1. 3-day workshop for SCI Physiotherapists
(post ISCoS conference)
1st, 2nd and 3rd November, 2010
Organised by Education Committee of ISCOS and
The International Network of SCI Physiotherapists
Run in conjunction with the ISCoS Conference
This 3-day workshop is for local and international delegates of the ISCOS conference.
The first day (1st November) will be for the entire multidisciplinary SCI team and cover
topics of relevance to all, including bladder management, autonomic dysreflexia, prevention
of SCI, acute medical management (for details see www.iscos2010.com).
The 2nd and 3rd day (2nd and 3rd November) will be specifically for physiotherapists (although
others are welcome to attend). Over these two days, delegates will attend eight sessions, each
1.5 hours in duration. Over 20 sessions will be offered with faculty from some of the world’s
leaders in SCI physiotherapy management. Some sessions will cater for novice therapists new
to SCI. Other sessions will be targeted at experienced therapists with advanced research and
practical skills.
Cost: $US25 or $INR1,000
Venue: Indian Spinal Injuries Centre, Delhi
Accommodation: Please book via www.iscos2010.com. There are lots of options ranging
from $US50 (YMCA) to $US300 (Le Meriden Hotel) per night.
To register: Register and pay via www.iscos2010.com. Ensure that you have indicated your
workshop preferences for the physiotherapy-specific sessions (as outlined on page 3).
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2. Program: Monday 1st November
This day is for the multidisciplinary SCI team
Auditorium
8:30 – 8:50 Clinical assessment of patients with SCI
8:50 – 9:10 International Standards for Neurological Classification of SCI
9:10 – 9:30 Team-based care – roles & responsibilities
9:30– 9:50 Pre-hospital and acute care of SCI management
9:50– 10:15 Discussion
morning tea
10:45– 11:10 Nursing perspectives of SCI management
11:10– 11:35 Management of vertebral lesion
11:35– 12:00 Physical therapy perspectives on rehabilitation
12:00– 12:25 Occupational therapy perspectives
12:25– 12:45 Mobility & seating
12:45– 1:15 Discussion
lunch
2:00– 2:20 Bowel care and management
2:20– 2:45 Management of neurogenic bladder
2:45– 3:05 Psychosocial management of patient and the family
3:05– 3:25 Sexuality, fertility & SCI
3:25– 3:45 Discussion
afternoon tea
4:15– 4:40 Early and late complications in SCI
4:40– 5:00 Vocational rehabilitation
5:00– 5:20 Community inclusion
5:20– 5:40 Prevention of SCI
5:40– 6:00 Discussion
(NB: this program is subject to change – please see www.iscos2010.com for details)
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3. Program: Tuesday 2nd November
This day is for physiotherapists (although others are welcome to attend)
Meeting room A
Auditorium Gym/pool (max 30)
(max 30)
Welcome and
8:00 – 8:30
introduction to SCIPT
8:30 – 9:00 Whirlwind global tour
room swap
PT management of
Training programs for
9:15 – 10:45 kids and adolescents Treadmill training
the upper extremity
with SCI
morning tea
Promoting healthy Therapy after hand Hydrotherapy for
11:00 – 12:30
lifestyle after SCI surgery people with SCI
lunch
Respiratory Teaching students on
1:30 - 3:00 Treadmill training
management clinical placement
afternoon tea
Cardiovascular fitness Incorporating ICF
3:30 – 5:00 Sports in SCI
training into practice
Program: Wednesday 3rd November
This day is for physiotherapists (although others are welcome to attend)
Meeting room B Meeting room A/
Auditorium
(max 50) gym/pool (max 30)
An overview of
Contracture Bed mobility
8:15 – 9:45 physiotherapy Mx of
management training
SCI: for the novice
room swap
10:00 – 10:45 Whirlwind global tour
morning tea
Treating and assessing
Outcome measures
11:00 – 12:30 impairments: for the Transfer training
for the therapist
novice
lunch
International Standards
Managing the A bite size of
1:30 - 3:00 for Neurological
painful shoulder everything
Classification of SCI
afternoon tea
Setting up SCI
Orthotic Pressure
3:30 – 5:00 therapy services in
gait management
challenging settings
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4. Details of physiotherapy sessions (2nd and 3rd November)
An overview of physiotherapy management of SCI: for the novice
Presenter/s: Melanie Skeen (South Africa)
Joy Teo (Singapore)
Becky Dytor (UK)
Overview: This session will provide the novice with an overview of the principles of
management of SCI. It will cover topics such as setting goals, identifying key
impairments, planning treatments and assessing outcomes. It is intended for
those with a general understanding of the principles of physiotherapy but with
little prior experience in SCI management.
