This course is designed to update attendees on the latest evidence and clinical application of pain neuroscience education (PNE) for patients in pain. Current best evidence has shown that neuroscience educational strategies utilizing neurobiology and neurophysiology are able to reduce pain, increase function, reduce fear and catastrophizing, and improve movement and change cognitions and brain activation during pain experiences. PNE changes patient beliefs regarding their pain, thus reducing the threat of pain. This class will discuss the evolution of PNE, why PNE is needed in medicine and rehabilitation and, more importantly, the clinical application and implementation of PNE for patients with acute, sub-acute and chronic pain.

Special features include various metaphors, images, examples and case studies utilizing PNE in patients experiencing pain. In addition, the class will cover the emerging clinical concept of PNE+ – PNE plus various behavioral strategies to ease pain, improve function and obtain goals. PNE+ covered in this class includes exercise, pacing, graded exposure, sleep hygiene, goal setting, coping strategies, meditation and mindfulness and more. This course will teach attendees how cognitive (PNE) strategies, along with the various behavioral techniques (PNE+) fit within the current best-evidence approach for treating pain, especially chronic pain.

Finally, the course will delve into various important clinical application issues pertaining to billing, time-management, documentation, multi- and interdisciplinary approaches and more. This will enhance attendee’s ability to implement PNE into various current clinical settings. This class is a must for all healthcare providers dealing with patients in pain.