Time and place
- When
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- 11. Nov 2026, 9:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- 12. Nov 2026, 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
- 13. Nov 2026, 8:00 AM - 4:00 PM
- Where
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Thon Hotel Oslofjord
Sandviksveien 186
1337 Sandvika
- Oslo
- Register now
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Registration deadline: 21. Oct 2026, 23:00
Sign up here
About the Conference
Professionals from several countries will come together at the Nordic Spasticity Conference in Oslo. You will meet a wide range of medical specialists and other professionals interested in the field.
The speakers are international specialists in spasticity issues as well as Nordic professionals with extensive experience in spasticity treatment. Among others, you will meet:
Take part in workshops, meet exciting exhibitors, and establish networks across borders.
Registration
Registration is open. Registration deadline is 21 October 2026.
Accreditations
Ethical MedTech
Ethical MedTech has assessed the Spasticity Conference and determined that it complies with the MedTech Europe Code of Ethical Business Practice and the EFPIA Code of Practice.
Norwegian Physiotherapy Association (NFF)
The Norwegian Physiotherapy Association (NFF) has approved the course with 23 credit hours, enabling participants to develop specialist competence and renew relevant specialist certifications. The Spasticity Conference meets all of NFF’s criteria for prior approval.
Program for the Nordic Spastisity Conference
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09:00 - 10:00
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Registration
10:00 - 10:30
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Opening session
Welcome by Ivar Thor Johnsson,CEO Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital and Neil Ravenhill, CEO Spectra LV
Purpose of the conference by Jelena Simic and Rajiv Reebye
The patient perspective
10:30 - 11:05
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Spasticity syndrome – new concept. Spasticity X Re-definition
By Gerard Francisco
Gerard E. Francisco
Prof. Gerard E. Francisco, MD, is the Chair of the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Texas Health Science Center’s McGovern Medical School in Houston, Texas. A global leader in his field, he serves as President of the International Spasticity Society and Chair of the Organizing Committee for Spasticity X, the biennial International Spasticity Symposium. Additionally, Dr. Francisco is the immediate past president of the International Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ISPRM) and currently co-chairs the Spasticity and Botulinum Toxin Special Interest Group for the World Federation of Neurorehabilitation.
11:05 - 11:40
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From Pathophysiology to clinical practice. Importance of definitions to enhance treatment
By Bo Biering-Sørensen and Per Ertzgaard
Bo Biering-Sørensen
MD, NDAPM, MPG
Dr. Biering-Sørensen is a neurologist and movement disorder specialist with a special interest in spasticity and dystonia management. He is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, and Director of the Movement Disorder and Pain Research Center (MPRC) at Hvidovre Hospital. He is the founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Scandinavian Diploma Education in Dystonia and Spasticity Treatment and in recognition of his sustained commitment to education and mentorship, he was awarded the 2026 Education Award by the Young Neurologists, Neurosurgeons, and Neurophysiologists (YNNN) Society in Denmark.
11:40 - 12:00
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Panel discussion
Jörg Wissel, Gerard Francisco, Bo Biering-Sørensen, Per Ertzgaard
12:00 - 13:00
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Lunch with poster walk and visiting Sponsor exhibition area
13:00 - 13:30
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The Window of Opportunity: When Is the Right Time to Start Treatment?
By Jörg Wissel
Jörg Wissel
Head of Neurorehabilitation and Physical Therapy at Vivantes Clinic Spandau in Berlin, Germany
Prof Jörg Wissel, MD, FRCP is a board-certified specialist in Neurology and Rehabilitation, he is specialized in managing Neurorehabilitation, Movement Disorders and Botulinumtoxin treatment. He has authored more than 160 original scientific articles and many book chapters in his fields. Since 2002 Prof Wissel is managing an interdisciplinary out-patient clinic for Neurology and Psychosomatic with about 1000 visits a year, mostly patients with focal dystonia, spasticity, and Botulinumtoxin indications. He is Professor of Neurology and a member of the faculty at the University of Potsdam, Germany and Innsbruck, Austria.
