{"id":12075,"date":"2025-10-13T09:25:00","date_gmt":"2025-10-13T15:25:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/blogcontent.summit-education.com\/blog\/?p=12075"},"modified":"2025-10-28T06:50:51","modified_gmt":"2025-10-28T12:50:51","slug":"non-opioid-pain-management-evidence-based-strategies-for-safer-smarter-pain-relief","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/blogcontent.summit-education.com\/blog\/general\/non-opioid-pain-management-evidence-based-strategies-for-safer-smarter-pain-relief\/","title":{"rendered":"Non-Opioid Pain Management: Evidence-Based Strategies for Safer, Smarter Pain Relief\u00a0"},"content":{"rendered":"\n[et_pb_section fb_built=”1″ admin_label=”Section” _builder_version=”4.27.0″ global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_row _builder_version=”4.16″ background_size=”initial” background_position=”top_left” background_repeat=”repeat” custom_padding=”0px|||||” global_colors_info=”{}”][et_pb_column type=”4_4″ _builder_version=”4.16″ custom_padding=”|||” global_colors_info=”{}” custom_padding__hover=”|||”][et_pb_text admin_label=”Text” _builder_version=”4.27.4″ text_font_size=”18px” hover_enabled=”0″ global_colors_info=”{}” sticky_enabled=”0″]
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Written by:<\/strong> Dr. Chad Hensel, PT, DPT, MHS, CSCS<\/span><\/span>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

Moving Beyond Opioids: Why Therapists Need Better Pain Strategies<\/h2>\n

Chronic pain affects more than 50 million adults in the U.S., limiting daily function and diminishing quality of life. As therapists, we are often on the frontlines of helping patients navigate pain while restoring independence. Yet, overreliance on opioids and outdated approaches can leave our patients vulnerable to delayed recovery, reduced participation, and long-term disability.<\/p>\n

The good news? Evidence-based, non-opioid pain management strategies are proving to be safer and more effective \u2014 and therapists are uniquely positioned to deliver them.<\/p>\n

What You\u2019ll Gain by Exploring Non-Opioid Pain Relief<\/h2>\n

In my upcoming 6-hour live interactive workshop, Non-Opioid Pain Management: Evidence-Based Strategies for Safer, Smarter Pain Relief, clinicians will gain practical, hands-on tools to address pain holistically. You\u2019ll leave with strategies that can be implemented immediately in your practice. Key benefits include:<\/p>\n

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  1. Enhanced Clinical Reasoning<\/strong> \u2013 Learn how models like PRISM and embodiment provide a framework for understanding the complex nature of pain.<\/li>\n
  2. Improved Intervention Skills<\/strong> \u2013 Practice joint mobilizations, myofascial release, cupping, dry needling, and more in guided labs.<\/li>\n
  3. Evidence-Based Decision Making<\/strong> \u2013 Stay current with pharmacological and non-pharmacological pain management research.<\/li>\n
  4. Increased Confidence with Complex Cases<\/strong> \u2013 Apply case studies and lab practice to real-world clinical challenges.<\/li>\n
  5. Support for Functional Outcomes and Reimbursement<\/strong> \u2013 Implement approaches that improve patient outcomes and documentation.<\/li>\n
  6. Interdisciplinary Perspective<\/strong> \u2013 Integrate PT and OT approaches for better collaboration and continuity of care.<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n

    Hands-On and Research-Driven<\/h2>\n

    This course balances evidence-based knowledge with hands-on application. Attendees will engage in interactive labs and case studies covering:<\/p>\n

    – Manual therapy techniques such as mobilization, myofascial release, and cupping.
    – Therapeutic exercise for cardiovascular health, strength, and flexibility.
    – Dry needling and modalities like red light therapy, thermal treatments, and electrical stimulation.
    – Mind-body practices including yoga, tai chi, and stress reduction strategies.<\/p>\n

