Date: Sports, Thursday 6 Nov. 2025

Id 118
Topic Neurorehabilitation
Speakers Mark Peterson USA, Uma Pandiyan Qatar, Nora Newcomb USA, Catherine Stratton Canada

Cerebral Palsy (CP) affects >18 million people globally and is a lifelong condition. There is inadequate clinical follow-up for individuals with CP after they transition from pediatric to adult primary care, and insufficient surveillance to track patients with CP longitudinally. Despite the shortage of research to examine the natural history of CP and chronic disease trajectories in this population, a range of secondary conditions arise at an accelerated rate as compared to the adult population without CP, prompting the widespread notion and clinical hypothesis that patients with CP are prone to accelerated aging. These factors further worsen functional status and quality of life, as well as lead to decreased independence. A handful of progressive CP scientists led by Mark Peterson have recently advocated for the adoption of a holistic, life course approach to CP conceptualization, detection and intervention. Physical activity, exercise, and sports each play important roles in primary, secondary and tertiary prevention of various lifestyle-related non-communicable diseases that individuals with CP may encounter at any age. In August 2024, sports in particular (i.e., systems of activities based in physical and/or mental exertion and skill that are often competitive) were declared a cultural right by the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur. Addressing the right to participate in physical activity and sports is essential to full participation in cultural life and a concrete step towards a more just and inclusive society. As Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine specialists and as a sports-interested professional society, we also have a responsibility. We are responsible for making physical activity inclusive, and sports participation possible for all of our patients with CP and other disabling conditions as long as they are in our care. The purpose of this symposium is to discuss cross cutting research pertaining to, and clinical care specific for the needs of adults living with CP. We will discuss ongoing translational work taking place from population cohorts of adults with CP. We will also discuss cutting edge population survey results pertaining to physical activity and sports participation among individuals with CP. Clinical care coordination for complex patients with CP will be discussed.

Chairs Mark Peterson, Catherine Stratton

8H30 Overview of objectives and topics

8H35 research overview of the state of the literature pertaining to the healthcare needs of and disparities facing adults living with CP: Perspectives from clinical and population cohort studies from the United States. Mark Peterson

9H05 Clinical perspectives, case studies and practical applications pertaining to the complex clinical presentation often seen among adults with CP in Qatar. Uma Pandiyan

9H35 SPRM global survey Task Force on Physical Activity for Persons with Disabilities. Nora Newcomb, Catherine Stratton

10H05 OC ID 939 BIKE3 Study: Effects of Adapted Dynamic Cycling on Children and Adolescents with Cerebral Palsy, Down Syndrome and Prader-Willi Syndrome. Giulia Stella

10H10 OC ID 60 Usefulness of a Custom-contoured Cushion Designed with Pressure Maps to Reduce Pressure Points and Increase Contact Area in Wheelchair Users – A Pilot Study. Carlos Omar, López-López

10H10 OC ID 984 Artificial Intelligence in Hip Surveillance for Children with Cerebral Palsy: can ChatGPT and Gemini help guiding parents accurately? Gonçalo Martins Pereira

10H20 Open discussion and summary.