Treating and assessing impairments: for the novice
Presenter/s: Melanie Skeen (South Africa)
Joy Teo (Singapore)
Becky Dytor (UK)
Overview: This session will provide the novice with the principles of managing key
impairments, including poor strength, limited joint mobility, lack of motor
control, reduced strength, impaired respiratory function and restricted fitness.
It is intended for those with a general understanding of the principles of
physiotherapy but with little prior experience in SCI management
Treadmill training
Presenter/s: Chitra Kataria (India)
Others (TBC)
Overview: This session will be a practical session run in the gym. It will cover training
and handling strategies for treadmill therapy with and without the use of
overhead suspension.
Sports in SCI
Presenter/s: Chitra Kataria (India)
Overview: This session will be a practical session run in the gym. It will cover different
sporting options for people with SCI.
PT management of kids and adolescents with SCI
Presenter/s: Marika Augutis (Sweden)
Vivien Jorgensen (Norway)
Overview: This session is appropriate for therapists managing kids and adolescents with
SCI. It will cover theoretical and practical aspects of physiotherapy
management with a particular emphasis on the issues specifically relevant to
kids and adolescents.
Cardiovascular fitness training
Presenter/s: Linda Valent (Netherlands)
Overview: This session will discuss the theoretical and practical aspects of providing
cardiovascular fitness training for people with SCI. It will cover the
physiological implications of SCI on the exercise response as well as way to
assess and monitor fitness in the clinical setting.
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5. Contracture management
Presenter/s: Annelies de Wolf (Australia)
Paula Leppanen (Finland)
Overview: This session will summarise the evidence about the effectiveness of stretch and
passive movements for the treatment and prevention of contractures. It will
include an open forum discussion about alternate strategies for contracture
management and sharing of a comprehensive positioning manual developed in
Finland.
Outcome measures for the therapist
Presenter/s: Joy Teo (Singapore)
Noya Lomnizer (Israel)
Overview: This session will provide an overview of physiotherapy-specific outcomes
measures commonly used in the clinical setting. There will be an opportunity
for delegates to discuss the outcome measures they use in the clinical setting.
Pressure management
Presenter/s: Leanne Rees (Australia)
Carey Bayliss (Australia)
Overview: This session will focus on the physiotherapist's role in managing patients with
pressure related skin injuries, both in the community and in the hospital
setting. Discussion of different relieving strategies, and mobilisation post
injury will be presented. There will be an opportunity for delegates to outline
their management protocols.
Bed mobility training
Presenter/s: Jennifer Hastings (USA)
Overview: This session is directed at both the novice and experienced clinician. It will
cover different aspects of bed mobility training and will include participant
involvement.
Transfer training
Presenter/s: Jennifer Hastings (USA)
Mel Gregory (Australia)
Overview: This session is directed at both the novice and experienced clinician. It will
focus on the strategies used by patients with different types of SCI to transfer.
Participants will reflect on the implications of different patterns of paralysis on
the ability of patients to transfer.
Training programs for the upper extremity in cervical SCI
Presenter/s: Annemie Spooren (Netherlands)
Henk Seelen (Netherlands)
Paul Dobbelsteijn (Netherlands)
Overview: This session will examine literature on arm-hand motor training. Components
of a task-oriented client-centred training program will be discussed
interactively and illustrated with case studies and video-analyses.
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6. Respiratory management
Presenter/s: Jack Ross (Australia)
Narasimman Swaminathan (India)
Karin Postma (Netherlands)
Overview: This session will summarise the role of the physiotherapist in the treatment
and prevention of respiratory complications following SCI.
Orthotic gait
Presenter/s: Rita Henn (South Africa)
Salome Conje (South Africa)
Melanie Skeen (South Africa)
Overview: This session will focus on orthotic options for people with paralysis of the
lower limbs. It will provide an overview of different types of gait patterns and
training strategies.
