Podcasts

In the final episode of the Spasticity Unlocked series, we shift the focus to what matters most: the patient. Episode 4: Managing the Patient Journey brings the conversation full circle by featuring both expert insight and lived experience. Dr. Emily Stevens is joined by patient Gerard Sewell, offering a powerful and personal perspective on navigating life with spasticity. Together, they explore the full patient journey, from diagnosis to long-term management, highlighting the real challenges, needs, and opportunities for better care. Gerard’s story underscores the importance of truly listening to patients, while Dr. Stevens provides clinical context on how care teams can better support individuals in their journey. This closing episode reinforces a key message: effective spasticity management isn’t just about treatment, it’s about understanding the person behind the condition. Don’t miss the powerful conclusion to our Spasticity Unlocked series! Supported by Ipsen.

Part of the Spasticity Unlocked: Expert Insights for Clinical Practice series, this episode focuses on treatment pathways and decision-making in spasticity care. Join Dr. Li Khim Kwah and guest expert Prof. Richard Zorowitz as they take a practical, patient-centered approach to treatment, covering when to initiate therapy, how to select appropriate interventions, and how to tailor strategies based on individual patient needs and goals. From rehabilitation approaches to pharmacological and interventional options, the discussion highlights the importance of a multidisciplinary framework and timely intervention to optimize outcomes. Key considerations around treatment sequencing, goal-setting and long-term management are also addressed. Supported by Ipsen.

Part of the Spasticity Unlocked: Expert Insights for Clinical Practice series and building on the foundational concepts from Episode 1, this episode sets the stage for a deeper understanding of spasticity clinical diagnosis. Join Dr. Shamala Thilarajah and guest expert Dr. Theodore Wein as they unpack the key tools and clinical scales used in the assessment of spasticity, with a strong focus on identifying important red flags that should not be missed. The conversation goes beyond checklists, exploring how clinical reasoning, patient presentation and subtle warning signs come together to guide accurate diagnosis and timely intervention. Common challenges, potential pitfalls, and real-world considerations are addressed to support more confident and effective decision-making. Supported by Ipsen.

Welcome to the fourth episode of From Paper to Practice, a podcast series of the World Stroke Academy and the International Journal of Stroke. In this episode, Assoc. Prof. Vasileios Lioutas and Dr. Laura Benjamin explore the latest insights from the recently published paper “Stroke and HIV: Emerging mechanisms and management in a changing epidemic.” As antiretroviral therapy has transformed HIV into a chronic condition, stroke has emerged as a significant and often under-recognized complication. People living with HIV face an increased risk of stroke, often at a younger age, driven by a complex interplay of factors including HIV-associated vasculopathy, chronic inflammation, opportunistic infections, and traditional vascular risk factors accelerated by HIV and its treatment. This conversation bridges cutting-edge research with real-world clinical practice, offering practical insights for clinicians navigating this evolving field.
Reference: Phiri TE, Holroyd KB, Bernard Healey SA, Mallon DH, Benjamin LA. Stroke and HIV: Emerging mechanisms and management in a changing epidemic. International Journal of Stroke. 2026;0(0). doi:10.1177/17474930261424713, https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/17474930261424713

Part of the Spasticity Unlocked: Expert Insights for Clinical Practice series, this episode sets the stage for a deeper understanding of spasticity in clinical care. Join Prof. Octavio Pontes Neto and Dr. Gerard Francisco as they explore the fundamentals of spasticity, going beyond definitions to unpack its underlying causes and mechanisms. The discussion highlights the often-overlooked impact of spasticity on patients’ daily lives, function, and quality of life, emphasizing why early recognition and understanding are essential. Designed for healthcare professionals, this episode provides a strong clinical foundation to support better assessment, decision-making, and patient-centered care—preparing you for the practical insights covered in the rest of the series. Supported by Ipsen.

The third episode of From Paper to Practice, a podcast series of the World Stroke Academy and the International Journal of Stroke with Dr. Ana Claudia de Souza and Dr. Cheryl Carcel discusses the recently published scientific statement, Addressing sex and gender differences in stroke risk and management: A scientific statement from the World Stroke Organization. How do biological sex and gender-related factors influence stroke risk, treatment, and outcomes? Why do women face unique risk factors—such as pregnancy-related conditions, menopause, and hormone therapy—and why are they often less likely to receive timely acute stroke treatment? In this episode, we explore the evidence behind these disparities and discuss what clinicians, researchers, and health systems can do to deliver more equitable stroke prevention and care worldwide. Reference: Carcel C, Sandset EC, Ali M, et al. Addressing sex and gender differences in stroke risk and management: A scientific statement from the World Stroke Organization. International Journal of Stroke. 2026;21(3):303-323. doi:10.1177/17474930251393009