Conference Report: 9th Asia-Oceanian Conference of Physical & Rehabilitation Medicine (AOCPRM 2025)

Introduction

The 9th Asia-Oceanian Conference of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (AOCPRM), held in conjunction with the 16^th Annual Malaysian Rehabilitation Medicine Conference, took place from 21–23 August 2025 at the Setia SPICE Convention Centre in Penang, Malaysia. AOCPRM is the flagship biennial conference of the Asia-Oceanian Society of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine (AOSPRM), uniting clinicians, researchers, educators, allied health professionals, industry stakeholders, and policymakers from across the region. With the theme “Future Proofing Rehabilitation: Building Solid Foundations, Embracing Change,” the meeting addressed the evolving role of rehabilitation in the face of demographic shifts, technological transformation, and growing health system demands. The conference provided a vibrant platform for knowledge exchange, skills development, and cross-border collaboration.

AOCPRM 2025 attracted an impressive number of participants, with 1337 delegates from 34 countries across Asia, Oceania, and beyond. This wide representation reinforced the conference as a true regional platform for collaboration. The delegate composition reflected the multidisciplinary nature of rehabilitation. Attendees included rehabilitation physicians, physiotherapists, occupational therapists, speech and language therapists, nurses, biomedical engineers, researchers, educators, industry stakeholders and policymakers. This mixture of expertise fostered rich interdisciplinary dialogue and strengthened the spirit of collaboration.

Spanning four days, the programme combined pre-conference workshops, keynote and plenary lectures, parallel symposia, mini-workshops, and abstract presentations.

• Pre-conference workshops (10 total): Delivered by both international and local experts, these sessions offered hands-on training in specialised areas including spasticity management in adults and children, dysphagia, fascia and regenerative intervention, nerve hydrodissection, critical care rehabilitation, ultrasound masterclass, and integrated pain management. Their multidisciplinary scope catered to clinicians, therapists, and researchers alike.
• Keynote Lecture: Professor Jianan Li opened the scientific programme with his address “Accelerators and Disruptors: How Does AI Shape the Future of Rehabilitation?” which set the tone for discussions on innovation and preparedness.
• Plenary Lectures (8 total): Highlights included:
• Professor Fary Khan (Australia): Evolving Role of Rehabilitation Medicine: Emerging Trends in Global Health
• Professor Eiichi Saitoh (Japan): The Evolving Landscape of Dysphagia Management
• Professor Der Sheng Han (South Korea): Revisiting Guidelines for Frailty
• Professor Michael Nilsson (Australia): The Translational Turn: Integrating Lab Discoveries and Real-World Data in Rehabilitation Research
• Professor Zaliha Omar (Malaysia): Staying Relevant in Rehabilitation Medicine Academic Capacity Building
• Professor Shi-Uk Lee (Republic of Korea): Health Policy and System Research in Strengthening Rehabilitation
• Professor Sheng Bi (China): Targeted Muscle Reinnervation (TMR) and Intelligent Prosthetic Limb Fitting
• Doctor Mary Elizabeth Nelson-Biersach (USA): Enhancing Rehabilitation Care: The Role and Potential of Rehabilitation Nursing

The 29 parallel symposia covered diverse domains including neurorehabilitation, spinal cord injury, musculoskeletal medicine, neuromodulation, paediatrics, cardiopulmonary care, cancer rehabilitation, pain management, and advanced care planning. Several sessions focused on emerging frontiers such as telehealth and remote monitoring systems, virtual and augmented reality in rehabilitation and regenerative medicine approaches. This balance between established practice and innovation ensured that the scientific content was both comprehensive and forward-looking.

In line with the conference’s commitment to inclusivity and accessibility, AOCPRM 2025 introduced a dedicated Mandarin-language session. This initiative enabled delegates from Mandarin-speaking regions to engage more deeply in scientific exchange, ensuring that language was not a barrier to participation. The session created a welcoming platform for sharing research, clinical practices, and policy perspectives in rehabilitation medicine within a culturally and linguistically familiar context. By broadening access and encouraging dialogue across linguistic boundaries, the Mandarin session reinforced the conference’s values of diversity, collaboration, and equitable knowledge dissemination.

AOCPRM 2025 received 494 abstract submissions from 22 countries, reflecting its global reach. Submissions spanned six thematic areas: Basic Science, Biomedical Engineering, Clinical Science, Epidemiology and Policy, Rehabilitation Practice, and Therapeutics. The top contributors are Malaysia (163), China (143), Taipei Chinese (41), Indonesia (35), and Japan (35). Of these, 11 were shortlisted for the Best Young Scientist Award, 79 for Best Oral Award, 20 for the Best Poster Award and the remaining 384 as e-poster presentations. These awards underscored the society’s commitment to nurturing young talent and maintaining high scientific standards.

AOCPRM 2025 also positioned itself as a conference with purpose, embedding environmental, social, and governance (ESG) principles throughout its planning and delivery. The Setia SPICE Convention Centre, a certified green facility, was deliberately chosen to reflect responsible governance and sustainable venue selection. In line with minimising environmental impact, plastic bottles were not used, delegates were provided with recyclable-material lanyards, and the programme was delivered through a digital conference e-book to reduce paper waste. An ESG survey and carbon footprint tracker further engaged participants, allowing them to reflect on and contribute to the conference’s sustainability efforts. A symbolic tree planting ceremony underscored the commitment to leaving a lasting positive environmental impact beyond the event. 

AOCPRM 2025 was a landmark event that celebrated rehabilitation’s achievements while charting its future. With its strong scientific content, recognition of emerging researchers, and forward-looking discussions, the conference truly embodied its theme of “Future Proofing Rehabilitation.” The momentum generated in Penang will carry forward into future AOSPRM activities and upcoming AOCPRM conferences, ensuring that the field remains resilient, inclusive, and ready to meet the challenges ahead.

For more details about the meeting, please read the Abstract Book（https://heyzine.com/flip-book/845fd577cf.html）.