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What is Fatigue?
Fatigue is the feeling of extreme tiredness and inability to function at your normal level. Fatigue can be mental and physical.
- Physical Fatigue is where your body does not have the strength or energy to perform tasks which are normally done with ease.
- Mental fatigue is the inability to concentrate or rationalise thoughts effectively. This can affect a person’s ability to cope within the workplace and home environment.
Above: Practising and assessing safe transfers for clients with extreme fatigue and low activity toleranceWhat causes Fatigue?
Fatigue can be due to three main factors in a person’s life:
- Emotional – emotional stresses in life such as bereavement, work commitments, financial circumstances and family stress can cause a person to become physically and emotionally fatigued.
- Physical – physical demands such as sporting events and lack of sleep can be a main cause of physical fatigue. Conditions such as thyroid, anaemia and obesity can also have an impact on energy levels.
- Lifestyle– lifestyle stresses such as food and drink consumed, hours worked and caring responsibilities can all cause physical and mental fatigue.
- Immobility – this can be due to a hospital stay or injury which reduces mobility.
- Aging – as a person ages energy levels can decrease, this can lead to the individual becoming fatigued easily.
- De-conditioning – this can be described as; when a person is physically fit and then does not train for a period of time their fitness levels decrease, therefore becoming fatigued more easily.
- Decreased energy
- Minimal motivation
- Low mood
- Exhaustion
- Decreased exercise tolerance
Above: Physiotherapist led Pilates classes to improve physical conditioning and exercise toleranceHow can Physiotherapy help?
Physiotherapy can assist with the symptoms and management of fatigue. Physiotherapists at Physio.co.uk can offer treatment for you is you are suffering from fatigue. Some of the treatments which can assist with symptom management can include:
- Increasing exercise tolerance
- Providing joint pain relief
- Lifestyle advice
- Self management strategies
What Physiotherapy treatments can be expected for fatigue?
Upon assessment the Physiotherapist from Physio.co.uk will decide upon the most suitable treatment programme for you. This may include:
- Aerobic exercise (slow build up of exercise tolerance)
- Pacing activities education
- Nutritional advice
- Lifestyle advice
- Electrotherapy (LIPUS, PSWD, Interferential, TENS)
- Pain Management
Summary
Fatigue can affect a person’s ability to function at their previous level physically and mentally. If intervention is not implemented then the condition could deteriorate affecting their personal and professional life and relationships. Physiotherapists from Physio.co.uk can offer advice, support and treatment to those who feel fatigue is affecting their life. Please contact us or call 0330 088 7800 to arrange an appointment.
