A therapist guides a patient through therapeutic exercise for pain relief.

Unlocking Relief: How Occupational Therapy Manages Client-Centered Pain

Mira Elwood in Health & Wellness November 2025 • 3 min read.

"Regain Control and Enhance Your Quality of Life with Occupational Therapy's Holistic Approach to Pain Management"

Pain, whether acute or chronic, can significantly impact a person's quality of life, affecting productivity, independence, and overall well-being. Occupational therapy offers a client-centered approach to pain management, focusing on helping individuals return to meaningful activities and improve their overall quality of life.

Occupational therapists work in various settings, including hospitals, outpatient centers, rehabilitation facilities, and even in-home environments, to address pain-related challenges. Their primary goal is to assess, treat, and collaborate with clients, enabling them to function effectively in their daily lives despite the presence of pain.

This holistic approach considers the client's physical and psychosocial well-being, facilitating a return to a more fulfilling quality of life. This includes promoting early intervention to prevent increased dysfunction and helping individuals adapt to their condition while enhancing their functional engagement.

Understanding the Occupational Therapy Evaluation Process

A therapist guides a patient through therapeutic exercise for pain relief.

The journey to managing pain through occupational therapy begins with a physician's referral. This referral initiates a comprehensive evaluation where occupational therapists assess a client’s abilities across various life areas. This includes activities of daily living (ADLs) like dressing, bathing, and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs) such as managing health, preparing meals, and engaging in social activities.

The evaluation extends beyond just physical capabilities, considering a multitude of factors. Therapists evaluate the client's neuromuscular, sensory-perceptual, and emotional regulation. They also assess communication, social interactions, cognitive functions, and cardiovascular and respiratory functions. Objective and subjective assessments provide a complete picture.

Common conditions treated by occupational therapists include:

Lateral and medial epicondylitis
De Quervain's tendonitis
Rotator cuff tendonitis
Shoulder impingement syndrome
Osteoarthritis and rheumatoid arthritis
Fibromyalgia and multiple sclerosis
Nerve compression
Fractures, joint dislocations, and tendon lacerations
Crush and injection injuries
Reflex sympathetic dystrophy
Amputations
Rotator cuff tears

Throughout the evaluation, therapists consider the client's values, beliefs, cultural background, home and work environments, roles, habits, and routines. This comprehensive approach ensures that the treatment plan is tailored to the individual's unique needs and circumstances.

Reclaiming Life Through Occupational Therapy

Occupational therapy offers a route to managing pain and improving your ability to engage in the activities that bring meaning and fulfillment to your life. By understanding the evaluation process and the different treatment options available, you can work collaboratively with an occupational therapist to create a personalized plan that addresses your unique needs and goals.

About this Article -

This article was crafted using a human-AI hybrid and collaborative approach. AI assisted our team with initial drafting, research insights, identifying key questions, and image generation. Our human editors guided topic selection, defined the angle, structured the content, ensured factual accuracy and relevance, refined the tone, and conducted thorough editing to deliver helpful, high-quality information.See our About page for more information.

This article is based on research published under:

DOI-LINK: 10.1007/978-0-387-87579-8_15, Alternate LINK

Title: Occupational Therapy In Client-Centered Pain Management

Journal: Essentials of Pain Management

Publisher: Springer New York

Authors: Janet S. Jedlicka, Anne M. Haskins, Jan E. Stube

Published: 2010-12-20

Everything You Need To Know

How does occupational therapy help manage pain and improve overall well-being?

Occupational therapy addresses pain management by focusing on returning individuals to meaningful activities and enhancing their overall quality of life. Occupational therapists work in diverse settings like hospitals and homes, assessing, treating, and collaborating with clients to improve daily functioning despite pain. This involves a holistic approach considering physical and psychosocial well-being, early intervention to prevent further dysfunction, and adaptation to enhance functional engagement.

What does the evaluation process in occupational therapy involve?

The occupational therapy evaluation process begins with a physician's referral. Occupational therapists then conduct a comprehensive assessment of a client's abilities in activities of daily living (ADLs) and instrumental activities of daily living (IADLs). This evaluation considers neuromuscular, sensory-perceptual, and emotional regulation, as well as communication, social interactions, cognitive functions, and cardiovascular and respiratory functions. The therapist also factors in the client's values, beliefs, cultural background, and environment to tailor the treatment plan.

For what types of conditions and injuries is occupational therapy commonly used?

Occupational therapy is beneficial for various conditions, including lateral and medial epicondylitis, De Quervain's tendonitis, rotator cuff tendonitis, shoulder impingement syndrome, osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, fibromyalgia, multiple sclerosis, nerve compression, fractures, joint dislocations, tendon lacerations, crush injuries, injection injuries, reflex sympathetic dystrophy, amputations, and rotator cuff tears. These conditions often cause pain and limit functionality, which occupational therapy aims to address.

How does occupational therapy ensure treatment plans are personalized and client-centered?

Occupational therapy uses a client-centered approach, emphasizing collaboration between the therapist and the individual. Occupational therapists consider the client's unique values, beliefs, cultural background, home and work environments, habits, and routines. This comprehensive consideration ensures that treatment plans are highly personalized and address the specific challenges and goals of each client. The aim is to enable individuals to engage in activities that bring meaning and fulfillment to their lives, despite the presence of pain.

What aspects of pain management are not directly addressed in occupational therapy, and how does it integrate multiple facets of well being?

While occupational therapy focuses on improving function and quality of life despite pain, it does not directly address pain relief through medication or surgery. Instead, it emphasizes strategies to manage pain, adapt to limitations, and engage in meaningful activities. Other therapies, such as physical therapy, may focus more directly on pain reduction through modalities and exercises. It's important to note that occupational therapy integrates multiple facets of well being including emotional regulations, social interactions, cognitive functions, and cardiovascular functions and their impact on pain perception.