Opening Ceremony
The opening ceremony of the conference, which will take place on Friday, marks the beginning of the anniversary activities for the 30th anniversary of the Department, in a climate of celebration but also of substantial reflection.
The event will include official greetings from representatives of the academic community and collaborating institutions, who will highlight the Department's timeless contribution to education, research and health. At the same time, there will be narratives and moments of remembrance that will illuminate important milestones of the 30-year journey, honoring the people who contributed decisively to its formation.
A special place in the ceremony will be held by the graduates of the Department, whose presence and experiences highlight the continuity and impact of its work on society and the professional world. Through personal testimonies and memories, the living connection of past, present and future will be highlighted.
The ceremony aspires to be a meeting point for all members of the academic community, inaugurating a three-day period of scientific dialogue, knowledge exchange and celebration.
Modern Aquatic Therapy: Biomechanics, Neurophysiology & Clinical Innovation
Session 1
Aquatic Therapy in Collaborative Multidisciplinary Healthcare Settings
Dr. Eslam Mohammad Emad, PT, Aquatic Therapy Specialist, Aquatic Therapy Team Lead, Qatar Rehabilitation Institute; Assistant Lecturer, BRRM, IATF, Qatar
Impact of Buoyancy and Hydrostatic Pressure on Paediatric Motor Learning
Dr. Renu Agrawal, MPT, Director and Founder, Milestone Pediatric Rehabilitation Centre, India
Beyond Exercise: Benefits of Aquatherapy in Aging
Dr. Baris Gurpinar, PT, Izmir University of Economics, Faculty of Health Sciences, Department of Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation, Turkey
Innovation in Contemporary Pediatric Aquatic Rehabilitation
Dr. Konstantinos Chandolias, Assistant Professor, Research Laboratory of Health Assessment and Quality of Life, University of Thessaly
Break
Innovations in Cardiorespiratory Physiotherapy & Intensive Care
Session 2
Global Data on Airway Clearance Techniques
Arietta Spinou, Senior Lecturer in Respiratory Physiotherapy, King’s College London, UK
ECMO: Life Support Without Movement Restriction – The Role of Physiotherapy
Angeliki Vasilopoulou, PT, MSc, Specialist Respiratory Physiotherapist, Guy’s and St Thomas’ NHS Foundation Trust, UK
The Future of Rehabilitation in Critically Ill Patients in the ICU
Eirini Patsaki, Assistant Professor, University of West Attica, Greece
Practical Issues in Pulmonary Rehabilitation: Smoking Cessation
Prof. Fotini Malli, University of Thessaly, Greece
Break
Session 3
Modern Neuroscience Concepts of Pain: Beyond Tissue Injury
Prof. Paul Hodges, University of Queensland, Australia; Coordinator(s), IASP Terminology Task Force
Chronic Pelvic Pain: Clinical Advances
Prof. Evdokia Billi, Department of Physiotherapy, University of Patras, Greece
Contemporary Interventional Strategies in Chronic Pain Management
Dr. Aikaterini Bouzia, Assistant Professor, Department of Anesthesiology, University General Hospital of Larissa, University of Thessaly, Greece
Exercise, Behaviour and the Brain: A Biopsychosocial Approach to Pain Rehabilitation
Dr. Paraskevi Bilika, Research Associate, Laboratory of Clinical Exercise Physiology & Rehabilitation, University of Thessaly, Greece
Break
Healthy Aging & Functional Longevity
Session 4
Prescribing Effective Exercise to Prevent Falls
Prof. Dawn Skelton, Professor of Ageing and Health, Glasgow Caledonian University, UK
Active Aging & Rehabilitation
Dr. Ioannis Dionysiotis, Director, 2nd Department of Physical Medicine & Rehabilitation, National Rehabilitation Center (EKA), Greece
Hip Fragility Fractures: The Greek Reality & Current Challenges
Konstantinos Alexiou, Assistant Professor, Laboratory of Human Activity and Rehabilitation, Department of Physiotherapy, University of Thessaly, Greece
Fractures & Injuries in Advanced Age: A 10-Year Epidemiological Analysis (2016–2026)
Athanasios Adam, Orthopaedic Surgeon, Consultant, Orthopaedic Clinic, General Hospital of Lamia, Greece
