Helping Clients Explain the Energy Costs of Chronic Illness to Loved Ones
Jay Berger, PT
Pelvic Health, Neuro, and Pulm specialist, Telehealth Consultant and co-founder, Virtual Kare
Clients with “invisible illnesses” often suffer a great deal of angst, frustration, and isolation. They have difficulty getting friends and loved ones to understand the extra effort/energy they need to expend on a daily basis. As a result, the expectations placed on them is often unrealistic and can cause discord from caregivers.
I often explain and suggest they share the "Spoon Theory", an essay by Christine Miserandino. Christine using analogies and metaphors (spoons) to visually represent to met levels she incurs from her lupus. Her explanation of the extra effort required for daily tasks is easy to understand and succinctly explains how this affects her daily accomplishments.
While I often use a bowl of cherries as a substitute (since cherries are gone once eaten and most clients get this), the article has been invaluable to help family and friends understand what is difficult to sometimes articulate. I invite you to share this with your clients. https://blog.wellacopia.com/the-spoon-theory/
Pelvic Health, Neuro, and Pulm specialist, Telehealth Consultant and co-founder, Virtual Kare
4 年I tell them a spoon equals one MET
Pelvic Health, Neuro, and Pulm specialist, Telehealth Consultant and co-founder, Virtual Kare
4 年Borg RPE and MET levels are not easy concepts for many laypeople. I use them regularly but it doesn't convey the message as well.
Exercise Physiologist and Author
4 年The use of RPE is a creative way of explaining increased fatigue against daily activities. Unfortunately most of these people will have no prior RPE against the same daily activities. I have used the MET charts by referencing or a hypothetical estimate of their Maximal METS. (Easiest is explain max HR was 185 and now it’s only 135 -thus your max MET’s have decreased.) The daily activity did NOT change its request for energy - it’s still a 3 MET activity. But your MaX has dropped from 10 to 5 so those 3 METs were only 30% of your ability but now the same 3 MET require a 60% effort.