Athletes participating in para and adaptive sport have unique medical circumstances that may impact injury and illness prevention and management. However, sport and exercise medicine (SEM) healthcare professionals often do not receive adequate training to care for athletes with disabilities, and the lack of expertise for para and adaptive athletes remains a major healthy disparity in SEM. 

The objective of this BJSM Live webinar is to provide an educational program to upskill healthcare professionals around the world to care for athletes in para and adaptive sport at all levels. The webinar is led by global leaders in Para and Adaptive Sports Medicine caring for athletes at the 2024 Paralympics and in their communities.

The programme:

(Please note: The programme below is displayed in Paris time (BST+1). It will begin at 16:00 BST).

17:00-17:10 – Welcome and introductions – Wayne Derman

17:10-17:50 – The Benefits of Sport & Physical Activity for People with Disabilities

• Lecture 1: From the Paralympics to Public Health: The Importance of Inclusive Sport and Exercise for People with Disabilities. Speaker – Cheri Blauwet
• Lecture 2: Impact of the Paralympic Games on the Health Care of People with Disabilities in France. Speaker  – Francois Genet
• Q&A

17:50-18:45 – Section 2: Practical Toolbox: Medical Care of the Para Athlete – Introduced by Stephanie Tow

• Lecture 1: The Periodic Health Evaluation and Importance of Longitudinal Assessment. Speaker – Stephanie Tow 
• Lecture 2: Clinical Emergencies in the Para Athlete – Medical Illness (e.g. cardiac, spasticity/dystonia, AD, heat stress). Speaker – Nick Webborn
• Lecture 3: Clinical Emergencies in the Para Athlete – Acute Injury (e.g. fracture, concussion). Speaker – Anja Hirschmuller
• Q&A

18:45-19:55 – Section 3: Specific Clinical Topics – Introduced by Cheri Blauwet

• Lecture 1: Overuse Shoulder Injuries in the Para Athlete. Speaker – Kristina Fagher 
• Lecture 2: Skin Health in Athletes with Insensate Skin or Amputations. Speaker – Steve Reid 
• Lecture 3: Concussion and Mental Health Conditions in the Para Athlete. Speaker – Jan Lexell  
• Lecture 4: Infections in the Para Athlete. Speaker – Carole Okoth 

19:55-20:00 – Wrap up – Wayne Derman

Our webinar will be chaired by:

Wayne Derman, Professor and Executive Head of the Department of Exercise, Sport and Lifestyle Medicine and Director of the Institute of Sport and Exercise Medicine at Stellenbosch University. Read more here.

Cheri Blauwet, MD, Associate Professor in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Harvard Medical School, the Chief Medical Officer of Spaulding Rehabilitation Network, and the Distinguished Chair in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at Brigham and Women’s Hospital. Read more here.

Stephanie Tow, MD, FAAPMR, CAQSM is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation at the University of Colorado and Departments of Pediatric Rehabilitation Medicine, Orthopedics Institute – Sports Medicine Center, and Pain Medicine at Children’s Hospital Colorado. Read more here.

Programme subject to change.