In plain language
What it is
Managing activity so you stay within your current energy limit and avoid triggering a crash.
Why it matters
For people with post-exertional malaise, pacing is the safest approach and helps prevent setbacks.
Think of it like
Spending within a tight budget rather than overdrawing and paying penalties later.
For specialists
Formal definition
An activity-management strategy that balances rest and exertion to keep within the energy envelope, often guided by heart rate below the ventilatory threshold.
Mechanism
Avoids exceeding the threshold that provokes post-exertional malaise; not a cure but a way to live within the limit.
Sources
- Pacing with a heart-rate monitor to minimize PEM (Workwell Foundation) free full text ›