13:30 - 14:00
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Importance of patient centric treatment approach
By Jorge Jacinto
14:00 - 14:30
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Coffee break with refreshments, poster walk and visiting Sponsor exhibition area
14:30 - 15:10
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Muscle changes in Spasticity: Guiding Personalized Treatment Strategies
By Rajiv Reebye and Jelena Simic
Jelena Simic
Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital
Jelena Simic is physician in charge of the Spasticity Clinic and the Gait Laboratory at Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital. She is a clinician-scientist and specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with expertise in neurorehabilitation and spasticity management. She is a dedicated researcher specializing in the use of advanced imaging modalities, including MRI and ultrasound, to explore macroscopic and microscopic changes in spastic muscles. She is committed to linking research and clinical practice, as well as introducing innovations in the diagnostic process and the management of spasticity-related disorders.
Rajiv Reebye
Professor Rajiv Reebye is a Clinical Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC), currently serving as Head of the Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UBC and Co-Founder and Chair of the SPECTRA LV (Spasticity Education and Clinical Translation Lausanne–Vancouver) Institute research lab.
His research focuses on multimodal therapy and muscle ultrasound in spasticity syndrome management, with national and international collaborative work spanning spasticity care in patients with stroke, multiple sclerosis, and paediatric-to-adult transition care for patients with spasticity syndrome. He is internationally recognized for his leadership, innovation, and teaching in rehabilitation medicine, with honours including the 2022 Meredith Marks Award for Excellence in Education and the 2022 Haim Ring Award from the International Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ISPRM).
15:10 - 15:40
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Panel discussion: Is BoNT-A a neuromodulator?
Chairs: Kristin Østlie and Jelena Simic
Panel: Rajiv Reebye, Bo Biering-Sørensen, Jörg Wissel, Stefano Carda, Thierry Deltombe, Peter Sanderson and Anand Panday
15:40 - 16:10
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Break with poster walk and visiting Sponsor exhibition area
16:10 - 16:40
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Electrostimulation in Spasticity Management in spinal cord and stroke
By Ines Bersch-Porada and Michael Berger
Ines Bersch-Porada
Dr. Ines Bersch is a experienced physiotherapist who founded and leads the International FES Centre® at the Swiss Paraplegic Centre. Her clinical and research priorities encompass the restoration of hand function, prevention of pressure injuries, and optimization of bowel management. To advance these efforts, she was awarded an SNSF grant of over 1.2 million Swiss Francs for an international study—in collaboration with Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital and The University of Alberta—investigating the method of abdominal muscle stimulation to improve bowel management in people with spinal cord injuries. Additionally, she developed the motor point mapping diagnostic tool to precisely assess lower motor neuron integrity, and she actively promotes global knowledge dissemination as an extended board member of the International Functional Electrical Stimulation Society.
Mike Berger
MD, PhD, FRCPC, CSCN (EMG)
Mike Berger MD, PhD, FRCPC, CSCN (EMG), is a clinician-scientist and specialist in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation with expertise in neuromuscular medicine, electrodiagnostic testing, and spinal cord injury. He completed his MD/PhD training at Western University, followed by residency and fellowship training at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver General Hospital, where he developed advanced expertise in neuromuscular disorders and clinical neurophysiology. He currently serves as a consultant physiatrist with Island Health and Vancouver Coastal Health and leads a research program focused on neurophysiological assessment and upper limb functional restoration after neurological injury.
16:40 - 17:20
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Panel discussion: Beyond (modified) Ashworth and (modified) Tardieu scales: How do we use them, and do we assess them in the same way?
Chair: Rajiv Reebye
Panel: Alhed P. Wesche, Camilla Aksdal, Anand Pandyan, Thierry Deltombe, Kristin Østlie
17:20 - 17:30
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Summary of the day and highlights for tomorrow.
By Rajiv Reebye
19:00 - 21:30
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Back to basic: Evening Dinner Event by Spectra LV Institute and Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital
- When the Clinic Becomes the Patient: Lessons from Workflow Analysis and International Spasticity Clinics
- Rewiring Through Creativity: The Role of Visual Art in Neuroplasticity and Spasticity Syndrome Management
- Returning to Movement: What Can Yoga Teach Us About Spasticity Syndrome Management?
