Page 6 - TR Senior Expo May 2016

6SS SUNDAY,MAY8,2016|THREERIVERSEDITIONOFTHEARKANSASDEMOCRATGAZETTE|ADVERTISINGSUPPLEMENT
People who experience chronic pain can benefit from working with occupational therapists.
Road to recovery
Occupational therapy can help with chronic pain
Millions of people have acute or chronic pain every year, and the effects of that pain extend far and wide. While those who experience pain understand- ably focus their attention on treating their conditions, it’s important for all people to recognize the nonphysical bur- dens pain places on people as well.
Estimates vary regarding the over- all financial burden of chronic pain on health care systems, but numerous stud- ies have suggested that the overall costs are in the neighborhood of half a billion dollars every year. A recent report from the Institute of Medicine estimated that pain costs American society as much as $635 billion every year, a figure that includes both the costs associated with treating pain and the money forfeited to lost productivity.
Chronic pain can be uncomfort- able and costly, but there are ways for people to manage the effects of chronic pain and lead active, pro- ductive lives. Occupational therapy
is one way for people with chronic pain to combat their conditions and improve their quality of life.
• What is occupational therapy? Ac- cording to the American Occupational Therapy Association, occupational ther- apists and their assistants utilize every- day activities to help those with chron- ic pain participate in the things they want to do and need to do, including work.
C.W. Siler, director of rehabilitation services for Unity Health, said there are various reasons why a senior might need occupational therapy.
“The intent of occupational therapy is to restore or improve physical func- tion and abilities that are required to perform routine activities of daily living, such as bathing, dressing, grooming and toileting,” he said. “Need for this type of therapy can be the result of injury or illness. Seniors suffering strokes, ortho- pedic injuries or progressive neurologi- cal or neuromuscular disorders are prime