Lunch Break
Exercise as Medicine: Mechanisms, Dose & Clinical Application
Session 5
Exercise as a “Medicine” for Cardiovascular Health: from prevention to rehabilitation and from cardiology to oncology
Dr. Andriopoulou Maria, General Hospital Asklepieio Voulas, Greece
Cardiac Rehabilitation in Coronary Artery Disease: Contemporary Strategies to Improve Cardiovascular Function
Dr. Konstantinos Davos, Cardiologist, Elected President, European Association of Preventive Cardiology (EAPC); Research Director, Biomedical Research Foundation, Academy of Athens, Greece
Side Effects of Cancer Therapies with Emphasis on Cardiotoxicity: Mechanisms, Incidence and Functional Impact
Dr. Despoina Myrto Dounavi, Physiotherapist, General Hospital Asklepieio Voulas, Greece
Effects of Therapeutic Exercise on Cardiotoxicity (and Overall Toxicity) of Cancer Treatments
Konstantinos Kaliarntas, Assistant Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, University of Patras, Greece
Modern Technologies in Rehabilitation
Session 6
AI-Powered Systems for Health, Well-Being and Assisted Living
Prof. Dimitrios Iakovidis, Department of Informatics with Applications in Biomedicine, University of Thessaly, Greece
Re-thinking Motion Analysis: AI-Driven Decoding of Human Movement Using Electromagnetic Waves
Dr. Georgios Papagiannis, Associate Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, University of Peloponnese, Greece
Neuromuscular Adaptations of Trunk Muscles in Non-Specific Chronic Low Back Pain: Clinical Implications
Dr. Michail Arvanitidis, Postdoctoral Research Fellow, Centre of Precision Rehabilitation for Spinal Pain, University of Birmingham, UK
Break
Sports Physiotherapy & Performance: Innovation in Load Management, Injury Prevention and Return to Sport
Session 7
Where Performance Begins: The Athlete’s Brain
Prof. Stephan Perrey, Head of EuroMov Digital Health in Motion Lab, Université de Montpellier, France
The Tendon–Muscle Mismatch: Why Individual Tendon Properties Must Guide Tendinopathy Rehabilitation
Dr. Vasileios Korakakis, Research Associate, University of Nicosia, Cyprus
Contemporary Rehabilitation – The Aspetar Approach: From Tissue Healing to Performance Restoration
Konstantinos Epameinontidis, Senior Sports Physiotherapist, Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Qatar
Injury Prevention in Youth Sports: Bridging Assessment and Performance
Prof. Eleni Kapreli, Laboratory of Clinical Exercise Physiology & Rehabilitation, Department of Physiotherapy, University of Thessaly, Greece
Break
Education and Research in Physiotherapy and Health Professions
Session 8
Supervising a PhD Candidate
Prof. Emeritus Jackie Oldham, University of Manchester, UK; Honorary Doctor, Department of Physiotherapy, University of Thessaly, Greece
From Collaboration to Innovation: The Contribution of European Partnerships to Health Professions Education
Evangelos Fradelos, Associate Professor, Department of Nursing, University of Thessaly, Greece
Health Professions Education in the Digital Era
Prof. Aris Zimpis, President, School of Medicine, University of Thessaly, Greece
Funding Tools for the Development of Research in Physiotherapy
Dimitrios Skempes, Assistant Professor, Laboratory of Health Assessment and Quality of Life, Department of Physiotherapy, University of Thessaly, Greece
Lunch Break
Pediatric Neurorehabilitation: From Neuroplasticity to Functionality
Session 9
Is There a Future for Bobath and NDT?
Prof. Margaret Mayston, University College London, UK
Neuroplasticity in the Developing Brain
Dr. Eleni Skouteli, MD, Phd, Pediatric Neurologist, President of ELEPAP (Hellenic Society for the Protection and Rehabilitation of Disabled Children), Greece
Red Flags and Gray Flags in Motor Development of Preterm Infants
Thomas Besios, Associate Professor, Department of Physiotherapy, University of Thessaly, Greece
From Prematurity to Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Physiotherapy Approach
Dr. Andreas Petropoulos, Developmental Pediatrician, Adjunct Lecturer, Department of Physiotherapy, University of Thessaly, Greece
