The Sports Medicine Association of Catania, in collaboration with the IRCCS Bonino Pulejo Neurolesi Center of Messina, is organizing a conference entitled “Sports medicine at the service of the Paralympic athlete” at the Nettuno hotel in Catania on 28 November 2025. A unique opportunity for doctors, physiotherapists and psychologists to explore the role of sports medicine in optimizing the performance and well-being of the Paralympic athlete.
Topics such as functional assessment and injury prevention, multidisciplinary approach to rehabilitation, psychological and motivational support, innovative technologies and protocols will be covered.
Industry experts with direct experience in the Paralympic world will be present as speakers, who will share clinical cases, operational strategies and good practices. The objective of the event is to contribute to the evolution of inclusive sports medicine and spread practical skills that can be used in the world of work. The initiative has the patronage of Panathlon International and Inail. Numerous registrations, which far exceeded the planned number, a sign of the wide interest aroused by a unique topic of its kind.
Speakers include leading professionals such as Marco Bernardi, associate professor and delegate for sport for people with disabilities at La Sapienza University of Rome; Natalizia Gullì, health superintendent of the Sicily Inail regional directorate; Alessandro Arcigli, national technical director of disabled table tennis; Rocco Calabrò, neurologist responsible for research and technological innovation IRCCS Messina; Michele Vecchio, director of the specialization school in physical and rehabilitation medicine at the University of Catania; Maria Pia Onesta, director of the spinal unit of the Cannizzaro hospital in Catania; Pietro D’Aleo, director of UOSD cardiology and Utic IRCCS Messina; Roberto Trifirò, head of the UOSD rehabilitation medicine for amputee patients Asp Messina; Giuseppe Quattrocchi, director of the UOC rehabilitation of adults and minors Asp 5 Messina; Roberta Cascio, vice president of Fisdir Sicily; Michele Rosa, sports nutritionist; Francesco Speciale, sports doctor and director of cardiology at IRCCS Messina; Graziella Zitelli, psychologist and psychotherapist; Vittorio Virzì, regional training manager of Fmsi Palermo.
The moderators of the various sessions include Diana Artuso, director of the Inail Catania territorial management; Gennaro La Delfa, cardiologist and sports medicine specialist; Graziano De Santis, head of sports medicine and expert in musculoskeletal ultrasound Asp 8 Siracusa; Davide Ferioli, master’s degree in science and techniques of preventive and adapted physical activities from the University of Messina; Ludovico Magaudda, governor of the 09 Sicily Panathlon International area and former director of the specialization school in sports medicine at the University of Messina; Giuseppe Musumeci, professor of exercise and sports sciences at the University of Catania; Angelo Quartarone, scientific director of IRCCS Messina.
Great effort was made in organizing the event by Francesco Paolo Maccarione, president of the Sports Medical Association of Catania, and by Maurizio Lanza, general director of the IRCCS Bonino Pulejo Neurolesi Center of Messina.