PONI Lab
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ponilabresearch.bsky.social
PONI Lab
@ponilabresearch.bsky.social
11 followers 8 following 120 posts
Welcome to the official Pediatric Onset of Neuromotor Impairments (PONI) Lab page!

Principal Investigator: Dr. Elizabeth G. Condliffe
Contact: (403) 955-5528
Location: Alberta Children's Hospital, Calgary, AB
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ponilabresearch.bsky.social
🔬🌐 Communicating science with impact! On Oct 29, HBI & Tanenbaum hosted the 7th Open Science in Action Symposium. PONI Lab’s Erin, Jess & Amanda shared their work, with Amanda helping organize. A great step toward a more open, inclusive research future. Until next year!
Collage from the 'Open Science in Action 2025 Symposium' post from PONI Lab featuring a banner with institutional logos and a lab scene, a conference presentation, a colorful graphic of a horseshoe labeled 'PONI', and two PONI lab members presenting beside a monitor with research visuals.
November 14, 2025 at 7:38 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
📣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 with a chance to advance projects and interact with research participants.
Apply here:
internal.careers.ucalgary.ca/jobs/1700817...
November 10, 2025 at 8:57 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
Wrapping up our AACPDM series is a poster on a PONI robotic walking study led by Alicia Hilderley (UCalgary). It explores how overground robotic walkers affect kids with mobility impairments — long-term use may boost functional ability and activity. Check it out below!
November 7, 2025 at 10:40 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
📊 Poster power: Jessica, a PhD candidate in the PONI Lab, presented at AACPDM on the impact of robotic-assisted walking on kids with mobility impairments. Check out her poster for more details!
November 7, 2025 at 10:39 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
🗓️ Last Saturday, we went to the CP Kids and Families Neuromotor Resource Expo and shared our work with the Trexo, power training, and the Agilik. 🎤Dr. Condliffe and some of our other lab members were interviewed on CTV News and Radio-Canada:
www.ctvnews.ca/calgary/arti...
www.msn.com/fr-ca/actual...
November 4, 2025 at 10:23 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
🎉 Join us Sat, Nov 1 at the one-day, family-friendly CP Kids & Families Neuromotor Resource Expo in Calgary! Discover expert guidance, assistive tech, inclusive programs & support for kids & young adults with neuromotor disabilities. Register via the link below.
October 27, 2025 at 7:08 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
One of our lab members, kinesiologist Christa, just got back from AACPDM’s annual meeting in New Orleans.📍She presented on implementing robotic walking for kids in schools, showing participants achieved their goals and implementation of this kind of activity may be feasible. Check out her poster!📊
October 20, 2025 at 6:56 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
Kids and teens (3–18) can join a fun motion capture study comparing marker-based vs markerless tech while schools are closed- help science, learn about movement, and earn volunteer hours. Email poni.lab@ucalgary.ca to book a 30-min session!
October 10, 2025 at 4:47 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
We often think of cerebral palsy as a condition that affects children… but it affects adults too!

📖We've created a quick resource to increase understanding about adults with CP among the medical community. Let us know what you think!
www.cmaj.ca/content/197/...
October 6, 2025 at 5:03 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
PONI Lab is launching a new study using the Agilik, a powered lower body orthosis that can assist or resist knee movement as a person walks, to explore how training with it might affect mobility and well-being. Email poni.lab@ucalgary.ca to learn more about the study and your eligibility!
September 29, 2025 at 6:47 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
🧠 🏔️ PONI Lab got their steps in and synapses firing at Neurohike last weekend in Kananaskis! Simon shared results of our Power Training study, while Markus and Elizabeth presented our work on Robotic Walking. Thanks to all those who made it a fun, educational weekend. Until next year! #Neurohike2025
September 26, 2025 at 5:58 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
🚀Meet the Team! Welcome Janelle Gerich, an undergrad UofC neuroscience student. She is excited to contribute to the Resistance Intensive Personal Training (RIPT) project by analyzing patient-reported outcomes. In her free time, Janelle loves hiking, snowboarding, and taking trips with her dog!
September 22, 2025 at 7:40 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
In a recent interview, one of our participant’s parents shared how robotic walking has changed her life – giving her the ability to walk beside her daughter, hand in hand. It’s more than mobility. It’s connection, independence, and moments that matter.
www.cbc.ca/news/canada/...
September 12, 2025 at 4:42 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
🧠✨ PONI Lab in the spotlight!
Dr. Elizabeth Condliffe recently joined the Calgary Eyeopener to share how robotic walking is changing lives for kids with mobility challenges.

