Activity Pacing, Avoidance, Endurance, and Associations With Patient Functioning in Chronic Pain: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Although causation cannot be determined, results of this study suggest that both avoidance of activity and overactivity are associated with poorer patient outcomes. Unexpected results relating to pacing may reflect either the ineffectiveness of pacing if not used to gradually increase an individual's activity level or the notion that individuals with better psychological functioning but more pain and disability are more inclined to pace activity.