Incorporating ICF into PT practice
Presenter/s: Sacha van Langeveld (Netherlands)
Mel Gregory (Australia)
Overview: This session will outline a newly-developed tool, derived from the ICF which
can be used to record and monitor therapy. It can be used to compare
treatments between patients, settings and countries. Delegates will practice
scoring from videos. The value of identifying specific elements of therapy will
be discussed from the results of comparative research between Norway,
Australia and the Netherlands.
Managing the painful shoulder
Presenter/s: Therese Powell (Australia)
Joanne Nummerley (New Zealand)
Overview: This session will provide an overview of treating and preventing the painful
shoulder; a common complication of SCI. The presenters will outline generic
strategies for minimizing the load on the shoulder as well as manual therapy
techniques for treating acute shoulder injuries.
Promoting healthy lifestyle after SCI: new tools useful for clinical practice
Presenter/s: Kerstin Wahman (Sweden)
Anna-Carin Lagerström (Sweden)
Overview: This session will address strategies for promoting healthy lifestyles in people
with SCI. The presenters will summarise a very successful program they run in
Sweden.
Setting up SCI therapy services in challenging settings
Presenter/s: Eric Weerts (Vietnam)
Susanne Nielsen (China)
Overview: This session is appropriate for those with an interest in SCI management in
less-resourced countries. The two presenters will draw on their experiences
setting up and managing SCI services throughout Asia.
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7. Therapy after hand surgery
Presenter/s: Jennifer Dunn (New Zealand)
Johanna Wangdell (Sweden)
Ann-Sofi Lamberg (Sweden)
Overview: This session focuses on management of the hand following surgery. Some of
the common types of surgical interventions will be briefly described with an
emphasis on physiotherapy management and assessment.
Teaching students on clinical placement
Presenter/s: Becky Dytor (UK)
Overview: This session is appropriate for senior staff responsible for teaching and
supervising students and junior staff on SCI placements. The session will
discuss ways of setting up a suitable learning environment for students with
appropriate feedback and evaluation.
Hydrotherapy for people with SCI
Presenter/s: Chitra Kataria (India)
Others (TBC)
Overview: This will be a practical session in the pool (so bring your swimming costume
and expect to get wet). It will focus on hydrotherapy techniques for therapeutic
purposes as well as drills and exercises appropriate for teaching water safety
and swimming.
International standards for neurological classification of SCI
Presenter/s: Lisa Harvey (Australia)
Overview: This session is appropriate for those unfamiliar with the International
Standards for Neurological Classification of SCI (also sometimes referred to
as the ASIA assessment). It will focus on the practical aspects of performing
the motor and sensory tests. Delegates will be required to practice on each
other and complete an ASIA assessment form.
A bite size of everything
Presenter/s: Elaine Coulter (Scotland) – monitoring activity levels
Yura Mustafaev (Russia) – connections between muscles and visceral organs
Vivien Jorgensen (Norway) – vibration therapy
Julia Batty (Australia) – community-based exercise programs
Ulle Bergner (Germany) – Lokomat training
Vivien Jorgensen (Norway) – e-learning module for pressure management
Elma Burger (South Africa) – please don’t donate your buckets as wheelchairs
Sohrab Hossain and Korny Marina Momen (Bangladesh) – vocational training
program
Kiichi Sato (Japan) – physiotherapy Mx of SCI: a Japanese perspective
Leanne Rees (Australia) – classifying SCI for the Paralympics
Overview: This session will comprise a series of 5- to 10-minute presentations about
specialty topics.
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8. Whirlwind global tour (2nd and 3rd November)
Presenter/s: One representative from each country (as above) with the addition of Syed
Illyas (Pakistan). Maya Hammill (Denmark) and Rajendra Thapa (Nepal).
Overview: This session will comprise a series of 5-minute presentations from
representatives of countries around the globe. Presenters will either talk about
a novel initiative or provide a summary of PT SCI services in their country.
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9. About the presenters
Anna-Carin Lagerström (Sweden) is a RPT MSc and Health Coach working at the Spinalis
Foundation, involved in the R&D operations Rehab Station Stockholm with affiliation to the
Karolinska Institute. Anna-Carin is the project manager for an extensive wellness program, the
Spinalis Health Navigator, that focuses on health promotion and therapeutic interventions in clinical
work /SCI rehabilitation medicine.
