https://www.facebook.com/605514676620375/

PONI - Pediatric Onset of Neuromotor Impairments Lab

Home
Canada
Calgary, AB
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

Follow us on Instagram & Bluesky!

11/25/2025

⚙️🚶 Meet the Agilik!

We’ve mentioned the Agilik a couple of times here on our social media, but do you know what exactly it is? If not, here's a quick intro!

The Agilik is a smart orthosis made to support those with impaired knee extension and flexion. Advanced sensors built into the device are able to detect the different phases of gait that occur as a person walks and from there, the Agilik can automatically apply force to the knee to support or resist movement. Therapists and researchers are able to adjust the amount of force applied and when it occurs to provide the desired levels of support.

Here at PONI lab, we’re currently looking at the rehabilitative impacts that gait training with the Agilik can have. Stick around to learn more about what we find and our future plans with the Agilik!

11/17/2025

We are saddened to hear that Alice Wong, a disability rights activist and author, has passed away. She lived her life with spinal muscular atrophy, a neuromuscular disorder, which, despite being a physically debilitating condition, didn’t stop her from being a strong voice for people with disabilities. Likewise, Alice was a strong advocate for eliminating ableism as well as promoting disability rights and justice, especially for those in marginalized communities. She was the founder of the Disability Visibility Project, an online community focused on sharing and promoting understanding of disability culture. Alice lived her life attempting to help all people in society understand and become motivated to address the challenges people with disabilities live with every day. Let’s honour the legacy she leaves behind because it is one that will help pave the way for better lives for all those living with neuromotor and other disabilities.

11/14/2025

🔬🌐 Communicating science with impact!

On October 29th, the Hotchkiss Brain Institute, in collaboration with the Tanenbaum Open Science Institute, hosted the 7th Annual Open Science in Action Symposium which examined practical applications of Open Science throughout the research lifecycle, from study design and data collection to infrastructure, analysis, and real-world outcomes.

PONI Lab was well-represented this year by Erin, Jess, and Amanda, each presenting on open science and its implementation in their own work. Amanda also helped organize the symposium! This was a great opportunity to help advance a more open and inclusive research future that we at PONI hope to be a part of.

Until next year!

11/10/2025

📣Are you interested in working for the PONI Lab?

We’re hiring! We’re seeking an organized, motivated, and personable individual to join our team as a Research Assistant. They’ll be working alongside our diverse team of individuals with backgrounds in engineering, kinesiology, physiotherapy, medicine, and neuroscience. The work will involve diving into the exciting results of some of our research, having an opportunity to contribute to the advancement of projects, as well as many opportunities to interact with our amazing research participants.

Interested? You could be the next PONI! Follow the link below to learn more about how to apply.🧭

https://internal.careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/17008171-research-assistant-clinical-neurosciences

11/08/2025

On Saturday, November 1, some of us PONIes went to the CP Kids and Families Neuromotor Resource Expo. It was a day filled with showcases of adaptive exercise equipment, novel therapy strategies, and other unique supports to improve the lives of people living with cerebral palsy and other neuromotor impairments. We had several booths at the event to share our work with the Trexo robotic walkers, the power training program RIPT, and the Agilik smart orthosis.

🎤 Dr. Condliffe and some of our other lab members were asked to share their experiences on CTV News and French Radio-Canada. Check out the articles linked below!

We’d like to thank all of the volunteers, organizers, and families that helped make the day great. Hopefully next year we can do it again!

11/07/2025

Check out what we did last weekend!🗓️

On Saturday, November 1, some of us PONIes went to the CP Kids and Families Neuromotor Resource Expo. It was a day filled with showcases of adaptive exercise equipment, novel therapy strategies, and other unique supports to improve the lives of people living with cerebral palsy and other neuromotor impairments. We had several booths at the event to share our work with the Trexo robotic walkers, the power training program RIPT, and the Agilik smart orthosis.

🎤 Dr. Condliffe and some of our other lab members were asked to share their experiences on CTV News and French Radio-Canada. Check out the articles:

CTV News: https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/families-living-with-cerebral-palsy-gather-for-neuromotor-resource-expo-in-calgary/

Radio-Canada: https://www.msn.com/fr-ca/actualites/ouest-canadien/la-recherche-pour-r%C3%A9pondre-aux-d%C3%A9fis-de-la-paralysie-c%C3%A9r%C3%A9brale/ar-AA1PDLnz

We’d like to thank all of the volunteers, organizers, and families that helped make the day great. Hopefully next year we can do it again!

11/07/2025

Check out what we did last weekend!🗓️

On Saturday, November 1, some of us PONIes went to the CP Kids and Families Neuromotor Resource Expo. It was a day filled with showcases of adaptive exercise equipment, novel therapy strategies, and other unique supports to improve the lives of people living with cerebral palsy and other neuromotor impairments. We had several booths at the event to share our work with the Trexo robotic walkers, the power training program RIPT, and the Agilik smart orthosis.

