28 kwiecień 2026
Relacja z 25. European Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ESPRM 2026) w Krakowie
Szanowni Państwo, Koleżanki i Koledzy,
W dniach 23–26 marca 2026 roku Kraków stał się stolicą europejskiej rehabilitacji, goszcząc 25. Kongres ESPRM. Wydarzenie, zorganizowane przez European Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (ESPRM) we współpracy z RSTU, zgromadziło ponad 850 specjalistów z całego świata.
Jako gospodarze, polskie środowisko rehabilitacyjne zaznaczyło swoją obecność w sposób wyjątkowy. Nasza reprezentacja nie tylko licznie uczestniczyła w obradach, ale przede wszystkim aktywnie współtworzyła program naukowy kongresu. Polscy prelegenci zaprezentowali szerokie spektrum badań – od innowacyjnych metod leczenia spastyczności i zastosowania robotyki, po zaawansowane analizy geriatryczne i wykorzystanie sztucznej inteligencji w codziennej praktyce lekarskiej.
Poniżej przedstawiamy alfabetyczne zestawienie wystąpień naszych rodzimych specjalistów, które dowodzi wysokiego poziomu merytorycznego polskiej rehabilitacji medycznej na arenie międzynarodowej.
Niezwykle cennym dopełnieniem kongresu była obecność gości z całego świata. Swoimi wrażeniami z pobytu w Krakowie podzielił się z nami prof. Mark A. Young (Johns Hopkins University). Publikujemy jego relację w oryginale, a wersję przetłumaczoną na Polski dołączamy do pobrania w PDF.
Polscy prelegenci i tematy wystąpień na ESPRM 2026
- Jacek Durmała:
Cross-border treatment and rehabilitation of a girl with Sotos syndrome during the war and the COVID-19 pandemic: a case report (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
- Katarzyna Hojan:
Psychological Characteristics Associated with Post-treatment Physical Status and Quality of Life in Patients with Glioma after Radiotherapy (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
The "Non-Motor Effect" of Botulinum Toxin Type B in Cervical Dystonia Patients in Addition to Motor Symptoms (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
- Joanna Jabłońska-Brudło:
Comprehensive management and rehabilitation of Duchenne Muscular Dystrophy patient - experience of Accredited Duchenne Center, University Clinical Center, Gdańsk, Poland (Special Session Presentation).
- Marek Jozwiak:
Are we still treating just only spasticity? Interventions in the scope of muscle structure in pediatric population (Special Session Presentation).
- Marek Kluszczynski:
Evaluation of a treatment model for idiopathic scoliosis in children based on the concept of spinal reflex balance (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
- Agata Kowalik-Sztylc:
Trick or Treat? Discopathy versus Ankylosing Spondylitis - Case Report (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
- Maja Kozłowska:
Case Report: Use of Botulinum Toxin type A (BoNT-A) treatment for a patient with stiff person syndrome (SPS) (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
- Marek Krasuski:
The nature of heterotopic ossification following spinal cord injury (Pre-Congress Workshop presentations).
- Mateusz Kulig:
Hands-On Session: Ultrasound-Guided Hydro dissection – Practical Training on Models (Pre-Congress Workshop presentations).
Ortho biologic agents in daily practice (Short Workshop Presentation).
- Kinga Łabuda:
A comprehensive and innovative approach to medical care at an early stage of rehabilitation in patients with neurological disorders: the nursing perspective (Special Session Presentation).
- Justyna Leszczak:
Upper limb rehabilitation robotics: a systematic review of the literature and clinical experience (Special Session Presentation).
Evaluation of rehabilitation effects using Luna EMG diagnostic and rehabilitation robot for upper limb and hand in people after stroke (Oral Presentation (Research Report)).
- Magdalena Mackiewicz-Milewska:
Neurological Severity and Functional Outcomes in Spinal Cord Injury: A Retrospective Study Based on the ASIA Impairment Scale (AIS) (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
- Jan Mikołajczyk:
Rehabilitation Needs And Possibilities In Klippel-Trenaunay Syndrome - A Case Study (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
- Elżbieta Miller:
Biochemical Biomarkers of Stroke Recovery: Linking Angiogenesis, Neuroplasticity, and Personalized Rehabilitation (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
Congress Opening Ceremony (Opening).
