PONI - Pediatric Onset of Neuromotor Impairments Lab

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PONI - Pediatric Onset of Neuromotor Impairments Lab The PONI Lab, based in the Alberta Children's Hospital in Calgary, AB, Canada, works with individuals with neuromotor impairments to conduct research.

Principal Investigator: Dr. Elizabeth Condliffe

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Our lab members aren’t PONIes, they’re birdies!A few weeks ago, Janelle, Amanda, Simon, and Ben competed in the 8th annu...
10/07/2026

Our lab members aren’t PONIes, they’re birdies!

A few weeks ago, Janelle, Amanda, Simon, and Ben competed in the 8th annual Golf Without Limits tournament hosted by Cerebral Palsy Alberta (CPAA) at the Blue Devil Golf Club in Calgary, Alberta. It was a super fun day filled with lots of golf, all for a great cause: raising money for people with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities. Go team!



🎉 Meet the team! Get to know Nishi, one of the PONI Lab’s new summer students! Nishi is an undergraduate student enterin...
02/07/2026

🎉 Meet the team!

Get to know Nishi, one of the PONI Lab’s new summer students! Nishi is an undergraduate student entering her third year in Kinesiology at the University of Calgary. In the PONI Lab, she’ll be working on the Physical Activity and Walking Aids (PAWA) study, investigating the intensity of physical activity when using a new overground walking aid compared with a child's traditional walking aid. While she’s still exploring her career options, Nishi has a keen interest in pursuing a career in pediatric health and child development.

Outside of the lab, you’ll find Nishi volunteering with a variety of programs, ranging from adapted physical activity to literacy sessions for children. She also enjoys spending time with her family, riding her bike, or working on new art pieces!

🎊 Meet the team! We’re excited to introduce Akshay, an undergraduate student in the Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Bi...
29/06/2026

🎊 Meet the team!

We’re excited to introduce Akshay, an undergraduate student in the Cellular, Molecular and Microbial Biology program at the University of Calgary who will be joining the PONI Lab as a summer student researcher! This summer, Akshay will be investigating the effects that robot-assisted walking may have on spasticity in children with neuromotor impairments.

In the future, he hopes to work in the field of health and medicine and contribute to meaningful research, technological innovations, and interventions that help improve people's lives. In his free time, Akshay enjoys biking, playing cricket, and volunteering with adapted recreation programs in Calgary that support individuals living with physical disabilities!

📋 Do you have experience with pain, wellbeing, and/or care as someone who lives with a neurodisability or supports someo...
24/06/2026

📋 Do you have experience with pain, wellbeing, and/or care as someone who lives with a neurodisability or supports someone who does? Are you open to completing a brief survey?

Dr. Katie Birnie and Dr. Melanie Noel at the University of Calgary are leading a project centered around improving the wellbeing of young people with neurodisabilities, and reducing their hurt and discomfort.

Families across Alberta report that pain can be overlooked, especially for children, teens, and young adults with neurodisabilities. The Healing Children’s Pain Together team is inviting young people under the age of 25, families, caregivers, community organizations, and health workers to share their experiences through a brief survey.

What they learn will be used to make recommendations for better treatment, policy, access to care, and future research, to better reflect the real needs of children and youth with neurodisabilities.

Interested in participating? Scan the QR code included in the post, or check out https://survey.ucalgary.ca/jfe/form/SV_7VV1GniebV92B3E!

For more information about the project or survey, please contact the team’s project coordinator, Sean Lindsay, at [email protected].

Head’s up for exoskeletons!These devices are gaining international attention in the realm of rehabilitation, with many i...
19/06/2026

Head’s up for exoskeletons!

These devices are gaining international attention in the realm of rehabilitation, with many individuals around the globe investigating how they impact people with cerebral palsy and other physical disabilities. A group of Australian researchers recently led a systematic review evaluating the current understanding of the effects of exoskeleton-assisted therapy across the globe. From the studies they looked at (including a robotic walking case study from our lab), they concluded that these devices outperform conventional therapy in improving walking speed, walking endurance, balance, and high-level mobility. However, they highlight how there is still more work to be done to increase our understanding of this therapy technique.

Our lab’s research with exoskeletons has shown they can promote physical activity, and new research published this year by our own PhD student Jessica Youngblood shows that robotic walking has the potential to improve individual goals and family dynamics. To address the knowledge gaps that still exist in this area, our team is continuing to conduct research, including (sneak peek!) a study we are currently doing to evaluate the lasting effects robotic walking training has after individuals stop therapy… so stay tuned for those results!

