HOW CAN AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST HELP YOU?
Occupational therapists are healthcare professionals who support people in performing daily activities that may be affected by pain or injury. At the Pain Collective, occupational therapy focuses on helping individuals participate in meaningful activities as safely and effectively as possible within their current abilities.
Occupational therapists consider physical, psychological, social, and environmental factors when developing individualised management plans, tailored to each person’s functional needs and circumstances.
THE ROLE OF AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST MAY INCLUDE
Case Management
The Occupational Therapist will assess how pain has affected you and your ability to do your daily activities.
Occupational therapists work collaboratively with patients and other members of the multidisciplinary team to identify functional priorities and appropriate management strategies.
Management plans may involve collaboration with other healthcare professionals, depending on individual needs.
Education
Education forms an important component of occupational therapy. Occupational therapists may provide information about pain, the nervous system, and how daily activities can be adapted to improve safety, efficiency, and confidence.
Education may also include guidance on activity modification, pacing, and ergonomic principles that support participation in daily tasks while reducing unnecessary strain.
Sensory Profiles and Sensitivity
Pain can be associated with increased sensitivity to sensory input. Occupational therapists may assess sensory responses and provide strategies aimed at managing sensory load in daily environments.
These strategies are designed to support participation in everyday activities by improving tolerance to sensory input and reducing functional disruption.
Work-Specific Intervention
Pain can affect work performance, endurance, and comfort. Occupational therapists may conduct workplace-related assessments and provide recommendations to support task performance and productivity.
Interventions may include ergonomic advice, workstation assessment, activity modification, or graded return-to-work planning, depending on individual needs and occupational demands.
OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY AT THE PAIN COLLECTIVE
Occupational therapists at the Pain Collective are registered healthcare professionals who work with individuals experiencing pain-related functional difficulties. Their role is to support participation in daily activities by addressing physical, cognitive, emotional, and environmental factors that influence function.
The aim of occupational therapy is to support functional independence and participation in daily activities, including self-care, work, leisure, and social engagement, within the context of ongoing pain or health conditions.
Occupational therapy interventions are activity-based and selected to support functional goals identified during assessment.
WHAT TO EXPECT FROM YOUR OCCUPATIONAL THERAPY SESSION
An occupational therapy session typically begins with a detailed discussion of medical history and how pain is affecting daily activities and function.
This may be followed by a structured assessment, which can include physical examination, observation of task performance, and the use of standardised questionnaires.
Findings are discussed with the patient, and an individualised management plan is developed based on assessment outcomes and agreed goals. Follow-up sessions may be scheduled where appropriate.
HOW CAN AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST AT THE PAIN COLLECTIVE HELP YOU?
The occupational therapists at the Pain Collective are specially trained to help people with pain by working on:
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Education
Helping you understand pain, your body, and how to do the things you want and must do.
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Stress Management
Teaching you stress management skills, mindfulness-based strategies, planning and organisational skills and growing your resilience​.
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Sleep
Pain interferes with sleep and lack of sleep can increase pain – occupational therapists can teach you simple strategies to break this cycle.
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Mood and Anxiety
Pain can lead to depressed mood and anxious thoughts – occupational therapists can help you with practical plans to improve your mood and decrease your anxiety.
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Sensory Integration
Pain can cause your other senses to become over-sensitive – occupational therapists can help get everything back in balance again with practical strategies to reduce the load on the nervous system.
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Energy Conservation
Pain causes fatigue and it can be difficult to determine where to focus your energy – occupational therapists teach you how to grade your activities, plan and structure your day, and change how you perform tasks to achieve the best results with the least amount of energy.
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Movement Re-Education
Pain can cause difficulties with balance, making physical tasks challenging – occupational therapists use specific techniques to retrain the brain to help you move well again.
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Work Intervention
Occupational therapists are experts at analysing your job, how you perform tasks, and what can be done to make things easier.
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Ergonomics
Occupational therapists can provide ergonomic advice and interventions – ergonomics is about fitting the job to the person, not the other way around.
The occupational therapists at the Pain Collective consider the whole person to help you regain your quality of life.
SPECIFIC INTERVENTIONS AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST MAY USE
Graded motor imagery – a specialised brain-based treatment to reduce pain, improve body scheme, and improve movement planning and efficacy
Splinting, taping, scar and oedema management
Dialectical behavioural therapy – a group-based intervention designed to improve coping skills, interpersonal effectiveness, and distress tolerance
Relaxation therapy
Graded exposure and graded activity scheduling
Positioning and assistive device prescription
Falls prevention and balance retraining
WHY SEE AN OCCUPATIONAL THERAPIST?
Occupational therapists with experience in pain-related conditions understand how pain can influence daily activities, routines, and participation. Occupational therapy focuses on practical, functional strategies that support engagement in daily life.
Occupational therapists work collaboratively with patients to identify goals, prioritise activities, and develop problem-solving strategies that support functional participation over time.