It's officially Day 1 of the Oceania 2026 Conference - live from Hobart Tasmania, Australia!

We catch up with Dr Hayley Smithers Sheedy and Professor Chrissie Macdonald to discuss their paper: Cerebral palsy: temporal trends in birth prevalence in Australia (1995-2018) and epidemiology of people with CP GMFCS IV and V

We catch up with the incredible Professor Stacey Dusing!

We have the opportunity to sit down with Professor Dusing and discuss her work integrating new technologies and "BabyG" tools into CP interventions.

All a part of our Oceania 2026 Conference series from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia!

We catch up with the extraordinary Dr Tim Scott!

With Dr Scott, we discuss his presentation: In their Habitat: 3D Visualisation Clinic for remote assessment in the community of our intervention in children with cerebral palsy.

All a part of our Oceania 2026 Conference series from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia!

We're at the Oceania Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (Oceania Academy) Conference, 2026 - coming to you live from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia!

 We catch up with the wonderful Professor Sarah McIntyre - who has the privilege of presenting the Dinah Reddihough Oration at this year's Oceania Conference.

We're at the Oceania Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (Oceania Academy) Conference, 2026 - coming to you live from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia!

We catch up with Kirstin Pascoe - Digital Project Manager, CP Movetime | School of Allied Health, Curtin University, Perth Australia.

NB. This episode was pre-recorded at the ResearchWorks studio prior to the Oceania Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine Conference.

We're at the Oceania Academy of Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (Oceania Academy) Conference, 2026 - coming to you live from Hobart, Tasmania, Australia!

We catch up with friend of the show, Professor Cathy Morgan, to discuss: Accuracy of Early Markers to Predict Motor Severity, Type and Topography of Cerebral Palsy in Infants: Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis

Feeling like you can't do anything because you don't know where to start’—Parents' Perspectives of Barriers and Facilitators to Accessing Early Detection for Children at Risk of Cerebral Palsy

Abstract

Background: Early detection of cerebral palsy (CP) risk is possible from 12 weeks corrected gestational age (CGA) using standardised assessments; however, up to half of children at risk are not referred early, missing out on early intervention. We investigated the barriers and facilitators to accessing early intervention from the perspective of parents of children who did not receive services by 6...

Another Pre Season 6 episode - we catch up with the team from Oceania 2026! Oceania Academy Biennial Conference will be held in Hobart, Tasmania, 4-7 March 2026.

Keynote Speakers:

John Coughlan: Secretary General of the International Cerebral Palsy Society and Cerebral Palsy Europe, and the parent of a young adult with cerebral palsy.

Melissa McCradden is the Artificial Intelligence Director and Deputy Research Director with the Women's and Children's Health Network, and a Deputy Director and The Hospital Research Foundation Group F...

The ResearchWorks Academy is a completely FREE online hub - with resources for clinicians and researchers. Visit www.researchworks.academy

for a video guide to this week's special episode, be sure to visit our YouTube channel:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=9XCdovk0ZZU

From using AI with curated articles, to classification tools, outcome measures, machine learning based 2D gait analysis, augmented reality video games, GMFMER and ENE calculator as well as a goal attainment scale calculator, AI driven report templates and other...

It's our final regular season episode of 2025!

We hope you've enjoyed Season 5 of the ResearchWorks Podcast. From EACD to AACPDM, the conference video and interview series, our DMI and CME special, to the launch of the ResearchWorks Academy - 2025 has been the biggest year yet for the pod!

In 2026, we plan to bring you even more of the latest research from conferences from across the globe, with our partnerships with EACD, AACPDM and AusACPDM (now known as the OCEANIA Academy). We are working with international partners across the globe...

Taking a strengths-based approach to developmental disability: the F-words for child development

BMJ Paediatrics Open - Dr Olaf Kraus de Camargo

“When challenges exist, children and families may benefit from supports that are tailored to their individual strengths and support needs, irrespective of whether or not a child has one or more diagnosed condition(s).”

Strengths-based and client-centred approaches in the field of childhood disability have been proposed in healthcare for decades, but in many places in the world, our service structures and...

A shorter than usual episode about the future of the pod - 2026 and beyond. 

We will be continuing our support of the Oceania (formerly AusACPDM) conference, the EACD conference and the AACPDM conference in 2026 with in-person, on-site, live broadcasts from Australia, Europe and the Americas!

2025 has also seen the team behind the pod launch the ResearchWorks Academy - an entirely FREE online portal for clinicians and researchers, designed to be a one-stop site for all your clinical application needs. You can register today for full access.

In 2024, a landmark review of the School Education Act 1999 was undertaken in Western Australia. Why? Because our education laws — drafted over 25 years ago — haven’t kept pace with modern understandings of disability, inclusion, or the rights of children and families.

This review, driven by an expert panel with deep experience in education, disability, and human rights, was driven by one clear question: Does our law support every child to access and thrive in school — or are there too many barriers to access and inclusion for students with disability?

What followed was an in-depth consultation with families...

Early mobility and crawling: beliefs and practices of Pediatric Physical Therapists in the United States.