    The course design ensures that therapists not only learn techniques but also practice them, leaving with confidence to apply skills immediately in patient care.<\/p>\n

    Why This Matters Now<\/h2>\n

    Pain management is evolving \u2014 and rehabilitation professionals must evolve with it. By integrating non-opioid strategies, we can help patients achieve lasting outcomes, reduce reliance on risky medications, and return to meaningful participation in daily life.<\/p>\n

    This course empowers PTs, PTAs, OTs, and OTAs to elevate their practice with practical, evidence-informed tools that improve both patient satisfaction and clinical results.<\/p>\n

    Final Thought<\/h2>\n

    If you\u2019re ready to expand your toolbox with safe, effective, and practical approaches to pain, this course will give you strategies you can use the very next day in clinic. Together, we can transform pain management into a pathway not just for recovery, but for restoring purpose, function, and quality of life.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n

    <\/strong><\/em><\/p>\n

    Interested in Exploring Group Discounts?<\/strong><\/em> CLICK HERE<\/span><\/a><\/p>\n

    About Summit Professional Education<\/strong><\/p>\n

    Summit equips Physical Therapists, Occupational Therapists and SLPs with better continuing education courses that provide CEUs while impacting patient outcomes. Find high-quality on-demand CE along with the largest offering of live options \u2014 including live webinars, live streams, and in-person courses. Want to deep dive on a topic? Summit offers hundreds of 6-hour courses for the most in-depth learning!<\/p>\n

    Explore CE Courses ><\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n

    References<\/strong><\/p>\n

    O’Donoghue, C., O’Leary, J., & Lynch, H. (2021). Occupational Therapy Services in School-Based Practice: A Pediatric Occupational Therapy Perspective from Ireland. <\/span>Occupational therapy international<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>2021<\/span><\/i>, 6636478. <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1155\/2021\/6636478<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Ouellet, B., Carreau, E., Dion, V., Rouat, A., Tremblay, E., & Voisin, J. I. A. (2018). Efficacy of Sensory Interventions on School Participation of Children With Sensory Disorders: A Systematic Review. <\/span>American journal of lifestyle medicine<\/span><\/i>, <\/span>15<\/span><\/i>(1), 75\u201383. <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.1177\/1559827618784274<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

    Passarello, N., Tarantino, V., Chirico, A., Menghini, D., Costanzo, F., Sorrentino, P., Fuc\u00e0, E., Gigliotta, O., Alivernini, F., Oliveri, M., Lucidi, F., Vicari, S., Mandolesi, L., & Turriziani, P. (2022). Sensory Processing Disorders in Children and Adolescents: Taking Stock of Assessment and Novel Therapeutic Tools.\u202f<\/span>Brain sciences<\/span><\/i>,\u202f<\/span>12<\/span><\/i>(11), 1478. <\/span>https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3390\/brainsci12111478<\/span><\/a>\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

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    Discover evidence-based, non-opioid pain management strategies that empower therapists to reduce reliance on opioids, improve outcomes, and restore patients\u2019 function and quality of life.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":31,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_et_pb_use_builder":"on","_et_pb_old_content":"","_et_gb_content_width":"","om_disable_all_campaigns":false,"_uf_show_specific_survey":0,"_uf_disable_surveys":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,126,127,320,130],"tags":[208],"class_list":["post-12075","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-general","category-occupational-therapy","category-physical-therapy","category-professional-development","category-speech-language-pathology","tag-chensel"],"aioseo_notices":[],"amp_enabled":true,"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogcontent.summit-education.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12075"}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogcontent.summit-education.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogcontent.summit-education.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogcontent.summit-education.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/31"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogcontent.summit-education.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=12075"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/blogcontent.summit-education.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12075\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":12079,"href":"https:\/\/blogcontent.summit-education.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/12075\/revisions\/12079"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/blogcontent.summit-education.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=12075"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogcontent.summit-education.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=12075"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/blogcontent.summit-education.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=12075"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}