Furthermore, respiratory involvement can influence the worsening of fatigue. If there is a deficient respiratory mechanism, this will lead to sleep disturbances, leading to daytime drowsiness and fatigue. It becomes a cycle, the respiratory disorder will worsen fatigue, and fatigue, in turn, will also influence the worsening of respiratory issues.
Fatigue will not always be directly related to muscle weakness, but it is known that, regardless of this, capacity and performance in motor tasks will be impaired. Another factor to be taken into consideration is the difference between the fatigue perceived and/or reported by the person with neuromuscular disease, and the fatigue observed in the decrease in motor performance. Not all people, especially children, can tell when they are "fatiguing", but those who are observing may notice some details that point to fatigue.
Therefore, it is important to observe some factors during the activity being performed. Let's consider the following situation: the person is getting up from the sofa to grab the remote control that is on the TV rack in front of them. Typically, it takes her about 30 seconds to get up, take a step forward, and return to the couch. At another time, it takes her 45 seconds to perform the same activity. This means that the increase in time to perform the task may be an indication of fatigue. Another point to be observed is how she performs the task, in the first scene she gets up without using her hands, in the second moment she leans on the sofa to get up. This difference in the way you perform the activity can also be an indication of fatigue.
The person's perception of fatigue must always be considered. In children, our eyes need to be even more attentive, as this report may not always happen. So let's pay attention to the postures she prefers to play in. For example, if she is playing standing up and asks to sit down, it could be an indication. Not every change in behavior is due to fatigue, but fatigue can generate a change.
The approach to fatigue in neuromuscular diseases is a complex topic to be explored and evaluated. Although several factors contribute to its manifestation, there is a set of strategies that we can implement to minimize fatigue in activities, both simple and complex. In the next texts, we will delve even deeper into this subject.
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