Back pain, neck pain, neuropathies, and chronic pain conditions of unknown origin are increasingly prevalent among the patients outpatient occupational therapists serve every day.
In this presentation, Shara introduces root-cause approaches to pain management that address symptoms through manual techniques and neuromuscular re-education.
A core premise of this session is that many clients with chronic pain remain symptomatic due to the overuse of smaller muscle groups and the under-activation of larger muscle groups essential for daily functioning — such as typing, cooking, standing, reaching, and walking.
Compounding this is the reality that many clients operate in a state of sympathetic nervous system dominance, marked by anxiety, worry, and a persistent fight-or-flight response that further disrupts coordinated, effortless movement.
To truly address chronic pain, we must retrain the nervous system to release inefficient, compensatory movement patterns and the over-contraction of muscles surrounding the pain site — replacing them with synergistic, effortless alternatives.
Equally important is addressing the ergonomic and postural factors that may be contributing to the pain in the first place — an area where OTs are uniquely positioned to make a lasting difference.
Attendees will gain a fresh perspective and practical tools to apply directly with patients—and may even leave the session with greater freedom of movement and improved alignment in their own bodies.
Evidence based references:
Berland, R., Marques-Sule, E., Marín-Mateo, J. L., Moreno-Segura, N., López-Ridaura, A., & Sentandreu-Mañó, T. (2022). Effects of the Feldenkrais Method as a physiotherapy tool: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 19(21), 13734. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph192113734
Agnese, M., et al. (2025). Effects of a Feldenkrais method-based protocol on body fluid balance and stress-related measures in healthy adult women: A pilot study. Journal of Bodywork and Movement Therapies, 45, 812–818. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jbmt.2025.10.012
Crivelli, D., Di Ruocco, M., Balena, A., & Balconi, M. (2021). The empowering effect of embodied awareness practice on body structural map and sensorimotor activity: The case of Feldenkrais Method. Brain Sciences, 11(12), 1599. https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci11121599
Hillier, S., & Worley, A. (2015). The effectiveness of the Feldenkrais Method: A systematic review of the evidence. Evidence-Based Complementary and Alternative Medicine, 2015, 752160. https://doi.org/10.1155/2015/752160
Speakers 
Outpatient Holistic Pain Relief Therapist, Self
Shara Ogin is an Occupational Therapist with 25 years of clinical experience, primarily in outpatient settings. She is also a certified Ergonomist with five years of practice and a certified Feldenkrais® somatic practitioner since 2002, bringing a uniquely integrative perspective...
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