Phoenix Rising Energy Index Scale

From MEpedia, a crowd-sourced encyclopedia of ME and CFS science and history

The Phoenix Rising Energy Index Scale is a symptom scale created by Phoenix Rising which helps patients measure their degree of available energy.[1]

Energy Index Scale[edit | edit source]

0. Bed-ridden, up to bathroom only


1. Out of bed 30 – 60 minutes a day (sitting in chair is out of bed)


2. Out of bed sitting, standing, walking 1 – 2 hours per day


3. Out of bed sitting, standing, walking 2 – 4 hours per day


4. Out of bed sitting, standing, walking 4 – 6 hours per day


5. Perform with difficulty sedentary job 40 hours a week, daily naps


6. Daily naps in bed, may maintain a 40 hour sedentary work week plus light, limited housekeeping and/or social activities


7. No naps in bed. Up 7:00 a.m. to 9:00p.m. Able to work a sedentary job plus light housekeeping


8. Full sedentary workweek, no naps, some social activities plus light exercise


9. Same as 8 above plus exercise approximately 1/2 to 2/3 normal without excessive fatigue, awakens next morning refreshed


10. Normal

Phoenix Rising forum ME/CFS severity scale[edit | edit source]

Below is an adapted version of the above scale which is used on the Phoenix Rising forums.

0 — VERY SEVERE: Bedridden constantly, except to go to bathroom.

1 — SEVERE: Bedridden most of day, very rarely leave house.

2 — SEVERE: Leave house once a week, concentrate 1 hour a day.

3 — MODERATE: Leave house several times per week, 2 hours work/activity a day.

4 — MODERATE: 3 to 4 hours work/activity a day.

5 — MODERATE: 4 to 5 hours work/activity a day.

6 — MILD: 6 to 7 hours activity a day, able to do a part-time job.

7 — MILD: Able to do a full-time job but with difficulty.

8 — MILD: Near-normal life activity level, but still symptomatic.

9 — RECOVERY: Normal life activity level, mild symptoms.

10 — RECOVERY: Fully recovered, or in full remission.

See also[edit | edit source]

Learn more[edit | edit source]

References[edit | edit source]

  1. "Energy Index Scale". Phoenix Rising: Supporting People With Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS). Retrieved November 20, 2020.