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08:00 - 08:35
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Multimodal treatment neural and non-neural components
By Rajiv Reebye
Rajiv Reebye
Professor Rajiv Reebye is a Clinical Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC), currently serving as Head of the Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UBC and Co-Founder and Chair of the SPECTRA LV (Spasticity Education and Clinical Translation Lausanne–Vancouver) Institute research lab.
His research focuses on multimodal therapy and muscle ultrasound in spasticity syndrome management, with national and international collaborative work spanning spasticity care in patients with stroke, multiple sclerosis, and paediatric-to-adult transition care for patients with spasticity syndrome. He is internationally recognized for his leadership, innovation, and teaching in rehabilitation medicine, with honours including the 2022 Meredith Marks Award for Excellence in Education and the 2022 Haim Ring Award from the International Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ISPRM).
08:35 - 09:05
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Neuroplasticity in spasticity: Non-neural and neural component- early intervention
By Stefano Carda
09:05 - 09:30
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Coffee break with refreshments, poster walk and visiting Sponsor exhibition area
09:30 - 10:00
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Neurectomy or Neurotomy? Simplifying phenomenology and implications for clinical practice
By Thierry Deltombe
Thierry Deltombe
Head of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department at Université de Louvain, Belgium
Professor Thierry Deltombe is an active member of the Belgian PM&R board and of the European Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine. He leads with G. Francisco the Toxnet group.
For 25 years, he is the head of an interdisciplinary group devoted to the spasticity treatment. The group also includes a neurosurgeon, two orthopaedic surgeons, an anaesthesist, a neurologist and a rehab team. He published several papers dealing with spasticity assessment (diagnostic nerve block) and treatments (botulinum toxin and neurotomy) with a special interest for the spastic foot.
10:00 - 10:20
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Triggers for spasticity: pain, nociceptive stimuli
By Bo Biering-Sørensen
Bo Biering-Sørensen
MD, NDAPM, MPG
Dr. Biering-Sørensen is a neurologist and movement disorder specialist with a special interest in spasticity and dystonia management. He is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, and Director of the Movement Disorder and Pain Research Center (MPRC) at Hvidovre Hospital. He is the founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Scandinavian Diploma Education in Dystonia and Spasticity Treatment and in recognition of his sustained commitment to education and mentorship, he was awarded the 2026 Education Award by the Young Neurologists, Neurosurgeons, and Neurophysiologists (YNNN) Society in Denmark.
10:20 - 10:35
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Short break
10:35 - 11:05
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Extracorporeal shock wave therapy for spasticity management
By Emanuela Elena Mihai
Emanuela Elena Mihai
Professor Mihai is a PRM specialist, PhD, and researcher from Bucharest, Romania, with clinical and research expertise in spasticity management, stroke rehabilitation, and multimodal interventions, including botulinum toxin type A, shock wave therapy, and electrical stimulation. She serves on several international rehabilitation medicine initiatives, including the ISPRM Spasticity Interest Group, as Co-Chair of the ESPRM IS GRaCE Working Group, and as Romania’s representative to the ESPRM Youth Forum Executive Committee. Her research includes participation in Horizon-funded projects, and she regularly presents and disseminates findings at national and international scientific congresses and educational events.
11:05 - 11:35
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Panel discussion: When not to treat and when to stop treatment?
Chairs: Jelena Simic and Anne-Marthe Olsen Sanders
Panel: Jorge Jacinto, Stefano Carda, Camilla Aksdal, Jill Unneland O'Farrell, Saurabh Kumar Jain
11:35 - 12:30
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Lunch with poster walk and visiting Sponsor exhibition area
12:30 - 13:00
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The challenges of defining and measuring spasticity
By Anand Pandyan
Anand Pandyan
Anand Pandyan is an internationally recognized interdisciplinary clinical scientist. His personal research explores (a) the role of technology in the management of the severely disabled patient, (b) developing valid and reliable outcome measures, (c) developing methods of modelling to study the relationship between impairment and activity and (e) more recently it has extended to modelling work to develop methods to inform clinical decision making.
