For individuals living with chronic, energy-limiting illnesses, the most important clinical skill is not exercise, it’s pacing. Learning to manage your energy envelope is the physiological foundation that allows all other physical therapy interventions to be successful without triggering a systemic symptom crash.
Chronic, energy-limiting illnesses are not just about physical symptoms; they are complex experiences driven by a sensitized (and often exhausted) nervous system. Traditional physical therapy can be challenging for people living with chronic illnesses because it often focuses on reconditioning tissues–bones, muscles, joints, aerobic capacity, and strength. If you have a chronic illness or chronic pain, an effective recovery plan must look beyond tissues and your level of conditioning. It is not possible to “push through” to overcome your symptoms. And if you have an energy-limiting illness like Long COVID, Fibromyalgia or ME/CFS, your symptoms are not simply a result of deconditioning.
If you're navigating chronic illness or living in a larger body, the relationship you have with movement is as important as the movement itself. Shifting from a mindset of exercise as punishment to movement as a safe, chosen resource is the key to building a sustainable practice that supports healing rather than causing harm.
If you're living with fatigue and post-exertional malaise (PEM), managing daily life can feel like walking a tightrope. One moment you’re doing okay, and the next—after what seems like a minor activity—you’re hit with overwhelming exhaustion, brain fog, and symptoms that can linger for days or even weeks. You’re not lazy. You’re not failing. In fact, many people with PEM were once highly active—working full-time, parenting, exercising—before their condition changed their capacity to function. It’s not a matter of motivation or willpower. It’s about physiology. At ReStory, we understand how real and frustrating PEM is. That’s why we take a compassionate, science-backed approach to help you manage it. Here’s how to begin.
Using the E.A.S.Y. Framework to Build Confidence and Momentum When recovering from bariatric surgery, movement can become one of the most powerful tools in your wellness journey—but only if it feels achievable, supportive, and aligned with your life. That’s why Dr. Thobaben created the E.A.S.Y. framework: a simple, thoughtful way to reintroduce physical activity in a way that honors your body and your goals. E.A.S.Y. stands for Enjoyable, Accountable, Sustainable, and Say Yes—four interdependent pillars that help you build lasting, meaningful movement habits.
Living with a complex chronic health condition—whether it's ME/CFS, Long COVID, EDS, POTS, fibromyalgia, or another long-term diagnosis—often means navigating not just symptoms, but systems that weren’t designed with you in mind.