Four years of Botulinum Toxin use in adult spasticity by PRM specialists in Poland: A preliminary report (Oral Presentation (Research Report)).
Wind of change in PMR doctors work? (Organizational presentation).
Where are we 45 years after Lance defined spasticity? - perspective of Polish PMR doctors (Special session (application)).
Risk of BoNT-A treatment discontinuation in post stroke spasticity patients. A two rehabilitation center retrospective study (Moderate e-Poster).
Whole body cryostimulation – promising tool in neurological rehabilitation (Special Session Presentation).
- Marzena Pełczyńska:
Effect of physiotherapeutic treatment of stress urinary incontinence in women aged thirty to forty years with contraindication to electrotherapy (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
The severity of the frailty syndrome and the risk of falls in rehabilitation ward patients (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
- Marcin Piwnik:
Cryoneurolysis for Persistent Postoperative Heel Pain After Achilles Tendon Surgery – A Case Report (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
Hands-On Session: Ultrasound-Guided Hydro dissection – Practical Training on Models (Pre-Congress Workshop presentations).
Hydrodissection in the Treatment of Peripheral Neuropathies (Pre-Congress Workshop presentations).
Hydro dissection in the Treatment of Peripheral Neuropathies (Short Workshop Presentation).
- Elżbieta Popielarska:
The assessment of osteoporosis in postmenopausal women after knee and hip arthroplasty in order to implement an exercise protocol (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
Effects of Buerger’s exercise on d-dimers level in patients after hip arthroplasty (Moderate e-Poster).
- Magdalena Ptak:
Surface Electromyography (sEMG-biofeedback) as a Therapeutic Tool Used in Stress Urinary Incontinence (SUI) (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
- Iwona Sarzyńska-Długosz:
Management of spasticity – Polish recommendations and their impact on the access to therapy (Invited Speaker Presentation).
- Bronisława Skrzep-Poloczek:
The Association Between the Selected Hepatokines, CRP, and Cholesterol Profiles in Patients with Advanced Osteoarthritis Undergoing a 21-Day General Rehabilitation (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
- Jarosław Sławek:
Defining Treatment Goals in Spasticity Management (Sponsored Session).
- Jakub Śliwowski:
Assessment Of The Relationship Between The Creatinine-To-Cystatin C Ratio And Skeletal Muscle Mass, Dynapenia, Sarcopenia, And Frailty In Geriatric Patients (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
- Agata Stanek:
Benefits for patients with Ankylosing Spondylitis after whole body cryotherapy (Special Session Presentation).
- Ewa Stryjewska:
Perspectives on High-Intensity Interval Training in Geriatric Inpatient Rehabilitation: A Systematic Review and Clinical Reflections (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
- Karol Szapel:
Hands-On Session: Ultrasound-Guided Hydro dissection – Practical Training on Models (Pre-Congress Workshop presentations).
Percutaneous Electrolysis in the Treatment of Tendinopathies (Short Workshop Presentation).
- Piotr Tederko:
Past-Present-Future of PMR in Poland - Polish Rehabilitation Society (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
Surgical treatment of heterotopic ossification after spinal cord injury and its outcomes (Pre-Congress Workshop presentations).
EBPRM support for European Schools (Organizational presentation).
The Polish Model of Rehabilitation – still up to date (Organizational presentation).
Update in PRM and Management of Low Back Pain (Special Session Presentation).
Opening Remarks (Introduction).
- Agnieszka Wiśniowska-Szurlej:
Effectiveness of a rehabilitation program including Functional Proprioceptive Stimulation (FPS) on motor recovery in patient after stroke (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
Impact of disability and selected factors on the quality of life in the elderly in southeastern Poland (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
Lower limb rehabilitation robotics: a systematic review of the literature and clinical experience (Special Session Presentation).
