Fatigue management with the OT Team in Milton Keynes

The Occupational Therapy Team in the Neuro Rehab Service in Milton Keynes have been running a successful fatigue management programme that helps people with Long term neurological conditions learn ways to manage their fatigue.

Fatigue is one of the most common neurological symptoms, that is experienced in many neurological conditions for example Multiple Sclerosis, Stroke, Parkinson’s and Brain Injury.

It is a problem for up to 92 per cent of people with MS and for about two-thirds of people it is one of their worst symptoms. Fatigue can disrupt daily living and affect the quality of a person’s life by restricting participation in everyday activities, work and leisure. Fatigue is one of the main reasons why people with MS are forced to give up their jobs, even if they have only mild symptoms.

The OT team has been running the Multiple Sclerosis FACETS programme at the Neuro Rehab Service since 2014. This is recommended in MS NICE guidelines.

FACETS stands for Fatigue: Applying Cognitive behavioural and Energy effectiveness Techniques to lifestyle. It is a group-based intervention for the management of MS-fatigue that incorporates energy effectiveness and cognitive behavioural approaches.

With permission of the authors the team initially adapted the programme to deliver 1-1 sessions to people with other neurological conditions, such as those that have had a Stroke, brain injury or have been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease, as fatigue is very common in all neuro conditions.

Last year, the team then started to offer and provide a group programme for people with other neuro conditions in addition to the 1-1 sessions.

Covid-19 has meant a change in how these are provided – now they are delivered virtually via Zoom.

Post lockdown the team has completed three groups since the reopening of the Neuro Services in July and are about to start the next Zoom group on 2 November.

Maria said: “We’ve found that people who have attended the programme feel more confident and able to manage their fatigue. More importantly people have reported improved ability or satisfaction in areas that that they have identified as important to them for example sleeping, showering, walking, DIY, social activities or managing their work role.

The other OT’s who have helped to adapt and deliver the programme are Sarah Crawley, Helen Spencer and Assistant Practitioner Katie Brereton (who is also an OT student).