Graded Motor Imagery, Kingscliff, NSW

Assoc Professor David Butler, B.Phty, M.App.Sc, EdD

Understanding and Explaining Pain are David’s passions, and he has a reputation for being able to talk about pain sciences in a way that everyone can understand. David is a physiotherapist, an educationalist, researcher and clinician. He pioneered the establishment of the Neuro Orthopaedic Institute (Noigroup) in the early 1990s. David is an Adjunct Associate Professor at the University of South Australia and an honoured lifetime member of the Australian Physiotherapy Association.

Among many publications, his texts include Mobilisation of the Nervous System 1991 The Sensitive Nervous System (2000), and with Lorimer Moseley –  Explain Pain (2003, 2013), The Graded Motor Imagery Handbook (2012), The Explain Pain Handbook: Protectometer (2015) and in 2017, Explain Pain Supercharged. His doctoral studies and current focus are around adult conceptual change, the linguistics of pain and pain storytelling. Food, wine and fishing are also research interests.

BAppSci BSpExSc MClinExPhys MRes

Brendan is a practising Accredited Exercise Physiologist in Adelaide, Australia. For over ten years, Brendan has been a director of multiple private practices in Melbourne and has delivered continuing education internationally since 2016. More recently, in late 2023, Brendan joined the team at Noigroup as CEO.

Brendan’s master’s research (exploring how visual sensory information influences the perception of effort during exercise) and his clinical experience working as an Exercise Physiologist in the musculoskeletal injury and pain field inspired him to pursue a PhD. His doctoral research focuses on how beliefs, behaviours, and perceptions (especially during clinical interactions) impact patients’ recovery from pain, their perception of body, and their engagement with healthcare and physical activity. These research interests underpin Brendan’s passion for education and translating clinical research into practice.

‘Brendan presented so eloquently and handled questions so well. The course content made me excited for Physio again as it gave me a fresh perspective/or gave me the words to explain myself to other colleagues who might clash.’

‘I really enjoyed Brendan’s delivery of content and how he made it so interactive. I also really liked that he was able to create such a positive, safe environment for learning through a non-judgmental approach to content delivered and discussed.’

‘Brendan was an excellent presenter, very engaging even during the more theory-based sections.’

‘Friendly, professional and knowledgeable!’