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Portrait of Joyce Engel

Joyce M. Engel, PhD, OT, FAOTA

  • Professor Emerita, Programs in Occupational Therapy Science, Technology & Rehabilitation

Education

Ph D Child and Developmental Psychology University of Kansas 1988
MA Human Development University of Kansas 1984
BS Occupational Therapy University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee 1979

Speaker Topics

  • Pain Assessment
  • Pain Interventions
  • Pain in Youths
  • Physical Disability-Related Pain
  • Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Interests & Expertise

Joyce Engel’s research focuses on pain assessments and pain interventions for persons with chronic pain, especially youths with physical disabilities, e.g., cerebral palsy, muscular dystrophy. She has developed three valid and reliable pain assessments for youths with physical disability-related pain: the Pediatric Community Participation Questionnaire, Survey of Pain Attitudes – Pediatric Version and the Modified Brief Pain Inventory.

Engel has investigated the efficacy of relaxation techniques, biofeedback, hypnosis and cognitive restructuring as analgesia in persons with chronic pain. She has been an investigator on several pain grants funded by the National Institutes of Health (NIH).

Engel participated in numerous service projects with the American Occupational Therapy Association (AOTA), the American Occupational Therapy Foundation (AOTF), the Agency for Health Care Policy and Research, the Commission on Accreditation of Rehabilitation Facilities, Paralyzed Veterans of America and the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention.

Selected Publications

Guard, A., Konz, M., Smith, R. O., Engel, J. M., & Keating, T. (2019, June). The development of an iPad application for the pain assessment of individuals with developmental disabilities and complex communication needs. Assistive Technology.
Engel, J. M., & McGough, E. (2018). Exercise therapy for low back pain. Bonica’s Management of Pain, 5, 1537-1545. Philadelphia, PA: Lippincott Williams & Wilkins.
Miró, J., Solé, E., Gertz, K., Jensen, M. P., & Engel, J. M. (2017, November). Pain Beliefs and Quality of Life in Young People With Disabilities and Bothersome Pain. The Clinical Journal of Pain, 33(11), 998-1005.
Miró, J., de la Vega, R., Gertz, K. J., Jensen, M. P., & Engel, J. M. (2017, November). The role of perceived family social support and parental solicitous responses in adjustment to bothersome pain in young people with physical disabilities. Disability and Rehabilitation, 1-8.
Miró, J., de la Vega, R., Solé, E., Racine, M., Jensen, M. P., Gálan, S., & Engel, J. M. (2017, May). Defining mild, moderate, and severe pain in young people with physical disabilities. Disability and Rehabilitation, 39(11), 1131-1135.
Engel, J. M. (2017). Evaluation and pain management. Pendleton, H. M., & Schultz-Krohn, W. (Eds.). Pedretti's Occupational Therapy: Practice Skills for Physical Dysfunction, 8th, 1264. St, Louis: Mosby Elsevier.
Miró, J., de la Vega, R., Tomé-Pires, C., Sánchez-Rodríguez, E., Castarlenas, E., Jensen, M., & Engel, J. M. (2017). Pain extent and function in youth with physical disabilities. Journal of Pain Research, Volume 10, 113-120.
de la Vega, R., Racine, M., Sánchez-Rodríguez, E., Solé, E., Castarlenas, E., Jensen, M. P., Engel, J. M., & Miró, J. (2016, November). Psychometric properties of the short form of the Children's Depression Inventory (CDI-S) in young people with physical disabilities. Journal of Psychosomatic Research, 90, 57-61.
Engel, J. M., Anderson, M., Borkovec, E., Weiss, E., & Woelfel, S. (2016). Interventions and their effectiveness in the treatment of cerebral palsy-related pain in youths. Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation – International, 3(1).
Kerfeld, C., Dudgeson, B. J., Engel, J. M., & Kartin, D. (2013). Development of items that assess physical function in children who are wheelchair users. Pediatric Physical Therapy, 25(2), 158-166.
Engel, J. M. (2013). Evaluation and pain management. Pendleton, H. M., & Schultz-Krohn, W. (Eds.). 7 ed., 718-728.
Holsti, L., Backman, C., & Engel, J. M. (2013). Occupational therapy. McGrath, P. J., Stevens, B., Walker, S., & Zempsky, W. (Eds.). Oxford Press: The Oxford textbook of pain.
Engel, J. M., Wilson, S., Tran, S., Jensen, M. P., & Ciol, M. (2012). Pain catastrophizing in youths with physical disabilities and chronic pain. Journal of Pediatric Psychology, 38(2), 192-201.
Engel, J. M., Jensen, M. P., & Bolen, G. M. (2012). The development and preliminary validation of the Pediatric Survey of Pain Attitudes. American Journal of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, 91(2), 114-121.
McGough, E. L., Kelly, V. E., Logsdon, R. G., McCurry, S., Cochrane, B. B., Engel, J. M., & Teri, L. (2011). Associations between physical performance and executive function in older adults with mild cognitive impairment: Gait speed and the timed “up & go” test. Physical Therapy, 91(8), 1198-1210.

Research Partners

  • University of Washington

Honors & Awards

Leaders & Legacies Society (2015) The American Occupational Therapy Foundation.
Service Commendation (2012) The American Occupational Therapy Association.
Academy of Research (2007) American Occupational Therapy Foundation.
2000 Leadership Service Commendation (2000) The American Occupational Therapy Foundation.
Service Award (1997) The American Occupational Therapy Association.
Roster of Fellows (1996) The American Occupational Therapy Association.
Young Alumni Award (1991) University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Distinguished Alumni Award in Occupational Therapy (1990) University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee.
Kansas Occupational Therapy Scholarship (1980) .
St. Michael Hospital Scholarship (1979) .