For adults with cerebral palsy (CP), spinal stenosis is more than a medical term—it’s pain, weakness, and loss of independence. Yet too often, diagnosis comes late. Why? Because the current system is stacked against us.
Clinicians rely heavily on changes in gait to identify spinal stenosis. But gait is already different for people with CP. That makes it far too easy for serious conditions to be dismissed, delayed, or misdiagnosed. This is not just frustrating—it’s dangerous.
That’s why the work being done at Cleveland Clinic matters. Their research into synthetic AI-trained gait models could be a game changer. By analyzing movement in ways human eyes can’t, AI may finally give clinicians the tools they need to spot spinal stenosis and other neurological conditions earlier and more accurately in adults with CP.
But here’s the truth: promising technology means nothing if it doesn’t reach the people who need it. Adults with CP cannot be left waiting while innovation bypasses us—again. Healthcare systems, researchers, and policymakers must:
- Prioritize adults with lifelong disabilities in testing and development.
- Integrate tools like AI gait analysis into routine care.
- Acknowledge that “standard” diagnostic methods don’t work for everyone.
At Cerebral Palsy Positive, we believe adults with CP deserve healthcare that sees us, not stereotypes about our bodies. AI gait models aren’t just innovation—they’re equity in action. And equity cannot wait.
👉 What you can do right now: Talk to your healthcare team about spinal stenosis and ask how new diagnostic tools—like AI gait analysis—might change the way conditions are detected and treated for adults with CP. Change won’t happen unless we keep pushing for it.
📖 Learn more: Synthetic AI-Trained Gait Models Promise Improved Diagnosis of Neurological Conditions