Annelies De Wolf (Australia) is a senior physiotherapist with the Spinal Outreach Service. She also
works as a researcher with the Rehabilitation Studies Unit, University of Sydney, evaluating
community reintegration following spinal cord injury, and researching rehabilitation evidence in the
spinal cord injury population. She is currently involved in a multicentre RCT looking at the
effectiveness of electrical stimulation in combination with specific hand activities on the recovery of
hand function in people with spinal cord injury.
Annemie Spooren (Belgium) received her Master degree in Physiotherapy in 1993 and obtained an
additional Master degree in Neuromotor Rehabilitation in 1994 at the KULeuven (Belgium). She
obtained her pedagogic degree in 2002. She is a lecturer at the PHL University College (Belgium) in
the department of Health Science and teaches neurological rehabilitation in the master degree of
Physiotherapy. She finishes her PhD titled “Evaluation and training of arm-hand skilled performance
in persons with cervical spinal cord injury” at the VUB (Brussels) in collaboration with Adelante
Rehabilitation and Expertise centre (the Netherlands) in June 2010. She has several international
publications on evaluation and training of the upper limb in C-SCI and has given presentations on
international congresses in neurorehabilitation on this topic. She is involved in various research
projects and contributes to other international publications regarding task-oriented training and the use
of technology-assisted training of upper extremities in persons with neurological disorders.
Ann-Sofi Lamberg (Sweden) has worked as a physiotherapist at the Spinal Cord Injury Unit at
Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden since 1999. During this time she has worked in
the acute phase through to rehabilitation and follow-up. She finished her MSc in physiotherapy 2004
on the topic “Coping strategies and Locus of Control after Spinal Cord Lesion”. Since 2000 she has
specialized in postoperative rehabilitation after reconstructive arm- and hand surgery in tetralegia. She
is involved in different research projects and currently doing her PhD studies in neuro-muscular
adaptation after reconstructive hand surgery.
Becky Dytor (UK) qualified 20 years ago and has worked in SCI for the last 17 years, at the
Midlands Centre for Spinal Injuries, Oswestry. During this time she has worked with Acute through to
rehabilitation and follow-up, in a Multidisciplinary Outpatients clinic. She has a special interest in
respiratory care, especially preventative medicine in the acute setting. She has been involved in
teaching students during her entire career; and now as an advanced Physiotherapist participates in
teaching peers and members of the multidisciplinary team. She has presented at both National and
International conferences and last year participated in multidisciplinary workshops in China as part of
a humanitarian/medical mission to the earthquake zone.
Chitra Kataria (India) is the Head of the Department of Rehabilitation at the Indian Spinal Injuries
Centre and is Principal at the Indian Spinal Injuries Centre Institute of Rehabilitation Sciences. She
has 18 years clinical experience in SCI. She also teaches and supervises research papers for the
postgraduate physiotherapy program. She has organised many national and international conferences
and workshops.
Henk A.M. Seelen (Netherlands) received his BSc degree in Physiotherapy in 1984, his MSc degree
in Human Movement Sciences in 1988 and his PhD in 1997 from the University of Maastricht, the
Netherlands. As project leader, and later as scientific program leader, he worked on numerous patient-
related research projects at the Institute for Rehabilitation Research (iRv) in Hoensbroek, the
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10. Netherlands. As of 2000 he is a co-ordinator of research at Adelante Rehabilitation centre (formerly:
Rehabilitation Foundation Limburg). He is also a senior researcher at the Department of
Rehabilitation Medicine at the University of Maastricht. His research interests are in reorganisation of
motor control in stroke and spinal cord injury, movement analysis, arm-hand skill performance and
rehabilitation.
Jack Ross (Australia) works with the Victorian Spinal Cord Service in Melbourne, Australia. Her
particular interest is in the respiratory health of persons with quadriplegia both early after injury and
in the subsequent years. She is currently involved in a multicentre RCT looking at the effect of CPAP
on obstructive sleep apnoea and cognition in the acute stage after injury.
