Occupational Therapy’s Role in The Holistic Management of Chronic Pain

Chronic pain is a common yet debilitating condition, affecting over 1 in 5 adults in the United States (Dahlhamer et al., 2018) and limiting participation in valued occupations (Duenas et al., 2016). Despite its prevalence, chronic pain tends to be dismissed in the healthcare system and many clients begin to lose hope in recovery (National Guideline Centre, 2021). To address current deficits healthcare and education, this capstone project examines occupational therapy’s role in the holistic treatment of chronic pain. To explore this, a wide variety of client-centered interventions were used to treat clients with chronic pain conditions. Progress was assessed using a Modified COPM and two-point discrimination. Student education on chronic pain was also provided and measured using custom surveys. Results demonstrated that the holistic use of chronic pain management interventions led to both objective and subjective client improvements. This project solidified the value of occupational therapists in the treatment of chronic pain and demonstrates the benefit of holistic, client-centered interventions