Discussions in Spinal Cord Injury Science - ANPT: Recent Episodes
Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy
The Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group (SCI SIG) is a component of the American Physical Therapy Association. The mission of the SCI SIG is to optimize rehabilitation and maximize participation of persons with spinal cord injuries and disorders (SCI/D) as active members of their communities. The SCI SIG is comprised of physical therapists, physical therapist assistants, and students in physical therapy programs who share knowledge and expertise, assemble and publicize resources, and discuss, interpret, and disseminate evidence about SCI/D rehabilitation.
In this CHATs episode “SCI SIG’s Guide to CSM”, we talk with SIG chair, Casey Kandilakis, about the exciting content being offered at APTA CSM in Anaheim, CA. We will also review events and places to meet with SCI SIG leadership and fellow SIG members to network and share ideas!
SCI-SIG-Guide-to-CSM-2026Download
Join Kristen Cezat and Casey Kandilakis in this episode as we are joined by Dr. Chad Swank and Dr. Dannae Arnold to discuss their recent publication titled: Overground Robotic Exoskeleton Gait Training in People With Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury During Inpatient Rehabilitation: A Randomized Control Trial published in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2025 https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0003999325006756
Join the Spinal Cord Injury and Assistive Technology/Seating and Wheeled Mobility SIG for a collaborative interview with Theresa Berner on their group’s paper titled: “Investigation of stakeholder perceptions of the wheelchair service delivery process” published in Disability and Rehabilitation: Assistive Technology in 2025. Below is a link to the full text article:
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/17483107.2024.2442705
If you have any suggestions or comments on current or future podcasts, please contact us at anptscisig@gmail.com. The Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy, please visit: www.neuropt.org for more information.
Join us as we discuss with Nicole Sharf about her groups paper, “Psychosexual Well-Being Following Spinal Cord Injury: Perspectives of Adults With Spinal Cord Injury and Rehabilitation Clinicians” published in Rehabilitation Psychology in 2024.
Article abstract: https://psycnet.apa.org/record/2025-44297-001
Join us as we talk with Katie Blackburn, PT, DPT, NCS, MSHQS about SCI program development and quality initiatives to improve care.
Please send comments or questions on this podcast to anptscisig@gmail.com
The Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy – www.neuropt.org.
In our newest CHATs episode “SCI SIG’s Guide to CSM”, we talk with SIG chair, Casey Kandilakis, about the exciting content being offered in Houston. We will also review events and places to meet with SCI SIG leadership and fellow SIG members to network and share ideas!
SCI-SIG-Guide-to-CSM-2025Download
In this episode, we talk with Dr. Laura Baehr about two recent publications from her team, titled Development and Feasibility of a Group Tele-Exercise Program for Individuals with SCI, published in JNPT in 2023. The second publication we discuss is The Effect of Tele-Exercise to Promote Empowered Movement for Individuals with SCI (TEEMS) Program on Physical Activity Determinants and Behavior: A Mixed Method Assessment, published in the Archives of Physical Medicine in 2024. Join us to hear more about this exciting work!
Below are links to both articles discussed in this episode:
https://journals.lww.com/jnpt/fulltext/2023/10000/development_and_feasibility_of_a_group.3.aspx
https://www.archives-pmr.org/article/S0003-9993(23)00512-9/fulltext
If you have questions for Dr. Baehr, please contact her at: lab397@drexel.edu or @lab_moves
The Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is a part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy. For more information, visit www.neuropt.org. Please send any comments or questions on this podcast to anptscisig@gmail.com
In this episode, we speak with Dr. Chad Swank and Dr. Jaime Gillespie about the use of robotic gait training devices in their group’s paper, “Utilization of overground exoskeleton gait training during inpatient rehabilitation: a descriptive analysis.” Join us to hear about this exciting work!
Article link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC10401799/
The Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is a part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy. For more information, visit www.neuropt.org. Please send any comments or questions on this podcast to anptscisig@gmail.com
It’s that time of year again! Join Kristen Cezat and SCI SIG chair, Casey Kandilakis, as they discuss this year’s content and events for CSM 2024 in Boston, MA February 15-17. Learn about neurology and spinal cord injury content that you won’t want to miss as well as opportunities to meet the SCI SIG leadership at various events to see what the SIG is all about!
In this episode, we will be speaking with Dr. Jenny Lotter about her group’s paper titled, “Task specific vs impairment based training on locomotor performance in individuals with chronic SCI: A randomized crossover study.” Join us to hear about this exciting work!
Article link: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/pmid/32476619/
Please send comments or questions on this podcast to the APTA ANPT SCI SIG at anptscisig@gmail.com
The SCI SIG is part of the APTA Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy. Please visit www.neuropt.org
In this episode, we will talk with three physical therapists, Lauren Jefferies, Uzair Hammad, and Brittany Rohan about what drew them into spinal cord injury rehabilitation as students, during neurological residency, and what keeps them coming back to SCI rehab years later.