- Agnieszka Wnuk-Scardaccione:
PORT: A Prehabilitation-to-Long-Term Gait Model for Osseointegrated Amputees (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
Prehabilitation: The Missing Link to Successful Osseointegration – A Case Report and Proposal for a Standardized Protocol (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
- Aleksandra Wojszel:
Insulin Resistance Parameters And Skeletal Muscle Strength And Mass In Geriatric Patients (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
- Andżelina Wolan-Nieroda:
Validation and Reliability of the Wisconsin Gait Scale in Patients with Spastic Hemiplegic Multiple Sclerosis (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
Validation of a New Device for the Assessment of Cervical Spine Mobility and Proprioception – Study on Healthy Volunteers (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
- Olga Wolińska:
We set the goals and changed our reality (Organizational presentation).
- Adam Zalewski:
Introduction: Overview of LLMs, Gemini, and their potential in PMR (Pre-Congress Workshop presentations).
Session 2: Gem Building (Pre-Congress Workshop presentations).
Session 4: Advanced Prompting and Integration (Pre-Congress Workshop presentations).
Panel discussion (Organizational presentation).
Barriers in understanding the complexity of CRPS (Special Session Presentation).
- Monika Zawadka-Kunikowska:
Five-Week Inspiratory Muscle Training and Its Effects on Cardiovascular Autonomic and Pulmonary Function in Women: A Preliminary Study (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
- Kamil Zaworski:
Can pre-treatment verbal suggestions influence the short-term effects of spinal manipulation in young adults with chronic non-specific low back pain? (Moderate e-Poster).
- Sebastian Zduński:
Is preoperative physiotherapy (prehabilitation) effective in terms of subjective knee function with IKDC score in patients after ACLR? (Non-Moderate e-Poster).
Where Science Meets Soul - a review of ESPRM 2026 in Krakow
by Professor Mark Young, MD, MBA, FACP (USA)
There are scientific meetings, and then there are experiences that transcend science.
The recent gathering of the European Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine in Kraków, Poland, was unequivocally the latter.
I arrived in Kraków on a quiet Sunday evening, settling into the Soho Hotel in the historic Kazimierz district, the legendary former Jewish quarter, rich with memory, resilience, and renewal.
The hotel itself, a beautifully restored pre-war building, carried a quiet dignity. Under the attentive care of its manager, Ula, every detail reflected pride, precision, and hospitality.
From the outset, this international congress, attended by over 850 physicians from across the globe, distinguished itself not only through scientific excellence, but through something far more enduring, human connection. Or, as my poppa used to say in Polish, his native tongue, „ludzka więź i duch wspólnoty.”
A Personal Homecoming
As a first-generation descendant of a Polish Jew who fled the country as an orphan during the Second World War, this visit carried deep personal resonance for me.
Through the extraordinary kindness of my colleague, Dr. Adam Zalewski, who served as both social program leader and, unofficially, the heart and soul of the meeting, I was able to experience Poland not only through science and history, but through humanity.
Dr. Adam’s generosity of spirit was remarkable. He brought colleagues together not as attendees, but as guests, hosting gatherings on the Vistula River, guiding us through Kraków’s cultural landscape, and ensuring that every visitor felt welcomed.
He took us to Kazimierz, where Jewish life once flourished, and to Auschwitz-Birkenau, a place of profound solemnity and remembrance.
He also introduced me to wonderful new friends and colleagues from across the world, including Dr. Tijana from Serbia, who, together with Adam, presented an innovative workshop on AI in Medical Practice. We met many other remarkable individuals, Henni from Finland, an Olympian skier and physiatrist, Michael from Italy, a family physician transitioning into physiatry, and many others whose stories enriched the experience.
These moments were deeply moving. They reminded me that medicine, at its core, is not only about healing the body, but about honoring the human story, about bonding with colleagues from near and far, young and old, across cultures and ways of life, all united by a shared ideal, to make the world a better place through rehabilitation.
In the words of the late Israeli professor Haim Ring, one of the founding fathers of ESPRM and my early mentor, “Rehabilitation builds bridges, soothes the soul, and conquers the great divide that separates humankind.”
Scientific Excellence at the Highest Level
The scientific program was outstanding, high caliber, forward-looking, and deeply relevant.
Under the leadership of President Clemens, past President Iuli, and incoming President Sara, the meeting achieved a rare balance, rigorous academic content paired with openness to innovation and interdisciplinary dialogue.
