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Randomized Controlled Trial
. 2010 Nov-Dec;64(6):869-76.
doi: 10.5014/ajot.2010.09198.

Effects of a tailored activity pacing intervention on pain and fatigue for adults with osteoarthritis

Susan L Murphy  1 , Angela K Lyden, Dylan M Smith, Qian Dong, Jessica F Koliba
Affiliations
Randomized Controlled Trial

Effects of a tailored activity pacing intervention on pain and fatigue for adults with osteoarthritis

Susan L Murphy et al. Am J Occup Ther. 2010 Nov-Dec.

Abstract

Objective: We examined whether tailored activity pacing intervention was more effective at reducing pain and fatigue than general activity pacing intervention.

Method: Adults with knee or hip osteoarthritis (N = 32) stratified by age and gender were randomized to receive either tailored or general pacing intervention. Participants wore an accelerometer for 5 days that measured physical activity and allowed for repeated symptom assessment. Physical activity and symptom data were used to tailor activity pacing instruction. Outcomes at 10-week follow-up were pain (Western Ontario and McMaster Universities Osteoarthritis Index) and fatigue (Brief Fatigue Inventory).

Results: Compared with general intervention, the tailored group had less fatigue interference (p = .02) and trended toward decreased fatigue severity (p = .09) at 10-wk follow-up. No group differences were found in pain reduction.

Conclusion: Tailoring instruction on the basis of recent symptoms and physical activity may be a more effective symptom management approach than general instruction given the positive effects on fatigue.

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Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Study Flow Chart
Figure 2
Figure 2. Example of a participant in the tailored group at baseline and 10 week follow-up
Note. Fatigue (dashed line) and activity (grey area) over a 5-day period before and after the tailored activity pacing intervention for a single subject.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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