Dictionary: Energy Limiting Conditions (ELCs)

Energy Limiting Conditions

Energy Limiting Conditions (ELCs) refer to a type of disability that restricts the overall amount and pace of activity an individual can undertake, rather than the type of activity itself. These conditions also affect the reliability of activity.

ELCs often impact many parts of the body and functions, rather than a specific organ or limb, and thus can span several categories of disability, including mobility impairment, cognitive impairment, and sensory sensitivity. The term encourages viewing impairment or disability over a period, like a day or week, rather than what an individual can perform at a specific moment.

Around 4.7 million people in the UK have an energy limiting condition.

There is no definitive list of ELCs, but common examples include conditions where fatigue and energy impairment are defining features, such as Long Covid, Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS), and chronic Lyme disease. It also encompasses conditions where fatigue or energy impairment are often present, including musculoskeletal conditions (like fibromyalgia, Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome, rheumatoid arthritis), respiratory conditions (like chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, cystic fibrosis), cancer and its treatment effects, neurological conditions (like multiple sclerosis), gastrointestinal conditions (like Crohn’s Disease, irritable bowel syndrome), heart and circulatory conditions, auto-immune conditions (like lupus, mast cell activation syndrome), inherited metabolic disorders, and even mental health conditions and being neurodivergent.

ELCs affect day-to-day life and work in a variety of ways, from limiting the number of hours one can work to affecting social and leisure activities outside of work. The severity of ELCs can range from mild, where individuals may manage work but at the expense of other activities, to severe, where individuals are confined to their home or bed with minimal capacity for activity beyond managing their condition.

Research and lived experiences highlight several key features of living with ELCs, including energy impairment, cognitive fatigue, fluctuation of symptoms, and “payback” for exertion. These elements illustrate the challenges faced in employment and daily activities, underscoring the need for understanding and accommodating these conditions in the workplace and broader society​​.

Please note that ELC is not a medical term for categorising disease, but a label that is used by disabled people to describe their experience and facilitate conversations.