Sara Kate Frye, Lydia Nemirovsky
Findings support occupational therapy as an effective primary intervention for chronic pain and highlight mobile and virtual models as strategies to expand access.
Chronic pain affects over 51 million Americans, yet access to comprehensive management remains limited. This retrospective study evaluated outcomes of lifestyle-based occupational therapy delivered as a standalone service in a mobile outpatient setting. Seventy-six participants received individualized interventions focused on pain self-management in-home or via telehealth. Outcomes included pain self-efficacy, pain ratings, and functional performance. Significant improvements were observed across all measures, with promising trends for telehealth delivery. Findings support occupational therapy as an effective primary intervention for chronic pain and highlight mobile and virtual models as strategies to expand access.