Episode
#38 Pacing is Power - POTS, PEM, EDS & MCAS strategies with Dr Clayton Powers
- Published
- Jul 10, 2026
- Duration seconds
- 3556
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Summary
STRATEGIES: Physical therapy tools to reduce crashes and improve quality of life for POTS, Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM), EDS, MCAS, ME/CFS and Long Covid. Many patients are told they have anxiety, depression, or just need to exercise — and that nothing else can help. This week, Dr Clayton Powers, physical therapist and leading expert in complex chronic illness management, explains why that’s wrong, and what actually helps. Dr Powers specializes in treating ME/CFS, Long Covid, EDS, Fibromyalgia, POTS, and MCAS, and trains other healthcare providers to do the same. His ”pacing, not pushing” approach doesn’t promise a cure, but helps patients achieve measurably shorter, less intense, and less frequent crashes over months of care. In this episode, we discuss: - Why pacing is one of the hardest skills for chronic illness patients to learn - The key difference between POTS and POTS with PEM, and how it’s assessed - Why standard graded exercise programs can worsen PEM symptoms - A nervous system toolbox: cold therapy, compression boots, vibration devices, supplemental oxygen - Managing MCAS through physical therapy - How wearables like Visible and trained service dogs can flag a crash before it hits - Why ”permission to rest” needs to be built into clinical care Dr Powers works with the Bateman Horne Center as a contributor to their Clinical Care Guide and educational video series, and has contributed to research on wearables for POTS management and the impact of exercise on POTS. Share feedback on Make Visible: forms.gle/sE3Ed1zNMWEBrcSK9 makevisible.com | @visible.health | [email protected]