The effectiveness of activity pacing interventions for people with chronic fatigue syndrome: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Purpose

To investigate whether activity pacing interventions (alone or in conjunction with other evidence-based interventions) improve fatigue, physical function, psychological distress, depression, and anxiety in people with chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS).

Materials and methods

Seven databases were searched until 13 August 2022 for randomised controlled trials that included activity pacing interventions for CFS and a validated measure of fatigue. Secondary outcomes were physical function, psychological distress, depression, and anxiety. Two reviewers independently screened studies by title, abstract and full text. Methodological quality was evaluated using the PEDro scale. Random-effects meta-analyses were performed in R.

Results

6390 articles were screened, with 14 included. Good overall study quality was supported by PEDro scale ratings. Activity pacing interventions were effective (Hedges’ g (95% CI)) at reducing fatigue (–0.52 (–0.73 to −0.32)), psychological distress (–0.37 (–0.51 to −0.24)) and depression (–0.29 (–0.49 to −0.09)) and improving physical function (mean difference 7.18 (3.17–11.18)) when compared to no treatment/usual care. The extent of improvement was greater for interventions that encouraged graded escalation of physical activities and cognitive activities.

Conclusion

Activity pacing interventions are effective in reducing fatigue and psychological distress and improving physical function in CFS, particularly when people are encouraged to gradually increase activities.

Registration

PROSPERO CRD42016036087.

IMPLICATIONS FOR REHABILITATION

• A key feature of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is a prolonged post-exertional exacerbation of symptoms following physical activities or cognitive activities.

• Activity pacing is a common strategy often embedded in multi-component management programs for CFS.

• Activity pacing interventions are effective in reducing fatigue and psychological distress and improving physical function in CFS, particularly when patients are encouraged to gradually increase their activities.

• Healthcare professionals embedding activity pacing as part of treatment should work collaboratively with patients to ensure successful, individualised self-management strategies.

Keywords:

• Activity pacing
• chronic fatigue syndrome
• systematic review
• graded activity
• pacing-up

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Data availability statement

Data and code supporting the analysis are available via the Open Science Framework (https://osf.io/bk7t2/).

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Mason Foundation [MAS2015F038, 2016]. ARL is supported by a Practitioner Fellowship from the National Health and Medical Research Council [No. 1043067]. CXS is supported by a Cancer Institute New South Wales Early Career Fellowship [2021/ECF1310].