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It is reported that at least 5% of the the population under 18 experiences childhood chronic pain (pain lasting at least 3 to 6 months).  Acute or temporary pain may also be a problem that children face due to illness or injury. Reported rates of pain have increased over the past two decades.  Occupational therapy practitioners can help children manage their pain through both internal and external strategies and tools.  From introducing visuals to describe senses, pain, and body signs to introducing activities to promote occupational balance to setting up environments to promote ergonomics and calming, OT’s work to develop an individualized plan that helps families feel prepared to promote optimal wellness even in the face of the most challenging circumstances. 

OT’s (occupational therapists) can address strategies for headaches, musculoskeletal pain, joint pain, and mental health. OT’s help the child and their family establish and maintain positive routines.  Data suggests that comprehensive multi-disciplinary treatment can help manage symptoms. Pain treatment includes a combination of pain reduction and coping strategies.  While a doctor may provide medicine, an occupational therapist is trained to study and treat the process of pain- helping you break down how activity patterns can help contribute to or break pain cycles.  Specifically, utilization of “taping” targeting muscles and/or physical or deep modality treatment from a specialized therapist may be necessary.  This OT has DPAM certification from the state of Kentucky, Board Certification in Pediatrics, and training from RockTape courses. Occupational therapists may teach sensory desensitization strategies as well as provide some adaptations and compensations to perform challenging daily activities and develop a daily schedule to support engagement in meaningful activities (Reeves et al, 2022).  Training from University of Southern California’s Lifestyle Redesign and Home Modification Certificate programs may help set up routines and adapt the environment to conserve energy/plan for pain management.  When someone is in a heightened pain state, the fight-or-flight response and retained reflexes like moro may present, leading to a lower threshold for sensory integration dysfunction. 

Pain can hinder the participation in meaningful daily activities “occupations” such as school and extracurricular activities. Occupational therapy empowers children to heal through creative activities and roles that help distract them from their pain in a purposeful, functional way. Occupation-based tools of your child’s interests like arts, crafts, music, outdoor time with friends may promote positive balance in your child’s routines and provide a cathartic way to express feelings about pain. An OT assessment can help you identify what factors may be promoting or hindering occupational performance.  An OT assessment can look at sensory patterns in each sensory category and help you learn how to use sensory strategies to tap into your biological systems for promoting self regulation.  An OT may teach reflex or body work strategies or sensory motor “heavy work” to help with distracting oneself from pain, strengthening, or managing pain.  

While some may experience physical pain, other types of pain may present when a child is experiencing anxiety or depression.  Brain scans have shown many areas of the brain that are activated during emotional pain are similar to those during actual physical pain. Over the past decade, children and youth have reported an increase in mental health challenges including anxiety and depression (Centers for Disease and Control, 2023).  Diseases of despair and the suicide rate are on the rise (Tolliver & Hostutler, 2022).   In 2021, Surgeon General Vivek Murthy said that youth mental health challenges were leading to “devastating effects”.  

Whatever your child is facing (physical, mental or social), Sunny Day Therapy can help you develop a plan to recognize your child’s strengths and promote their wellbeing. Well-being can be defined as “a general term encompassing the total universe of human life domains, including physical, mental, and social aspects” (WHO, 2006, p. 211). OT’s are uniquely qualified to look holistically at the person, environment, and occupation (valued activity) and create a customized plan that is flexible for your child’s skills, needs, and challenges.  Most importantly, your child and you will be treated with dignity & respect as if you were a member of my very own family.  I know what it is like to struggle with seeing family members in pain as well as experiencing pain myself; I will do everything in my power to share knowledge and resources and help you find a team of professionals to help your child. 

Being a care partner (whether that means mom, dad, grandparent, teacher, friend) can bring its own stress and sometimes even emotional pain. Because of that, I have completed Perinatal Mental Health training from Postpartum International specifically related to the role of motherhood (“mom”ing may be done by anyone – dad’s, grandparents, etc.). I am also trained to provide occupational therapy to moms. I offer specific trainings for care partners because I believe when we help any member of the family we help everyone find balance, role fulfillment, healing, and peace!

Don’t let yourself or your child travel your journey of pain alone. I hope to hear from you soon about how we can create a creative, evidence-based plan together to help you work towards your family’s goals.

References

Reeves L., Sako M., Malloy J., Goldstein A., Bennet K.. (2022) Role of occupational therapy in comprehensive integrative pain management. https://www.aota.org/practice/practice-essentials/quality/quality-resources/role-of-ot-pain-management

Tolliver, M., & Hostutler, C. A. (2022). Pediatric mental health crisis: Propelling the Surgeon General’s advice to action [Editorial]. Families, Systems, & Health, 40(3), 305–311. https://doi.org/10.1037/fsh0000733