ECT

• Energy Conservation Techniques (ECT)


  Incorporate ECT in the activities of the client to enable the client to do their activities, at the same time, conserve energy so they can do more activities
• Energy Conservation Techniques (ECT)


  Seek to change how an activity is done to reduce energy expenditure and boost saved energy
• Energy Conservation Techniques (ECT)


  Intentional, planned management of personal energy resources to prevent their depletion
• Energy Conservation Techniques (ECT)


  Objective: balance rest and activity during times of fatigue so that valued activities and goal can be maintained
• Five Key Areas in ECT


  • Planning and Prioritizing
  • Pace
  • Position
  • Technology and Equipment
  • Applications
• Planning


  The act or process of making a plan to achieve or do something
• Prioritizing


  Determining the order for dealing with a series of tasks according to their relative importance
• Planning and prioritizing


  Identifying what task needs to be performed and when the task should be completed
• Pacing


  Rate of movement, progress, performance, or delivery during an activity
• Pacing


  Distribute activities throughout the day or week
• Position


  Relates to the energy expenditure when performing a task based on body movements and posture and the activity environment
• Technology and Adaptive Equipment


  To attain efficiency, substitution, and physical assistance to perform and complete tasks
• Planning and Prioritizing


  1. Plan for adequate rest periods during the day

  2. Identify activities that tire you more (heavy) and tire you less (light) and alternate these activities

  3. Important tasks should be done first and when you have the most energy

  4. Do the most important tasks, and eliminate unnecessary ones

  5. Know that some tasks may require help from others

  6. Delegate work to others

  7. Keep things that you use most where they are easily accessible

  8. Have necessary supplies and equipment together before starting an activity

  9. Arrange work area for activity to be done

  10. Divide jobs into smaller one
• Energy Conservation Daily Diary


  Can be used to track and record daily activity, activity tolerance, and levels of tiredness or fatigue
• Pace


  • Avoid rushing by allowing enough time for each task
  • Work and move at a moderate pace
  • Use slow flowing motions than fast jerky movements
  • Fast walking takes 15x as much energy as slow walking
  • Climbing stairs takes 7x as much energy as walking
  • Take frequent rest breaks
  • Reduce activities that cause sudden or prolonged strain
  • Listen to your body and know your limits
  • Rest before you feel tired, instead of taking a long rest period after you get tired
• Position


  • Sit to do work rather than stand
  • Place and store items between the chest and pelvis level for easy reach
  • Use good posture and proper body mechanics during activities
  • Avoid overhead reaching and bending over
  • Modify your home to maximize efficient energy use
  • Avoid unnecessary multiple trips via stairs if living in a multistoried house
  • Organize tasks to reduce clutter and prevent extra movement
• Technology and Equipment


  • Use electronic devices
  • Use wheels to transport objects rather than carrying them
  • Use online shopping
  • Install swing-out shelving, revolving shelves
  • Use smart devices to schedule, plan, or monitor activities, control home appliances remotely
• Grocery Shopping


  1. Plan: Schedule a day and time during the week to go grocery shopping

  2. Prioritize: Form a shopping list

  3. Pace: appropriate pacing, not rushed; use first floor only; online grocery shopping; use of pushcart

  4. Position: Environment: ask for assistance when reaching high and low items and for lifting heavy items; Body: Place heavy items in the shopping cart near the handle for better leverage

  5. Technology and Environment: online grocery shopping, use a small wheeled cart
• Housework and Cleaning


  1. Plan and Prioritize: break up chores over the entire week by doing a little each day

  2. Pace: clean at moderate pace

  3. Position: Environment: If the home has two floors, get 2 sets of cleaning equipment, one for each floor; eliminate unnecessary clutter; Body: avoid bending; use of long shower hose; proper body mechanics when cleaning

  4. Technology and Adaptive Equipment: Use of basket or cart of transporting cleaning supplies and appliances
• Bathing


  1. Plan and Prioritize: Set a regular time of the day for this activity

  2. Pace: Avoid overexertion by taking rest breaks

  3. Position: Environment: Place and organize soap, shampoo, and conditioner or dispensers at height that are reachable when sitting; Person: most efficiently performed in a seated position; avoid bending over to reach distal parts; use good body mechanics when getting up from shower chair by scooting forward to the edge of the shower chair

  4. Technology and Adaptive Equipment: handheld showers, long-handled bath sponges, accessories like grab bars and non-slip strips to minimize risk of falls and reduce anxiety