I had the privilege of leading and moderating a global seminar on Traumatic Brain Injury and Technology, alongside an exceptional international faculty:
- Dr. Beth McQuiston, a leading neuroscientist and industry innovator from Chicago, advancing precision medicine through biomarker research
- Dr. Michael Young, a Harvard-based scholar of consciousness, exploring covert awareness and the interface between technology and neural recovery
- Dr. Bryan O’Young, Temple University, whose work in electrophysiology and wave-based diagnostics is redefining our understanding of neural function and recovery
- Dr. Carlotta, Milan, Italy, a rising physiatrist and Olympic team physician, bringing a powerful voice on ethics and the human dimension of medicine in an era of rapid technological change
Together, we explored not only what technology can reveal, but what it must never replace, human judgment, compassion, and meaning.
Building a Global Community
Beyond the lecture halls, the meeting became a true global exchange.
At our PM&R Secrets exhibition booth, we had the privilege of engaging colleagues from more than 80 countries.
With the help of two outstanding Polish students, Amelia and Zuzanna, carefully selected with the assistance of my dear Russian friend and colleague, Dr. Sofiia Makedonskaia, we created a welcoming, energetic space that reflected the spirit of the field.
The response was overwhelming. Every book was shared, every conversation meaningful. It was not simply the dissemination of knowledge, it was genuine connection.
Hospitality Beyond Expectation
What truly set this meeting apart, however, was the social program.
Thanks to the impeccable organization by Paragon Group, and the personal touch of Dr. Adam and the local team, every moment outside the conference hall was thoughtfully curated.
There were river gatherings, shared meals, a grand gala with electrifying dancing, and spontaneous conversations that felt as valuable as any lecture.
The residents’ party, complete with live music, dancing, and an atmosphere of genuine inclusion, brought together trainees and senior faculty in a way that dissolved hierarchy and fostered mentorship.
The gala evening was equally memorable, dignified, elegant, and a fitting tribute to the leadership and legacy of the Polish rehabilitation community and the remarkable work of ESPRM.
On Friday evening, as the light softened and the week gently paused, we gathered across cultures and faiths to share in the quiet beauty of the Sabbath.
Around a table set with wine, warm conversation, and a thoughtfully prepared chicken and fish dinner from a local Jewish kitchen, something deeper emerged, a sense of stillness, of belonging, and of shared humanity.
We reflected with genuine gratitude on the success of the days behind us, the learning, the laughter, the extraordinary moments we had experienced together. In that sacred space between tradition and togetherness, distinctions faded, friendships deepened, and the spirit of connection lingered long after the meal had ended.
The following day, we shared the smooth, comforting taste of pierogies in a truly authentic Polish restaurant, each bite reflecting tradition, warmth, and the genuine hospitality of the Polish people.
On our final evening in Kraków, we gathered by candlelight, wine in hand, to hear the music of Frédéric Chopin. Each movement unfolded like a quiet reflection of our work in rehabilitation. From fragility to strength, from silence to expression, the music seemed to mirror the human journey of recovery. In that intimate space, we were reminded that healing is not only science, but also art, guided by patience, nuance, and the subtle rhythms of the human spirit.
As a senior academic who has attended hundreds of international meetings throughout my career, I can say without hesitation: This meeting set a new standard.
Where Science Meets Soul
What made Kraków special was not just the quality of the science, though that was exceptional. It was the spirit and the soul of the meeting.
The sense that we were not simply exchanging data, but building something larger, a global community rooted in kindness, collaboration, and shared purpose.
The Polish hosts demonstrated something profound, that excellence in medicine is not measured solely by research output or technological advancement, but by the ability to bring people together.
To create space for dialogue. To honor history. To celebrate humanity. To remember the past. And to celebrate the future, together.
A Model for the Future
Every international society in Physical Medicine and Rehabilitation should aspire to the standard set in Kraków, where scientific rigor and social connection are not separate domains, but complementary forces.
Where civility, humanity, and connection transcend organizational politics and hierarchy.
Because in the end, the most meaningful progress in medicine happens not only in laboratories, lecture halls, or bureaucratic structures, but in the relationships we build along the way.
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Kategoria: Ogłoszenia PTReh
