Hands-On Pain Education – UCSF

Dates: September 19-20, 2026
Times: 9:00 - 500 pm
Venue: University of California, San Francisco
Room: TBA

Hands-on Pain Education (HOPE) is a transformative course designed for practising clinicians who want to advance their skills in integrating pain science education into their clinical practice.

The HOPE course is a comprehensive two-day program designed for physiotherapists seeking to enhance their knowledge and skills in managing pain through a hands-on, experiential approach. Led by Noigroup Director Luke Bongiorno, this course provides a unique opportunity to delve into the intricate world of pain, focusing on active delivery of pain education, exposure, emotional regulation, and practical (breathing) techniques.

Who is this course for: 
Practicing clinicians (especially physiotherapists) and manual therapists with an interest in pain neuroscience education (PNE) and hands-on, experiential tools for treatment.

What you'll get:
Comprehensive understanding of pain:

• Explore the multidimensional aspects of pain, including its physical, emotional, and cognitive components.
•  Gain insights into the neurobiology of pain and its implications for effective therapeutic interventions. 

Hands-on techniques for pain treatment:

•  Develop practical skills in manual therapy and hands-on techniques to address various pain conditions.
•  Gain specific hands-on methods to assess and alleviate pain, promoting a pragmatic approach to patient care. 

Breathing techniques for bodily control:

•  Explore the role of breathwork in pain modulation and stress reduction.
• Learn and practice exercises that can be integrated into patient care plans for enhanced pain control.

Instructor: Luke Bongiorno
Luke is the Owner/Director of The Neuro Orthopaedic Institute (Noigroup). After completing his physiotherapy degree at the University of Melbourne, he moved into clinical practice in New York, where he co-founded New York Sports Medicine.
One of NYC's most prominent physical therapists, Luke specialises in acute and chronic pain and sports injuries, consulting with NBA League teams and European soccer professionals, and is affiliated with Columbia University and Touro College.
Luke combines advanced manual therapy with exercise and education, believing strongly in education as key to patient recovery. He has taught Manual Therapy internationally since 2004 and has been on the Noigroup faculty since 2015.

Testimonials
"Luke's humor and positive attitude lets you know he can help you – both physically and emotionally – through your tough time."
"I've worked with 7 different PTs over 3 years. Luke stands above the rest. His personalized attention helped me understand my rehab so I could get back to the activities I enjoy."

For full details on refund policies and terms, visit our Policies and Terms & Conditions page HERE.