13:00 - 13:25
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Presentation of the new evidence related to muscle changes due to BoNT-A and inactivity
By Jelena Simic
Jelena Simic
Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital
Jelena Simic is physician in charge of the Spasticity Clinic and the Gait Laboratory at Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital. She is a clinician-scientist and specialist in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation with expertise in neurorehabilitation and spasticity management. She is a dedicated researcher specializing in the use of advanced imaging modalities, including MRI and ultrasound, to explore macroscopic and microscopic changes in spastic muscles. She is committed to linking research and clinical practice, as well as introducing innovations in the diagnostic process and the management of spasticity-related disorders.
13:25 - 13:50
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When should we treat with BoNT-A, when should we perform surgery? Training and follow up after surgery.
By Per Reidar Høiness
13:50 - 14:20
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Coffee break with refreshments, poster walk and visiting Sponsor exhibition area
14:20 - 14:50
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Panel discussion: All the things the patients ask us, but we don’t really have the answers.
Chairs: Stefano Carda and Saurabh Kumar Jain
Maja Busuladzic, Laura Serrano, Tanja Bertheussen, Tiina Ader, Ambereen Parvez, Hanna Tingelstad, Camilla Aksdal
14:50 - 15:10
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Indication and technical issue of diagnostic nerve block with anaesthetics
By Thierry Deltombe
Thierry Deltombe
Head of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation department at Université de Louvain, Belgium
Professor Thierry Deltombe is an active member of the Belgian PM&R board and of the European Academy of Rehabilitation Medicine. He leads with G. Francisco the Toxnet group.
For 25 years, he is the head of an interdisciplinary group devoted to the spasticity treatment. The group also includes a neurosurgeon, two orthopaedic surgeons, an anaesthesist, a neurologist and a rehab team. He published several papers dealing with spasticity assessment (diagnostic nerve block) and treatments (botulinum toxin and neurotomy) with a special interest for the spastic foot.
15:10 - 15:30
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Coffee break
15:30 - 16:00
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AI in assessment and treatment of spasticity. Novel use of ultrasound
By Wu Chueh-Hung
Chueh-Hung Wu
Associate Professor at National Taiwan University
Dr. Chueh-Hung Wu is an Associate Professor at National Taiwan University and the Editor-in-Chief of two textbooks specializing in ultrasound-guided botulinum toxin injection for post-stroke spasticity. His extensive clinical research includes cutting-edge spasticity interventions - notably exploring shear-wave ultrasound elastography for stiffness evaluation and extracorporeal shockwave therapy. He has published several studies on leveraging artificial intelligence (AI) for musculoskeletal ultrasound image analysis. As a highly sought-after international expert, he is frequently invited to share his clinical insights and comprehensive strategies on neuro-rehabilitation, MSKUS, and AI applications at prestigious medical conferences worldwide.
16:00 - 16:30
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Panel discussion: How AI can help us in spasticity management
Chair: Anne Catrine Trægde Martinsen
Panel: Wu Chueh-Hung, Jörg Wissel, Gerard Francisco, Rajiv Reebye, Jorge Jacinto, Bo Biering-Sørensen
16:30 - 16:50
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Using Different Tests to Evaluate Spasticity Treatment with BoNT-A
Clinical Physiology Lab at Sunnaas Rehabilitation Hospital
16:50 - 17:00
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End of day summary. Highlights for tomorrow
18:30 - 19:00
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Networking and refreshments in the hotel bar
19:00 - 22:00
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Conference dinner
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08:00 - 08:40
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Panel discussion: Challenges of treating paediatric patients with spasticity
Chair: Per Ertzgaard
Panel: Rajiv Reebye, Mona Strøm, Anne Bergsjø Karstensen, Stine Katrine Hanssen
08:40 - 09:00
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Interdisciplinary interaction in spasticity management at the National Specialized Children’s hospital "Ohmatdyt", Ministry of Health of Ukraine
By Pavlo Plavskyi and Pavlo Andrieiev
Pavlo Andrieiev
Pavlo Andrieiev is a Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (PRM) physician and Head of the Department of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine at the National Children’s Specialized Hospital “Okhmatdyt” of the Ministry of Health of Ukraine. He leads the Pediatric Rehabilitation Centre of Excellence, which serves as a national educational hub for the training and professional development of rehabilitation specialists from healthcare institutions across Ukraine. His primary clinical and academic interest is the management of spasticity in children.
