How is wakeful rest operationalized and measured in daily life among adults with and without long-term conditions? A systematic scoping review.
Martin Ackah, Katie L Hackett, Vincent Deary and 3 others
PMID 40906578WHAT IT FOUND
Rest is not just stopping activity.
Adults with long-term conditions prioritize physical, emotional, and social rest for recovery, while healthy adults focus more on mental detachment. Existing pain scales measure rest as avoidance, not restoration, so they may misguide pacing advice.
Key findings
01Rest is operationalized across four dimensions: physical (stopping or low-energy activity), mental (detachment), emotional (peace and joy), and social (time for self).
02Excessive rest is associated with increased physical disability and symptoms, particularly when used as a passive coping strategy rather than a proactive restorative one.
03The only two measures identified for adults with long-term conditions were developed for chronic pain, frame rest as illness-focused avoidance, and lack patient input.
STILL TO COME
How it was doneWhat they foundWhat it means for PTsWhat it means for OTs
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What it does not show
The review included mixed-population studies where it was difficult to separate the perspectives of adults with long-term conditions from those without. Over 95% of the included studies were conducted in high-income countries, limiting applicability to other cultural contexts. The measurement tools identified were validated for chronic pain, not for fatigue or other long-term conditions, and may not accurately reflect rest in those populations.
Declared interests
None declared.
The easy way to misread this
Do not interpret the association between rest and increased disability as evidence that rest causes harm. The review suggests this link exists when rest is used as a passive, avoidant coping strategy rather than a planned, restorative component of activity pacing.
Summarised by AI from the full paper, without a clinician reviewing it. Check it against the source before it changes what you do. Read it on PubMed →