Jennifer Dunn (New Zealand) has had significant experience rehabilitating people who sustain a
spinal cord injury. Her main area of expertise and enthusiasm is the tetraplegic hand, both in the acute
rehabilitation phase and following upper limb reconstructive surgery using tendon transfers. She has
published a number of articles and is currently completing her PhD studies on this topic.
Jennifer Hastings (USA) is a Board Certified Clinical Specialist in Neurologic Physical Therapy, she
worked 20 years in the Department of Veterans Affairs medical center SCI service and completed a
PhD in 2006 studying the interaction of posture and musculoskeletal pain in persons with thoracic
paraplegia. She is the Director of the Physical Therapy Program at the University of Puget Sound and
teaches Adult Neurologic Rehabilitation. She is currently the chair of the Spinal Cord Injury Special
Interest Group of the American Physical Therapy Association.
Johanna Wangdell (Sweden) has worked as an occupational therapist at the Spinal Cord Injury Unit
at Sahlgrenska University Hospital, Gothenburg, Sweden since 2003. She has concentrated on
rehabilitation after reconstructive arm- and hand surgery in tetraplegia over the last 6 years. She is
currenting doing her PhD title “Focus on satisfaction and activity changes after reconstructive hand
surgery in tetraplegia”.
Joy Teo (Singapore) has a MSc (Rehabilitation Sciences) and a BSc (Physiotherapy) Hons. She is a
senior physiotherapist at Tan Tock Seng Hospital in Singapore. She coordinates an annual workshop
on physiotherapy management of SCI for physiotherapy students, recent physiotherapy graduates and
community physiotherapists within Singapore and the region. She is a member of the advisory board
of the Handcycling Assocation Singapore, which aims to promote handcycling among people with
and without disability in Singapore. She completed graduate studies in the University of British
Columbia, Canada in March 2010. Her research examined the health of people with SCI in Singapore.
Karin Postma (Netherlands) works as physiotherapist at Rijndam rehabilitation center in Rotterdam,
the Netherlands. She is currently working on her PhD degree at the Erasmus University. The topic of
her study is respiratory complications and pulmonary function in SCI and includes a randomised
controlled trial on inspiratory muscle training.
Kerstin Wahman (Sweden) works at Rehab Station Stockholm, a rehabilitation centre located in
Sweden. There she counsels patients in lifestyle changes in order to support them to reach their
rehabilitation goals and life goals (www.rehabstation.se). She has been in this field for almost thirty
years and the last ten years the focus has been health promotion and ageing after SCI. During these
years she has written two books, one regarding healthy lifestyle after SCI and the other on healthy
aging with SCI. She will complete her PhD degree in May 2010. The title of her thesis is
”Cardiovascular disease prevention after Spinal Cord Injury – a New Challenge”.
Korny Marina Momen (Bangladesh) has worked at the Centre for Rehabilitation of the
Paralyzed since her graduation in 2004. She currently works as a clinician in the SCI unit,
and supervises students and graduates on clinical placement.
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11. Leanne Rees (Australia) is a physiotherapist for the Victorian Spinal Cord Service who
specialises in the management of pressure injuries. She is a member of the Spinal Community
Integration Team, and is also a level 2 international alpine sports classifier for the
International Paralympic Committee. Leanne was part of the alpine classification panel for
the 2010 Vancouver Paralympic Winter Games.
Lisa Harvey (Australia) is an Associate Professor at the Sydney School of Medicine, University of
Sydney. She has worked as a clinician in Sydney spinal units for 20 years. She teaches widely,
supervises research masters and PhD students, and runs her own research program. She set-up
www.physiotherapyexericses.com and sole authored a text book on PT management of people with
SCI.
Marika Augutis (Sweden) has worked with children as a physiotherapist since 1976. She
attained her PhD in 2007 at the Karolinska Institute looking at epidemiology and care of
children and adolescents with SCI. She currently works as a clinical researcher in Sweden.
Mel Gregory (Australia) is a senior physiotherapist (rehabilitation) for the Victorian Spinal Cord
Service. Previous research includes Evaluation of pressure imaging technology in seating prescription
and Classification of therapy interventions using the Spinal Cord Injury - Intervention Classification
System (SCI-ICS). Areas of interest include posture and seating and promoting physical activity and
participation after SCI.
