Understanding what a pain occupational therapist does

Occupational therapists focus on your ability to do activities at home, in the community, and at work. They often visit your home to recommend aids, equipment, or services that support your daily living.

Pain treatment occupational therapists use graded exposure to activity, incrementally improving your activity tolerance in a way that that does not trigger the body’s protections of pain, posture and movement restrictions or fearfulness, assisting with long-term recovery.

Working with you, your OT can help you identify important activities and work towards gradually increasing your participation, step-by-step. This might include everyday tasks like cleaning, vacuuming, washing the car, or simply resting comfortably.

Occupational therapists often collaborate with psychologists to address activity avoidance and build your capacity for meaningful engagement.