Decoding an Uncommon Gait: An Overview of Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia

In this CME, Elise M. Pearson, MD and Nicholas Sullivan, MD discuss how to strengthen diagnostic skills for identifying Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia and incorporating it into a comprehensive differential diagnosis of neuropathic movement disorders, increase awareness of the genetic characteristics of Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia to guide initial conversations about inheritance and support referral to Genetics, and enhance clinical confidence in developing a treatment plan, which may include physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), and/or botulinum neurotoxin injections.

Educational Objectives 

Upon completion of this activity, participants should be able to:

• Strengthen diagnostic skills for identifying Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia and incorporating it into a comprehensive differential diagnosis of neuropathic movement disorders.
• Increase awareness of the genetic characteristics of Hereditary Spastic Paraplegia to guide initial conversations about inheritance and support referral to Genetics.
• Enhance clinical confidence in developing a treatment plan, which may include physical therapy (PT), occupational therapy (OT), and/or botulinum neurotoxin injections.

Disclosures:

No members of the planning committee, speakers, presenters, authors, content reviewers and/or anyone else in a position to control the content of this education activity have relevant financial relationships with any companies whose primary business is producing, marketing, selling, re-selling, or distributing healthcare products used by or on patients.

Accreditation Statement

In support of improving patient care, the University of Pittsburgh is jointly accredited by the Accreditation Council for Continuing Medical Education (ACCME), the Accreditation Council for Pharmacy Education (ACPE), and the American Nurses Credentialing Center (ANCC), to provide continuing education for the healthcare team.

The University of Pittsburgh designates enduring material activity for a maximum of 0.50 AMA PRA Category 1 Credit[s]™. Physicians should claim only the credit commensurate with the extent of their participation in the activity.

Other health care professionals will receive a certificate of attendance confirming the number of contact hours commensurate with the extent of participation in this activity.

For your credit transcript, please access our website 4 weeks post-completion at http://ccehs.upmc.com and follow the link to the Credit Transcript page.

Release Date: 10/6/2026 | Last Modified On: 10/6/2026 | Expires: 10/6/2027