Chronic Pain Neuroscience Education for Osteopathic Practice
Persistent musculoskeletal pain remains one of the most challenging presentations in clinical practice. Many patients continue to experience symptoms long after tissue healing would normally be expected, often accompanied by fear of movement, reduced activity levels, and uncertainty about the cause of their pain.
This CPD module explores the role of Pain Neuroscience Education (PNE) within contemporary osteopathic care. Drawing on current systematic reviews and meta-analyses, the course explains how modern pain science helps clinicians and patients better understand persistent pain and its relationship to behaviour, movement, and rehabilitation.
The lecture examines the current evidence base for PNE, including findings from high-level research investigating its effects on pain understanding, fear of movement, and patient engagement in rehabilitation. Importantly, the course also highlights the limitations of the evidence and clarifies how education is most effective when integrated into multimodal musculoskeletal care.
Clinicians will learn how to incorporate pain neuroscience principles into everyday practice through patient-centred communication, movement-based rehabilitation strategies, and thoughtful clinical reasoning. The module also reviews essential red flags and safety considerations, ensuring that persistent pain presentations are assessed responsibly before educational strategies are introduced.
By the end of this course, participants will have a practical framework for integrating pain neuroscience education into osteopathic consultations in a way that supports patient understanding, reduces fear-related barriers to rehabilitation, and encourages active participation in recovery.
This activity supports the Osteopathy Board of Australia’s expectations for safe, evidence-based musculoskeletal practice and contributes to formal verifiable CPD.
Course Includes
• 40–45 minute CPD lecture
• Evidence-informed clinical framework
• Red flag screening and safety considerations
• Practical integration of PNE into osteopathic practice
• Reflection questions and CPD quiz
• Certificate of completion