Melanie Skeen (South Africa) qualified as a physiotherapist in 1989 from the University of Pretoria
and has worked in Spinal cord rehabilitation from then. She works in a 48 bed rehabilitation unit and
supervises and teaches students part time. She is currently doing her Masters degree. She serves on
the Southern African Spinal cord Association and has presented papers at their congresses.
Narasimman Swaminathan (India) is Associate Professor and Course Coordinator of the
Department of Physiotherapy, Father Muller Medical College, Mangalore with1050 bedded multi
speciality teaching hospital. He holds Masters Degree in Cardio Pulmonary Physiotherapy and has a
special interest in respiratory care management of a spinal cord injury.
Noya Lomnizer (Israel) graduated from Tel Aviv University in 2005, and has been working since
then in the Neurological Rehabilitation Dept. in the Sheba Medical Centre in Israel. This centre
specialises in SCI. Noya is currently doing her masters in Neurological Rehabilitation in Ben Gurion
University. She is a clinical instructor teaching 4th year physiotherapy students doing their
neurological rehabilitation elective.
Paula Leppänen, (Finland) is a senior physiotherapist, working in Käpylä Rehabilitation centre in
Helsinki as head of the spinal cord injury physiotherapy. She has also worked in Iceland and
Switzerland. She has been involved with disability sports over 30 years and an international classifier
in athletics, wheelchair rugby and archery for the last ten years. She has recently published with other
writers a manual about positioning and contracture prevention in early acute phase. She has a
particular interest in respiratory care of patients with tetraplegia.
Rita Henn (South Africa) qualified in 1984 as a physiotherapist from the University of the Free State
and obtained a Masters degree in Medical Sciences (Rehabilitation) in 2009. She has worked with
spinal cord injuries for the past 24 years and is currently working at a private rehabilitation facility.
She has a special interest in treating incomplete lesions as well as posture and seating.
Sacha van Langeveld (Netherlands) is a physical therapist (PhD) and works at the SCI unit
of rehabilitation center De Hoogstraat in Utrecht, The Netherlands. She developed and
evaluated a documentation system (The SCI-ICS: Spinal Cord Injury-Interventions
Classification System) to record time and contents of therapy interventions to improve
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12. mobility and self-care in SCI rehabilitation. She tested the reliability, feasibility and
evaluated the use in three Dutch specialized SCI units in the Netherlands, one in Australia
and one in Norway. Recently, she started a multicenter implementation research with the
SCI-ICS in five Dutch rehabilitation centers. Furthermore, as a knowledge broker, she
implements evidence based practice into clinical practice at the SCI unit of De Hoogstraat.
Salomé Cronjé (South Africa) qualified as a physiotherapist in 1995 from the University of Pretoria
in South Africa. She works in a private rehabilitation facility in Pretoria.
Sohrab Hossain (Bangladesh) is an Assistant Professor and head of the physiotherapy department at
the Centre for the Rehabilitation of the Paralysed: a 100-bed SCI unit. He has a post-graduate diploma
in Orthopaedics and has spent time in SCI units in UK, Spain and Australia, and is currently setting
up a masters course for physiotherapists in Dhakka. He has extensive skills and knowledge about
applying the principles of comprehensive SCI management in countries with limited financial
resources.
Therese “Buzz” Powell (Australia) works as a senior physiotherapist and client service
coordinator for NSW Spinal Outreach Service. Prior to her SCI experience, Buzz worked in private
practice for 17 years, specialising in musculoskeletal conditions and exercise prescription. Buzz is
interested in functional exercise programming as well as the less common, but often overlooked,
musculoskeletal injuries. She is also involved in encouraging community participation in any shape or
form (especially if it includes teaching her SCI clients how to paddle kayaks; a strong personal
interest of Buzz’s).
Ulla Bergner (Germany) is the group leader for SCI therapist at the Trauma Center Murnau; the
second largest SCI unit in Germany with 80 beds. Ulla has a large clinical role and supervises and
teaches new graduates.
Vivien Jorgensen (Norway) is the senior SCI physiotherapist at the Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital,
Oslo and a clinical specialist in neurology physiotherapy. She has worked for 20 years in SCI and
attained her Masters in Health Science in 2007.
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