09:00 - 09:30
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Coffee break, poster walk and visiting Sponsor exhibition area
09:30 - 10:15
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Optimizing Advancing techniques in Chemo denervation
By Peter Sanderson
10:15 - 10:45
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Practical biomarkers in spasticity management focus on EMG and ultrasound
By Michael Berger and Rajiv Reebye
Mike Berger
MD, PhD, FRCPC, CSCN (EMG)
Mike Berger MD, PhD, FRCPC, CSCN (EMG), is a clinician-scientist and specialist in Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation with expertise in neuromuscular medicine, electrodiagnostic testing, and spinal cord injury. He completed his MD/PhD training at Western University, followed by residency and fellowship training at the University of British Columbia and Vancouver General Hospital, where he developed advanced expertise in neuromuscular disorders and clinical neurophysiology. He currently serves as a consultant physiatrist with Island Health and Vancouver Coastal Health and leads a research program focused on neurophysiological assessment and upper limb functional restoration after neurological injury.
Rajiv Reebye
Professor Rajiv Reebye is a Clinical Professor at the University of British Columbia (UBC), currently serving as Head of the Division of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at UBC and Co-Founder and Chair of the SPECTRA LV (Spasticity Education and Clinical Translation Lausanne–Vancouver) Institute research lab.
His research focuses on multimodal therapy and muscle ultrasound in spasticity syndrome management, with national and international collaborative work spanning spasticity care in patients with stroke, multiple sclerosis, and paediatric-to-adult transition care for patients with spasticity syndrome. He is internationally recognized for his leadership, innovation, and teaching in rehabilitation medicine, with honours including the 2022 Meredith Marks Award for Excellence in Education and the 2022 Haim Ring Award from the International Society of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation (ISPRM).
10:45 - 11:05
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How do we utilize sensor technology to measure post-intervention outcomes
By Jorge Jacinto
11:05 - 11:25
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Applications of sensor technology in clinical research projects
By Anne-Marthe Olsen Sanders
11:30 - 12:30
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Lunch with poster walk and visiting Sponsor exhibition area
12:30 - 12:50
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Spasticity APP
Bo Biering Sørensen
Bo Biering-Sørensen
MD, NDAPM, MPG
Dr. Biering-Sørensen is a neurologist and movement disorder specialist with a special interest in spasticity and dystonia management. He is a Clinical Associate Professor at the Department of Public Health, Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences, University of Copenhagen, and Director of the Movement Disorder and Pain Research Center (MPRC) at Hvidovre Hospital. He is the founder and Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Scandinavian Diploma Education in Dystonia and Spasticity Treatment and in recognition of his sustained commitment to education and mentorship, he was awarded the 2026 Education Award by the Young Neurologists, Neurosurgeons, and Neurophysiologists (YNNN) Society in Denmark.
12:50 - 13:10
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Panel discussion: How to combine robotics and sensory technology with usual care in clinical practice?
Chair: Jelena Simic
Panel :Anne Marthe Sandnes, Camilla Aksdal, Linda Sørensen, Charlotta Hamre, Kevin Cavielli Helmer
13:10 - 13:30
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End of conference. Closing remarks and summary
By Jelena Simic, Rajiv Reebye, Bo Biering-Sørensen and Anne Catrine Trægde Martinsen
14:00 - 15:00
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Expert meeting: Steps forward- group publications
By all attendees
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Contact
If you have any questions, please send us an e-mail and we will get back to you.