Kari S Kretch Stacey C Dusing, Regina T Harbourne, Lin-Ya Hsu, Barbara A Sargent, Sandra L Willett

Abstract

Purpose: To characterize beliefs of pediatric physical therapists (PTs) in the United States regarding the role of crawling in infant development and clinical practice.

Methods: Pediatric PTs reported their beliefs about early mobility and crawling...

AACPDM special: Effects of Power Training combined with interval treadmill training on walking capacity versus performance in real world settings in youth with cerebral palsy.

This paper is a contender for the AACPDM’s highest abstract honour - the Gayle G Arnold Award - to be presented at The American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) Conference - the 79th Annual Meeting!

“Celebrating Resilience” October 15-18, 2025, to be held in New Orleans, LA.

Where’s the Evidence? Challenging Therapists to Stop Legitimizing Dynamic Movement Intervention and Cuevas Medek Exercises.

Paleg, Ginny PT, MPT, DScPT; Pool, Dayna PT, PhD; Hidalgo-Robles, Álvaro PT, MSc; Frumberg, David MD; Livingstone, Roslyn OT, MSc(RS); Damiano, Diane PT, PhD

Open Access!
https://journals.lww.com/pedpt/fulltext/9900/where_s_the_evidence__challenging_therapists_to.204.aspx

Dynamic Movement Intervention (DMI) and Cuevas Medek Exercises (CME) are promoted as innovative neurorehabilitation methods for children with neurological disabilities, yet both rely on outdated reflex-hierarchical models rather than contemporary motor learning principles. 
...

Six-minute walk test reference values in ambulatory children with myelomeningocele

Karina A Zapata, Rosa H Cooksey, Daralyn K Fulton, Hayley B Shelton, Chan-Hee Jo, Richard C Adams

Affiliations Expand

Abstract

Aim: To determine the baseline pediatric reference values of the 6-minute walk test (6MWT) distance (6MWD) across spina bifida functional lesion levels, the associations between the 6MWD and the distances of the 1-minute and 2-minute walk tests, and assess the impact of social determinants on the 6...

Trajectories of Fidgety Movements in Infants with and without medical complexity.

This paper is a finalist for AACPDM’s highest honour - the Gayle G Arnold award, chosen and highlighted by the scientific review committee for it’s high quality.

We look ahead at The American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) Conference - the 79th Annual Meeting!

“Celebrating Resilience” October 15-18, 2025, to be held in New Orleans, LA. 

Continuing our AACPDM 2025 Preview series!

Effect of high-frequency, low magnitude vibration on physical activity and physical function in children with cerebral palsy: a randomised controlled trial

This paper is a contender for the AACPDM’s highest abstract honour - the Gayle G Arnold Award!

There is still time to register for the conference in beautiful New Orleans - Visit https://www.aacpdm.org/events/2025 for all the details!

The effect of immediate weightbearing after planovalgus foot reconstruction in ambulatory children with cerebral palsy

Background and Objective(s)

Planovalgus (PV) is a common foot deformity in children with cerebral palsy (CP). Orthopedic surgery is widely established as an effective treatment for deformity correction though there is clinical variation in post-op therapy protocols. Immediate weightbearing (WB) after PV foot correction could accelerate recovery but concern for post-op complications causes reluctance. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of complications after PV foot surgery in children with early...

Mobility device use in children with cerebral palsy

Elizabeth Maus, Ben Reader, Jill C Heathcock

Abstract

Aims: To quantify the number and types of mobility devices used by children with cerebral palsy (CP) and explore the relationships between Gross Motor Functional Classification System (GMFCS) level, age, insurance, income, and number and types of devices.

Method: This was a secondary analysis of a cohort from a larger randomized controlled trial. Data from 89...

Brain lesion extent, growth, and body composition in children with cerebral palsy

Stina Oftedal, Simona Fiori, Kristie L Bell, Katherine A Benfer, Leanne Sakzewski, Robert S Ware, Peter S W Davies, Roslyn N Boyd

Abstract

Aim: To investigate the relationship between growth, body composition, and the extent of brain lesion measured using structural magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children with cerebral palsy (CP).

Method: This prospective population-based cohort study recorded 359 assessments from 124 children with CP aged 18...

Our preview of the upcoming AACPDM Conference in New Orleans USA.

We look ahead at The American Academy for Cerebral Palsy and Developmental Medicine (AACPDM) Conference - the 79th Annual Meeting!

“Celebrating Resilience” October 15-18, 2025, to be held in New Orleans, LA. 

We catch up with AACPDM First Vice President Dr Theresa Sukal-Moulton and Scientific Program Committee Co-Chair Dr Paige Church.

You can still register at the link below!

https://www.aacpdm.org/events/2025

Our annual wrap-up and summary of the combined EACD / IAACD 2025 Conference, live from Heidelberg Germany!

Be sure to catch up on our entire EACD / IAACD 2025 conference series, both audio and video casts!

For information on the ResearchWorks Academy, be sure to visit the academy website (www.researchworks.academy), register for FREE for the discussion forum and check out all the tools, apps, AI powered search and chat features on the main academy website - it's FREE for the next 60 days!

