308 - Whole Health Approaches to Chronic Back Pain: Rewiring the Brain with Behavioral and Neuroplastic Therapies

Session Description: Chronic back pain is a leading cause of worker disability, yet effective management remains challenging. This session explores the neuroscience and behavioral underpinnings of chronic pain while emphasizing a whole health approach to treatment. Faculty will highlight how integrating physical, psychological, and social dimensions of care leads to more comprehensive and lasting outcomes. Attendees will learn about emerging therapies like Pain Reprocessing Therapy (PRT), which leverages neuroplasticity to “rewire” pain pathways, and Acceptance and Commitment Therapy (ACT), which builds resilience and acceptance when pain persists. Matching the right therapy to the right patient is central to the whole health model, ensuring individualized care that supports recovery and function. The session also explores innovative, scalable tools such as Virtual Reality programs, showing how technology can expand access to whole health pain care. Through case examples and discussion, participants will gain actionable insights for improving worker health and productivity.

Educational Gaps: Despite advances in neuroscience and behavioral medicine, whole health approaches to chronic pain are not widely practiced. Many providers rely on outdated, symptom-only treatments, missing the opportunity to reduce disability and improve outcomes.

Is this session being sponsored by an ACOEM Section or Component?: No

Has this session previously been presented?: Yes, in past year AOHC conference. This presentation will focus more on whole health approach and updated pain educaiton programs.

The AOHC 2026 theme is Healthy workers. Healthy world: Chronic pain management is fundamental to maintaining a healthy workforce, which in turn contributes to a healthier world. By equipping occupational health clinicians with cutting-edge, evidence-based tools (such as PRT, ACT, and VR) to reduce pain-related disability and improve worker well-being, this session directly supports the AOHC 2026 theme “Healthy Workers. Healthy World.” Healthier, pain-free workers are more productive and engaged, and they can lead fuller lives. The benefits of effectively managing workers’ chronic pain ripple outward – from improved workplace productivity to healthier families and communities – ultimately contributing to a healthier world.