UPLIFTS, is bringing Trexos to local schools—making movement more accessible, more often.

www.youtube.com/watch?v=uZHe...
September 9, 2025 at 3:58 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
We’re thrilled to share that our team has received generous support from the Owerko Centre to launch a new program exploring robotic walking devices in schools.

www.ucalgary.ca/news/owerko-...
September 5, 2025 at 5:01 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
📲 Take 20 minutes to make your voice heard: your.alberta.ca/adap/surveys/public

#DisabilityRights #AISH #ADAPAlberta #InclusivePolicy #AlbertaAdvocacy #NothingAboutUsWithoutUs

your.alberta.ca/adap/surveys...
August 29, 2025 at 3:53 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
If you or someone you love is affected by AISH or disability supports, now’s the time to speak up. Your feedback will help shape the future of ADAP—and the survey is open until September 12, 2025.
August 29, 2025 at 3:53 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
🚨 Big changes are coming to disability funding in Alberta. The government is proposing a new Alberta Disability Assistance Program (ADAP), which could impact how income support works for people with severe disabilities who are able to work.
August 29, 2025 at 3:53 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
AACPDM brings together brilliant minds and bold ideas in cerebral palsy research and we’re always grateful to be part of it. From cutting-edge research to real-world feedback, it’s where clinicians, researchers, and people with lived experience come together to shape the future of care
August 25, 2025 at 10:23 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
🧠💬 Calling Alberta Teens!
Do you have a neurodevelopmental disability? Our amazing friends Dr. Katie Birnie & Dr. Melanie Noel are looking for youth voices to help shape the future of healthcare.
Email them or scan the QR code to get involved and make a difference!
#PartneringForPain
August 22, 2025 at 6:30 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
🥍🥊 Looking for something exciting this September?

Check out Adapted Boxing and Inclusive Lacrosse—offered by Lacrossing Barriers and Olympus Boxing Club!

These programs are a fantastic opportunity for children to try a new sport in a welcoming, supportive environment.
August 19, 2025 at 6:33 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
📸 Flashback Friday vibes!

Remember when Alex snagged that 2nd place trophy at the Lifeshots Photo Contest? 🏆 That moment still gives us chills!

Tag us and show us what you’ve got! #LifeshotsContest #PhotoMagic
[image description: A taped-on banner reads “Remember when Alex took home 2nd at the Lifeshots Photo Contest”. There is a polaroid photo of Alex walking in a green Trexo and walking a yellow lab. The caption of the photo reads “Me and my dog, Kasper. This was the very first time I was able to walk my dog independently! Thanks to Trexo Robotics and the PONI Lab for making it possible.” There is a bright yellow 2nd place medallion and a cartoon scrap book on the left side of the post.]
August 15, 2025 at 6:43 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
5/5
One small step for robots, one giant leap for inclusive health! 🤖❤️

📖 Dive into the full study. Let’s spread the word and spark change
journals.humankinetics.com/view/journal...
The title reads “The results are in!!”” Robotic Walking Help Children with Mobility impairments get light physical activity!” “All participants reach light physical activity for at least a minutes.” “Most participants stayed at light physical activity for the entire walk”. There is a cartoon image of a child walking in the Trexo and a graph showing the heart rate of a participant walking in the Trexo.
August 11, 2025 at 3:49 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
4/5
The title reads “Does robotic walking elicit physical activity?” The top blurb is in a green box and reads “Participants engaged in individual sessions across various Trexo modes. The mode in which each participant achieved their highest %HRR was identified as their optimal mode, and the corresponding results are presented.” To the right is cartoon drawing of the Trexo robotic walker. Below is a cartoon heart with a heartbeat and a timer, the red box to the right it reads “Heart rate collected during quiet resting (5 minutes) and while walking in the Trexo.”. In final blurb it says “End of the session determined by the participant to mimic real world walking.”
August 11, 2025 at 3:49 PM
ponilabresearch.bsky.social
3/5
The title says “What is light physical activity and how do we measure it?” On the left side it reads “Heart rate reserve (HRR) is a measures of stress on the cardiorespiratory system relative to resting and maximal heart rate. To the right is the same cartoon heart flexing arm muscles. In the yellow box it says “Heart rate reserve is one way to measure physical activity (PA): Light PA = 20-39% HRR, Moderate PA = 40-69% HRR, Vigorous = >70% HRR.” The green box to the left says “Chest worn heart rate monitor used to collect beat by beat heart rate during resting and activity to calculate HRR”. To the right of the green box is a cartoon drawing of the polar heart rate monitor. The red box is the final blurb on this page and it reads “Physical activity is important but there are limited interventions for those who cannot ambulate independently.”
August 11, 2025 at 3:49 PM