We'd love to get...

We catch up with friend of the pod, Dr Wade Shrader!

Pain trajectories, care coordination, CP and surgery keynote: What are the long-term implications of orthopaedic surgery for children with cerebral palsy, and how can care coordination enhance their outcomes?

Another brilliant interview with researchers from EACD / IAACD 2025 at Heidelberg Germany!

We catch up with Professor Ana Carolina de Campos!

Sexuality and relationship in young adults with CP: Why is it important to address sexuality and relationships in young adults with cerebral palsy, and what are some key considerations?

Another brilliant interview with researchers from EACD / IAACD 2025 at Heidelberg Germany!

We catch up with Professor Jan Kirschner!

Gene therapy for childhood onset disability from neuromuscular disorders: What lessons have you learned from gene therapy in neuromuscular disorders, and how do you see this approach evolving in the future?

Another brilliant interview with researchers from EACD / IAACD 2025 at Heidelberg Germany!

We catch up with Professor Petrus De Vries!

Coaching of PWLE in LMIC with behavioral interventions: What are the key components of effective coaching programs for people with lived experience in low- and middle-income countries, particularly those focusing on behavioral interventions?

Another brilliant interview with researchers from EACD / IAACD 2025 at Heidelberg Germany!

We catch up with Associate Professor Guro Anderson!

Lessons learned from 20 years of CP registry: What have been the most significant insights gained from 20 years of cerebral palsy registry data, and how have they shaped clinical practice?

Another brilliant interview with researchers from EACD / IAACD 2025 at Heidelberg Germany!

We catch up with Professor Kaat Desloovere!

Gait Classification: How does gait classification help in tailoring rehabilitation strategies for children with cerebral palsy?

Another brilliant interview with researchers from EACD / IAACD 2025 at Heidelberg Germany!

We catch up with Assistant Professor Sudarshan Dayanidhi!

Muscle morphology and Macrophages: What can muscle morphology tell us about the progression of cerebral palsy, and how can this inform treatment approaches?

Another brilliant interview with researchers from EACD / IAACD 2025 at Heidelberg Germany!

We catch up with Professor Paula Chagas!

GMFR: The Gross Motor Function Family Report - GMF-FR aims to measure gross motor activity in the home and community settings, reported by the families.

Another brilliant interview with researchers from EACD / IAACD 2025 at Heidelberg Germany!

We catch up with Keynote speaker: Professor Tobias Banaschewski!

Long-term impact of early life adversity on antisocial brain: What have been the most significant findings from your research on the long-term impact of early life adversity on the brain, particularly in relation to antisocial behaviour?

Another brilliant interview with researchers from EACD / IAACD 2025 at Heidelberg Germany!

We catch up with Vice President of EACD / IAACD 2025 Dr Christian Shaaf!

A behind the scenes look at the conference and how it has all come together!

Join us for another brilliant conversation with a brilliant researcher - live from the EACD / IAACD Conference 2025, in Heidelberg Germany!

We catch up with Keynote speaker: Professor Jill Zwicker

DCD and ADHD keynote: How do developmental coordination disorder and ADHD intersect, and what are the implications for diagnosis and treatment?

Join us for another brilliant conversation with a brilliant researcher - live from the EACD / IAACD Conference 2025, in Heidelberg Germany!

We catch up with Chair of the Intensive Therapy Session: Professor Diane Damiano!

Diane's work has been incredibly influential and has certainly shaped the field of physical therapy. We check in with her about research and what has made the most significant shift over the past few decades.

We also get Diane's thoughts about the research that is currently being done and presented in the intensive therapy space.  And amongst many other topics, we discuss the key challenges in translating CP research into clinical practice and what the future o...

We catch up with Dr Kath Benfer!

It's all about Early Intervention for CP in LMICS. We discuss what are the most effective early intervention strategies for children with cerebral palsy in low- and middle-income countries, and how can they be scaled up?

Join us for another brilliant conversation with a brilliant researcher - live from the EACD / IAACD Conference 2025, in Heidelberg Germany!

We catch up with Debora Claesson!

A parents perspective on Research and the real life impact of bringing the evidence to the fore! Amongst many other topics, we discuss her advocacy for evidence-based therapy has changed the landscape of rehabilitation for children with disabilities.

Join us for another brilliant conversation - live from the EACD / IAACD Conference 2025, in Heidelberg Germany!

We catch up with Dr Jorn Ockerman!

We last spoke with Jorn nearly 2 year ago and pre-PhD! The now Dr Ockerman is passionate about gamerfication and how this can impact on research and clinical application!

Join us for another brilliant conversation with a brilliant researcher - live from the EACD / IAACD Conference 2025, in Heidelberg Germany!

We catch up with Professor Ann-Cristin Eliasson!

Remote early intervention for infants at high risk of CP: How have remote early intervention programs impacted families and their children with cerebral palsy?

Join us for another brilliant conversation with a brilliant researcher - live from the EACD / IAACD Conference 2025, in Heidelberg Germany!