Luke Bongiorno, PT: A Pain Science Informed Approach for Healthcare Professionals

In this episode, Dr. Karen Litzy speaks with Luke Bongiorno, PT, Director of NOIGroup, about what it really looks like to bring pain science into the treatment room. Karen and Luke dig into how he blends manual therapy, breath work, movement, and even music into a pain-science-informed approach and why consent, communication, and simply being human with patients matter as much as any technique. They also talk about leading a global education company, protecting a "care at the forefront" culture as the business scales, and staying grounded as a clinician wearing a dozen different hats. **What we cover in this episode:** - Luke's path from PT school in Australia to 30 years in private practice in New York - How manual therapy, breath work, movement, and music combine in a pain-science-informed session - DIMs and SIMs: an inside look at the Protectometer (danger-in-me / safety-in-me) - Consent, "no-go zones," and reading a patient's comfort in the moment - The shift from trigger-point/dry-needling training to a pain-science lens — and how hard that shift was - Balancing leading a patient with empowering them - The Resolve Trial and how changing beliefs about pain changes outcomes - Staying human and vulnerable as a clinician and business owner - Protecting a "care at the forefront" culture while leading a global team at Noi Group - Luke's HOPE (Hands-on Pain Education) course and upcoming NY and San Francisco dates **Timestamps:** - 00:31 Karen welcomes Luke Bongiorno, recording live from Gotham Production Studios - 03:23 Luke's background: PT school in Australia, moving to the US, landing in New York - 04:53 Discovering David Butler's work and the path to Noi Group - 06:21 Blending manual therapy, breath work, movement, and music in a session - 08:37 Bringing awareness back to a body part that's been "ignored" in pain - 09:28 Karen's own experience with touch sensitivity and neck pain - 10:59 Why communication and consent change everything in manual therapy - 11:24 Moving away from trigger-point/dry-needling explanations toward pain science - 12:33 How Luke decides which "tool" to use in the moment - 13:03 Explaining DIMs and SIMs (the Protectometer) - 15:05 Identifying "no-go zones" and respecting patient boundaries - 16:36 Consent culture: teaching in Australia vs. the US, then and now - 18:31 The tension between leading a patient and empowering them - 19:44 Being a person first — an empowerment story from a workers' comp patient - 22:14 Why Luke still sees patients after 30 years - 22:54 The power of simply listening and validating pain - 25:48 The Resolve Trial: how changing beliefs about pain improves outcomes - 27:43 Karen's own "carrying a loaf of bread" story from working with David Butler - 29:42 Staying human while running a business, teaching, and traveling - 31:16 Small grounding practices you can use between patients - 32:01 Advice for clinicians who feel too busy to take their own advice - 33:34 Vulnerability in practice — and why clinicians aren't trained for it - 36:58 Wearing every hat in a small practice, and learning to leave gaps in the schedule - 38:09 Leading Noi Group remotely and learning to trust a team - 39:12 Protecting a "care at the forefront" culture as a business scales - 41:09 Key takeaways: value your human skills, reframe your role, use music when talking isn't working - 44:31 Lightning round: book recommendations, favorite tool, best business advice, non-negotiable habits - 47:37 Where to find Luke, his HOPE course, and NY/San Francisco course dates **More About Luke:** Luke Bongiorno is the Owner and Director of the pain education company, The Neuro Orthopaedic Institute, also known as Noigroup. At the heart of Luke's work is a simple belief: good clinical care starts with listening, understanding, and helping people make sense of their pain and injury. Luke's physiotherapy journey began with a degree from the University of Melbourne, Australia, followed by a move into clinical practice in New York. In NYC, Luke co-founded New York Sports Medicine, a company later acquired by United Healthcare. Still one of New York City's most prominent physical therapists, Luke's extensive experience in managing acute and chronic pain and sports injuries means he travels frequently to work with professional and Olympic athletes, as well as members of touring performing arts and dance companies. He currently serves as a consultant to the NBA League and European professional soccer teams. Luke is also affiliated with the clinical education programs of Columbia University and Touro College. Luke takes a hands-on approach to care, combining his advanced manual therapy skills with exercise and education. He genuinely cares about helping people understand their pain, build confidence in their bodies, and achieve the best possible recovery and performance. He strongly believes that education is fundamental to optimising patient recovery and performance. Luke has taught advanced skills courses in Manual Therapy internationally since 2004 and has been part of the Noigroup faculty since 2015. His years of clinical experience, combined with his practical and thoughtful approach to patient care, make him a highly respected clinician and educator. Visit the Noigroup course platform to explore courses with Luke Bongiorno. **Resources from this Episode:** - NOIGroup Website - Luke on Instagram - NOIGroup Instagram - NOIGroup on LinkedIn - NOIGroup on Facebook - HOPE Course (Hands-On Pain Education) — New York, October 2026 and San Francisco, September 2026 - Discount Code: **HWS10** — good on any Noi Group product, valid through October 25, 2026 **Jane Sponsorship Information:** Book a one-on-one demo here Mention the code **LITZY1MO** for a free month **Follow Dr. Karen Litzy on Social Media:** Karen's Instagram Karen's LinkedIn   **Follow Dr. Karen Litzy on Social Media:** Karen's Twitter Karen's Instagram Karen's LinkedIn   **Subscribe to Healthy, Wealthy & Smart:** YouTube Website Apple Podcast Spotify SoundCloud Stitcher iHeart Radio