Occupational Therapy Treatment of Chronic Pain and Use of Assistive Devices in Older Adults

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Abstract
Occupational therapy can enable older individuals with chronic pain to increase participation in everyday activity. Intervention requires knowledge of issues related to assessment and treatment of chronic pain in older adults. Prescription of assistive devices is an important aspect of such therapy. A small exploratory study was conducted with 30 older individuals with chronic pain from lower extremity osteoarthritis to determine what assistive devices they had and how these devices were obtained. Most devices had been obtained without the assistance of a professional. Early occupational therapy intervention to prescribe assistive devices and to provide strategies to remain active despite pain may be beneficial.