ALS and fatigue
Last updated Nov. 3, 2025, by Agata Boxe
Fact-checked by Inês Martins, PhD
Experiencing amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) fatigue goes beyond feeling tired. It’s an overwhelming sense of exhaustion that can affect your mobility, speech, and cognition.
By finding ways to manage ALS fatigue — such as energy conservation and relaxation techniques — you can try to reduce its impact on your life.
What is ALS fatigue?
ALS fatigue is a complex, debilitating symptom that is only partially relieved with rest or sleep and tends to worsen throughout the day.
It can affect both your physical and mental abilities.
Physically, your muscles may tire quickly, and walking from the living room to the kitchen may require more effort than before. Mentally, you may have trouble with attention, memory, and problem-solving.
The causes of ALS fatigue
ALS fatigue is caused by many different factors, including:
- Neuromuscular degeneration: Your muscles must work harder to help your body move.
- Respiratory issues: They can affect the delivery of oxygen to tissues.
- ALS medications: Some muscle relaxants and pain relievers may worsen fatigue.
- Stress, anxiety, and depression: The impact of ALS on mental health can contribute to exhaustion.
How ALS fatigue can affect your life
The effects of ALS fatigue on your daily life can be wide-ranging, encompassing home, work, hobbies, and relationships.
It often amplifies the challenges caused by muscle weakness and reduced mobility. As the disease progresses, fatigue can make it even harder to manage daily tasks and maintain independence.
You may find that daily activities such as cooking, getting dressed, and cleaning have become challenging or impossible to do independently. Combined with muscle weakness, this can make it difficult to keep up with routines that once felt effortless.
At work, you may find that fatigue is negatively influencing your performance, affecting productivity or the ability to stay on schedule with projects or career goals.
In your personal life, you may become isolated as you avoid social gatherings because you’re too exhausted.
Fatigue can also limit your ability to engage in hobbies that require high levels of energy, stamina, or focus, such as running, gardening, or reading.
As a result, your mental health may suffer. You may feel lonely due to the weakening sense of social connection and frustrated because you’re too exhausted to do what you enjoy.
Equally problematic is the unpredictability of ALS fatigue. You may feel relatively rested one day, only to wake up entirely drained the next morning. This variability can make planning for work, social activities, and travel challenging.
Tips for managing ALS fatigue
Because ALS fatigue can be severe and affect multiple aspects of your life, managing it requires a comprehensive approach.
Some advice that may help:
- Pace yourself throughout the day and avoid overexertion.
- Sprinkle regular breaks into your day and don’t skip them.
- Schedule the most demanding tasks for when you have the most energy.
- Look into assistive devices to help relieve tired muscles.
- Consider consulting an occupational therapist to help you manage daily tasks.
- Make your living environment more accessible with home modifications such as wider doorways, ramps, and smart home devices.
- Get a disabled parking sticker if you drive.
- Go to sleep and get up at the same time to support your sleep quality.
- Try mindfulness meditation to manage stress.
- Let your doctor know if you feel more fatigued after taking your medication.
Additionally, if any of your hobbies are now too exhausting, small adjustments can go a long way. For example, if you are an avid gardener, you can try planting in small, light pots placed on a table while you’re sitting instead of putting plants in the ground.
Meeting peers in an ALS support group, such as the ALS News Today Facebook group, can also allow you to discover new interests that align with your evolving abilities.
Finally, don’t be afraid to ask for help. If you are too tired to go grocery shopping, clean, or make dinner, reach out to family and friends. Social support can make a big difference and help you feel more at ease.
How caregivers can help
If you are a caregiver for a loved one with ALS, you can play an important role in helping them manage fatigue and other symptoms.
You can offer to help them with household chores and other energy-intensive tasks. You can also ask them directly if there is anything else they would like help with.
Most importantly, you can provide emotional support. Knowing they have someone they can rely on is invaluable, not only for managing fatigue but also for supporting their mental health.
Remember to take care of yourself, as caregiver fatigue is also common. Try to get enough sleep and schedule time to relax.
Final thoughts
Dealing with ALS fatigue is not easy, but a multifaceted approach can make a difference.
Understanding the causes and effects of ALS fatigue, as well as ways to manage it, is essential for optimizing your quality of life.
Through energy conservation strategies, home adjustments, and social support, you can empower yourself to nurture your well-being.
ALS News Today is strictly a news and information website about the disease. It does not provide medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. This content is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or other qualified health provider with any questions you may have regarding a medical condition. Never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking it because of something you have read on this website.
