Saturday October 3, 2026 9:45am - 11:45am CDT
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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