Please send comments or questions on this podcast to the APTA ANPT SCI SIG at anptscisig@gmail.com
The SCI SIG is a part of the APTA Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy.
www.neuropt.org
Join us as we talk with Dr. Kaci Handlery and Dr. Dana Kahl about how they have brought an innovative fitness opportunity to individuals living with SCI and their caregivers/partners in the community where they live!
For more information about the SHIFT Arkansas program discussed in this episode, visit their website or contact Kaci Handlery at Kaci.Handlery@achehealth.edu
https://sites.google.com/view/shift-ar/home?authuser=0
Please send comments or questions on this podcast to anptscisig@gmail.com. The Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is a part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy – www.neuropt.org
In this episode, we will be speaking with Dr. Christina Draganich and Dr. Kenneth Weber about their group’s paper titled “Predicting Outdoor Walking 1 Year After Spinal Cord Injury: A Retrospective, Multisite External Validation Study” just released in JNPT in 2023. Join us to hear about this exciting study! Below is a link to their article: https://journals.lww.com/jnpt/fulltext/2023/07000/predicting_outdoor_walking_1_year_after_spinal.4.aspx
Please send comments or questions on this podcast to anptscisig@gmail.com. The Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is a part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy - www.neuropt.org
If you wish to contact Dr. Ken Weber from this interview, he has provided his email: kenweber@stanford.edu
Description: Interview with Nick Evans about his group’s paper “Walking and Balance Outcomes are Improved Following Brief Intensive Locomotor Skill Training but Are Not Augmented by Transcranial Direct Current Stimulation in Persons with Chronic Spinal Cord Injury” published in Frontiers in Human Neuroscience in 2022. Join DiSCIS hosts Kristen Cezat, PT, DPT, NCS and Uzair Hammad, PT, DPT as we learn more about this new and exciting work! The ANPT Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is a part of the American Physical Therapy Association.
Join Kristen Cezat and Casey Kandilakis as they discuss this year’s content and events for CSM 2023 in San Diego, CA February 23-25. Join them to learn about neurology and spinal cord injury content that you won’t want to miss as well as opportunities to meet the SCI SIG leadership at various events to see what the SIG is all about!
SCI-SIG-Guide-to-CSM-2023Download
Get to know the SCI SIG leadership: We talk with ANPT SCI SIG leadership to hear a little bit about their background, why they love treating clients with SCI, and why they chose to join the SCI SIG leadership team!
The Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy – www.neuropt.org
Interview with Dr. Edelle Field-Fote about her group's paper “ Characterizing the Experience of Spasticity after Spinal Cord Injury: A National Survey Project of the Spinal Cord Injury Model Systems Centers” published in Archives of Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation in 2022. Join DiSCIS hosts Kristen Cezat, PT, DPT, NCS and Uzair Hammad, PT, DPT as we learn more about this new and exciting work!
For the transcript of the podcast click here.
The Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy – www.neuropt.org
Spinal Cord Injury SIG: Interview with Dr. Giorgio Scivoletto about his group's paper "Reliability and validity of the international standards for neurological classification of spinal cord injury in patients with non-traumatic spinal cord lesions” published in Spinal Cord in 2021. Join DiSCIS hosts Kristen Cezat, PT, DPT, NCS and Uzair Hammad, PT, DPT as we learn more about this new and exciting work!
For the transcript of the podcast click here.
Any questions, comments, or suggestions for future topics/speakers, please reach out to Kristen Cezat at Kristen.cezat@orlandohealth.com
The Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy – www.neuropt.org
Interview with Dr. Andrew Smith, PT, DPT, Ph.D. and Dr. Enrico Rejc, Ph.D about their paper recently published in the Experimental Brain Research. Their paper is titled “Spinal cord imaging markers and recovery of standing with epidural stimulation in individuals with clinically motor complete spinal cord injury.” Join DiSCIS hosts Kristen Cezat, PT, DPT, NCS and Uzair Hammad, PT, DPT as we learn more about this new and exciting work!
If you wish to reach our speakers via social media:Andrew Smith Twitter: @DrAndrewCSmithEnrico Rejc Twitter: @VOParalysis (Victory over Paralysis)
Any questions, comments, or suggestions for future topics/speakers, please reach out to Kristen Cezat at Kristen.cezat@orlandohealth.com
The Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy - www.neuropt.org
In this episode, we talk to Emily Fox, PT, DPT, PhD and Kate Cavka, PT, DPT, NCS about respiratory rehabilitation and diaphragm pacing after spinal cord injury and their recent paper in the Journal of Neurologic Physical Therapy titled "Diaphragm Pacing and a Model for Respiratory Rehabilitation After Spinal Cord Injury."
The Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy - www.neuropt.org
Transcription of this podcast can be found here: https://app.box.com/s/yabsy7zsqophmjne7fnhq17879mf4s43.
In this episode, we talk to Jonathan (JT) Tsay, PT, DPT and Nayo Hill, PT, DPT, PhD about their experiences pursuing both a DPT and a PhD.
The Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy - www.neuropt.org.
Transcription of this podcast can be found here: https://app.box.com/s/dchru2gu7j0fkqt57mnuycn8bwlcoj9z.
