplinary and interdisciplinary pain management programs (Andrews, Strong, Meredith, & Branjerdporn, 2018). Multidisciplinary pain management is recommended to improve quality of life, and it is generally cheaper to deliver when compared to standard treatment (Deloitte Access Economics, 2019).…”

“…In multidisciplinary clinical practice, “pacing” is an intervention commonly recommended (Andrews et al, 2018; Jamieson‐Lega, Berry, & Brown, 2013). The aim of pacing is to enable individuals with chronic pain to improve ability to perform chosen and meaningful occupations (Murphy & Clauw, 2010; Murphy et al, 2011).…”

“…The aim of pacing is to enable individuals with chronic pain to improve ability to perform chosen and meaningful occupations (Murphy & Clauw, 2010; Murphy et al, 2011). Pacing is often used in clinical practice to reduce maladaptive behaviours including activity avoidance (low overactivity, high activity avoidance) and overactivity (high overactivity, low activity avoidance; Andrews et al, 2018). The definition of pacing varies, which has had negative implications for clinical practice and research (Jamieson‐Lega et al, 2013).…”

Overactivity assessment in chronic pain: The development and psychometric evaluation of a multifaceted self‐report assessment

“…These notions were further strengthened by qualitative data with vivid descriptions of the impact of overactivity behaviour on mood, sleep and social activity engagement from the perspective of those people with chronic pain (Andrews et al., 2015b). Quantitative data have also provided support for these associations through cross‐sectional and observational study designs (Andrews et al., 2014, 2016a, 2018; Cane et al., 2013; Esteve et al., 2016).…”