If you’d like to check out an article summarizing the systematic review done by the Australian researchers or read their publication for yourself, follow these links https://theconversation.com/exoskeletons-for-people-with-cerebral-palsy-are-now-a-reality-but-theres-still-much-to-figure-out-280809 (article) https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/09638288.2026.2679901?scroll=top&needAccess=true (publication) – they really do a fantastic job!

⚽️ Looking to discover a new sport or learn a new skill (or volunteer to help others do so)? Check out All Sport One Da...
10/06/2026

⚽️ Looking to discover a new sport or learn a new skill (or volunteer to help others do so)?

Check out All Sport One Day, a free sport discovery event designed for children and youth ages 6 to 17. The event, held on June 20, 2026, is meant to give young participants an opportunity to try out a new sport or physical activity in a fun and supportive environment, without any financial commitment.

For adapted sports and activities, the MNP Community & Sport Centre will be hosting an Adapted All Sport One Day event on the same day with their community partners: Lacrossing Barriers, SoccAbility, Way2Move, LIGHT Gymnastics, and Ultimate Para Sport Association (UPSA).

You can also volunteer with All Sport One Day — they rely on volunteers aged 14 and up to help welcome participants and make their day memorable!

Check out https://sportcalgary.ca/events/all-sport-one-day/ to find more information about the event schedule and how to get involved!

Cerebral palsy is one of the most common causes of physical disability in children, a fact many of us know. But an idea ...
05/06/2026

Cerebral palsy is one of the most common causes of physical disability in children, a fact many of us know. But an idea not often thought of is how these children grow into adults navigating life with a physical disability. Unfortunately, adults with CP frequently have difficulty accessing the care they need to help them thrive.

Recognizing this, Cerebral Palsy Grows Up (CPGU), an initiative from the international Cerebral Palsy Foundation, is hosting a 3-part virtual series focused on building awareness about adult life with cerebral palsy. It’s a free event that will feature speakers from professional backgrounds like healthcare and management, and there will also be testimonials from individuals with lived experience. Part 1 is on Tuesday, June 9th at 6:00 PM MT. Interested in attending? Follow this link https://cerebralpalsyfoundation.regfox.com/cp-connect-cpgu-in-coversation-aging-part-1-navigating-daily-life?utm_source=Cerebral+Palsy+Grows+Up&utm_campaign=b19fec5292-EMAIL_CAMPAIGN_2024_11_22_02_42_COPY_01&utm_medium=email&utm_term=0_-da55030f36-579267257 to learn more and register!

⏰ Have time for a quick survey?CBC News wants to hear about your experience applying for provincial Family Support for C...
02/06/2026

⏰ Have time for a quick survey?

CBC News wants to hear about your experience applying for provincial Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) funding. The FSCD program supports thousands of Albertans every year in helping families with costs for respite care, non-local medical appointments, and therapy. However, waitlists for FSCD funding have increased significantly, possibly due to numerous factors affecting healthcare for children with disabilities in Alberta.

If you or your family have been impacted by the FSCD program, follow the QR code or the link below to complete the survey; your response could help drive forward important changes to this program.

🔗https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfmMs0MBp0c2YLv2hnF-qhFIZ48RmCbYDLFh98z1lYkDYZSMg/viewform

🎉🏆 Congratulations, Henry! Henry is one of the PONI Lab’s longest-standing patient partners, and has both participated i...
02/06/2026

🎉🏆 Congratulations, Henry!

Henry is one of the PONI Lab’s longest-standing patient partners, and has both participated in and supported a number of projects in the lab. Last week, he received the Youth and Family Partner Leadership award from Children’s Healthcare Canada!

This award recognizes the exceptional leadership and dedication of individuals who have worked and continue to work to improve the patient and family experience in Canadian pediatric healthcare. The PONI Lab is so proud to partner with someone who advocates for systemic change and elevates the voices and perspectives of patients and families within the healthcare system like Henry does, and to see him recognized for doing so.

Check out Henry’s acceptance speech below and join us in congratulating him for all his efforts!

🔗https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZYNUxI-A5YU&feature=youtu.be

Have time for a quick survey?CBC News wants to hear about your experience applying for provincial Family Support for Chi...
29/05/2026

Have time for a quick survey?

CBC News wants to hear about your experience applying for provincial Family Support for Children with Disabilities (FSCD) funding. The FSCD program supports thousands of Albertans every year in helping families with costs for respite care, non-local medical appointments, and therapy. However, waitlists for FSCD funding have increased significantly, possibly due to numerous factors affecting healthcare for children with disabilities in Alberta. If you or your family have been impacted by the FSCD program, follow the QR code or this link https://www.cbc.ca/news/canada/calgary/fscd-outreach-alberta-9.7207550 to complete the survey; your response could help drive forward important changes to this program.

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