In this episode, we talk to Jonathan (JT) Tsay about his recent paper: Tsay JS, Winstein CJ. Five features to look for in early-phase clinical intervention studies. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2021;35:3-9.
The Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy - www.neuropt.org.
Transcription of this podcast can be found here: https://app.box.com/s/62d6za8i692rov46pz7gd5zbaappezks.
In this episode, we talk to Kristin Musselman, BSc, BscPT, MSc, PhD about reactive balance after SCI and the results of the recent paper: Chan K, Lee JW, Unger J, Yoo J, Masani K, Musselman K. Reactive stepping after a forward fall in people living with incomplete spinal cord injury or disease. Spinal Cord. 2020;58:185-193.
The Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy - www.neuropt.org.
Transcription of this podcast can be found here: https://app.box.com/s/t5t523wlzrh5ot6q0ncdp9is2kyetqqd.
In this episode, we talk to Milap Sandhu, PT, PhD about Acute Intermittent Hypoxia and drug-induced neuromodulation and the results of his recent paper: Sandhu MS,Gray E, Kocherginsky M, Jayaraman A, Mitchell GS, Rymer WZ. Prednisolone pretreatment enhances intermittent hypoxia-induced plasticity in persons with chronic incomplete spinal cord injury. Neurorehabil Neural Repair. 2019;33:911-921.
The Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy - www.neuropt.org.
Transcription of this podcast can be found here: https://app.box.com/s/t5t523wlzrh5ot6q0ncdp9is2kyetqqd.
In this episode, we continue our conversation with Dr. Kathleen Martin Ginis as we chat about behavior change theory: the Health Action Process Approach (HAPA) , the Behavior Change Wheel, and why the Transtheoretical Model of Change is old news.
The Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy – www.neuropt.org.
Transcription of this podcast can be found here: https://app.box.com/s/kniw6bpcevwjokfz4d9s670xzdna6uma.
In this episode of DiSCIS, we talk to Dr. Kathleen Martin Ginis about her paper: Hoekstra F, McBride CB, Borisoff J, Fetterly MJ, Ginis S, Latimer-Cheung AE, Ma JK, Maffin J, Mah L, West CR, Willms R, Martin Ginis KA. Translating the international spinal cord injury exercise guidelines into community and clinical practice guidelines: a Canadian evidence-informed resource. Spinal Cord. 2020;58:647-657.
The Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy - www.neuropt.org.
Transcription of this podcast can be found here: https://app.box.com/s/tz2m3zff4ma1itkupqgz4gm865qjy0ve.
In this episode of Discussions in Spinal Cord Injury Science (DiSCIS), we interview Carey Holleran, PT, DHS, NCS and George Hornby, PT, PhD about their recent publication:
Hornby TG, Reisman DS, Ward IG, et al. Clinical practice guideline to improve locomotor function following chronic stroke, incomplete spinal cord injury, and brain injury. J Neur Phys Ther. 2020;44:49-100. Click here for the CPG document.
The SCI SIG is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy - www.neuropt.org.
Transcription of this podcast can be found here: https://app.box.com/s/uvlqr3hbe30w1cn4yadsr5et3t2h1ep4.
In this episode of Discussions in Spinal Cord Injury Science (DiSCIS), we interview Candy Tefertiller, PT, DPT, PhD, NCS about Transcutaneous Electrical Spinal Cord Stimulation.
For more information, refer to: Taccola G, et al. And yet it moves: recovery of volitional control after spinal cord injury. Prog Neurobiol. 2018;160:64-81.
The Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is a part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy, www.neuropt.org.
Transcription of this podcast can be found here: https://app.box.com/s/dvhtsrhgxbvxfju0p0r6yvoprd4o8v73.
In this episode of Discussions in Spinal Cord Injury Science (DiSCIS), Rachel Tappan, PT, DPT interviews Dr. Monica Perez, Scientific Chair of Arms and Hands Lab at the Shirley Ryan Ability Lab in Chicago. The discussion focuses on neuromodulation and Dr. Perez's work.
For further reading, check out: Christiansen L, Perez MA. Targeted-plasticity in the corticospinal tract after human spinal cord injury. Neurotherapeutics. 2018;15:618-627.
The Spinal Cord Injury Special Interest Group is a part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy - www.neuropt.org.
Transcription of this podcast can be found here: https://app.box.com/s/7gvlj0tcx63vgvivi3er1ibmpxxu2ehp.
The Discussions in Spinal Cord Injury Science (DiSCIS) interview with Andrew Smith, PT, DPT, PhD is about his 2018 study, "Lateral Corticospinal Tract Damage Correlates with Motor Output in Incomplete Spinal Cord Injury." Click here for Smith AC, Weber KA, O'Dell DR, Parrish TB, Wasielewski M, Elliott JM. Lateral corticospinal tract damage correlates with motor output in incomplete spinal cord injury. Arch Phys Med Rehabil. 2018;99:660-666. The Spinal Cord Injury is part of the Academy of Neurologic Physical Therapy - www.neuropt.org.
Transcription of this podcast can be found here: https://app.box.com/s/kw1dwoacc2l42hkde4v3e0bqmnf2eixn.