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
