Occupational Therapy may Improve Fibromyalgia Patients' Quality of Life

The University of Southern California (USC)’s Chan Division of Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy has completed a study that points to possible solutions to ongoing pain brought on by fibromyalgia. The study looked at the outcome of 45 enrolled patients suffering from chronic pain illnesses. While most of the people in the study suffer from fibromyalgia, there were also patients with lumbar back pain, complex regional pain syndrome, as well as other types of myalgia in the study.

Simon created this program with her coworker Chantelle Collins, who is also employed by USC as an assistant clinical professor. In order to target and manage some of the chronic pain brought on by diseases like fibromyalgia, Collins and Simon created a program that allowed the patient and therapist to work with each other in order to try different sets of exercises targeting physical activity, body mechanics, and planning for what to do when the pain does start to set in. This amazing breakthrough is an intervention known as “Lifestyle Redesign.” “Lifestyle Redesign” was invented by the USC Chan Division on Occupational Science and Occupational Therapy. Researchers asked patients to participate in guided occupational therapy sessions. The USC researchers hoped that this study would ultimately result in higher motivation, more identifiable solutions, and the routinization and implementation of healthier habits.