Fatigue Management for People with Persistent Pain

 

Presenter:

Ms Fiona Thomas, Senior Occupational Therapist, Caulfield Pain Management and Research Centre, Alfred Health

Fiona Thomas graduated as an occupational therapist in 1986 and has worked in a variety of clinical areas including hand therapy, industrial musculoskeletal rehabilitation and chronic pain management. Fiona is currently working at Caulfield General Medical Centre as the Senior Clinician - Occupational Therapy in the Caulfield Pain Management Team. Fiona has worked in both private and public settings as a clinical OT, programme coordinator and educator. She has a clinical interest in relating occupational therapy practice to pain management including: goals setting, functional capacity assessments, activity engagement, biofeedback and sensory processing/ self-regulation as well as applying modern pain science into occupational therapy approaches. Fiona is a keen advocate of the role of Occupational Therapy in pain management and has presented workshops for OT Australia on pain management over the lifespan- an occupational therapy approach; and topical sessions for the Australian Pain Society on applying modern pain science to pain management programmes and viewing work as an intervention not just an outcome.

Description: 

Fatigue is a common symptom associated with persistent pain conditions and like pain can be difficult to manage or resolve. This webinar explores what fatigue is and its relationship with pain and health conditions. Assessing fatigue and its functional impact will be discussed. 

The second part of the webinar will examine treatment approaches to fatigue management based on current research. Such techniques include energy conservation, sleep techniques, activity pacing and sensory motor regulation.