🎤Dr. Condliffe and some of our other lab members were asked to share their experiences on CTV News and French Radio-Canada. Check out the articles:

CTV News: https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/families-living-with-cerebral-palsy-gather-for-neuromotor-resource-expo-in-calgary/

Radio-Canada: https://www.msn.com/fr-ca/actualites/ouest-canadien/la-recherche-pour-r%C3%A9pondre-aux-d%C3%A9fis-de-la-paralysie-c%C3%A9r%C3%A9brale/ar-AA1PDLnz

We’d like to thank all of the volunteers, organizers, and families that helped make the day great. Hopefully next year we can do it again!

11/07/2025

Check out what we did last weekend!🗓️

On Saturday, November 1, some of us PONIes went to the CP Kids and Families Neuromotor Resource Expo. It was a day filled with showcases of adaptive exercise equipment, novel therapy strategies, and other unique supports to improve the lives of people living with cerebral palsy and other neuromotor impairments. We had several booths at the event to share our work with the Trexo robotic walkers, the power training program RIPT, and the Agilik smart orthosis.

🎤 Dr. Condliffe and some of our other lab members were asked to share their experiences on CTV News and French Radio-Canada. Check out the articles here:

CTV News: https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/families-living-with-cerebral-palsy-gather-for-neuromotor-resource-expo-in-calgary/

Radio-Canada: https://www.msn.com/fr-ca/actualites/ouest-canadien/la-recherche-pour-r%C3%A9pondre-aux-d%C3%A9fis-de-la-paralysie-c%C3%A9r%C3%A9brale/ar-AA1PDLnz

We’d like to thank all of the volunteers, organizers, and families that helped make the day great. Hopefully next year we can do it again!

11/07/2025

💡Last but not least in our AACPDM series is a poster showcasing another PONI robotic walking study — this time looking at the impact overground robotic walker use has on children with mobility impairments.

The study was led by Alicia Hilderley, a post-doc at the University of Calgary researching pediatric neurorehabilitation.

The findings of this study suggest that long-term use of robotic walkers may result in improvements in functional ability and physical activity outcomes (although the changes in functional ability in this study were small and not universal).

Take a look at her poster below!

11/07/2025

📊 Poster power: walking the talk in pediatric mobility.

Back in October, Jessica, a PhD candidate in the PONI Lab, shared her research poster at the 79th Annual Meeting of the AACPDM, highlighting how robotic-assisted walking influences physical function in children with mobility impairments.

Her findings suggest that robotic walking may improve goals important to families and measures related to physical activity during training.

Check out her poster below for a closer look at the data and insights!

11/04/2025

Check out what we did last weekend!🗓️

On Saturday, November 1, some of us PONIes went to the CP Kids and Families Neuromotor Resource Expo. It was a day filled with showcases of adaptive exercise equipment, novel therapy strategies, and other unique supports to improve the lives of people living with cerebral palsy and other neuromotor impairments. We had several booths at the event to share our work with the Trexo robotic walkers, the power training program RIPT, and the Agilik smart orthosis.

🎤 Dr. Condliffe and some of our other lab members were asked to share their experiences on CTV News and French Radio-Canada. Check out the articles:

CTV News: https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/families-living-with-cerebral-palsy-gather-for-neuromotor-resource-expo-in-calgary/

Radio Canada: https://www.msn.com/fr-ca/actualites/ouest-canadien/la-recherche-pour-répondre-aux-défis-de-la-paralysie-cérébrale/ar-AA1PDLnz

We’d like to thank all of the volunteers, organizers, and families that helped make the day great. Hopefully next year we can do it again!

11/04/2025

Check out what we did last weekend! 🗓️

On Saturday, November 1, some of us PONIes went to the CP Kids and Families Neuromotor Resource Expo. It was a day filled with showcases of adaptive exercise equipment, novel therapy strategies, and other unique supports to improve the lives of people living with cerebral palsy and other neuromotor impairments. We had several booths at the event to share our work with the Trexo robotic walkers, the power training program RIPT, and the Agilik smart orthosis.

🎤 Dr. Condliffe and some of our other lab members were asked to share their experiences on CTV News (https://www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/article/families-living-with-cerebral-palsy-gather-for-neuromotor-resource-expo-in-calgary/) and French Radio-Canada (https://www.msn.com/fr-ca/actualites/ouest-canadien/la-recherche-pour-r%C3%A9pondre-aux-d%C3%A9fis-de-la-paralysie-c%C3%A9r%C3%A9brale/ar-AA1PDLnz)!

We’d like to thank all of the volunteers, organizers, and families that helped make the day great. Hopefully next year we can do it again!

Address

Calgary, AB

Telephone

+14039555528

Website

facebook.com

Alerts

Be the first to know and let us send you an email when PONI - Pediatric Onset of Neuromotor Impairments Lab posts news and promotions. Your email address will not be used for any other purpose, and you can unsubscribe at any time.

Contact The Practice

Send a message to PONI - Pediatric Onset of Neuromotor Impairments Lab:

Shortcuts

Want your practice to be the top-listed Clinic in Calgary?

PONI - Pediatric Onset of Neuromotor Impairments Lab

11/25/2025

11/17/2025

11/14/2025

11/10/2025

11/08/2025

11/07/2025

11/07/2025

11/07/2025

11/07/2025

11/07/2025

11/04/2025

11/04/2025

Address

Telephone

Website

Alerts

Contact The Practice

Shortcuts

Share

Category