parkrun Research Board Seminar Series - parkrun & arthritis

parkrun organises free, weekly, timed five kilometre events in parks across the world. Beginning as a time trial back in 2004 with just thirteen people, parkrun now attracts around 400,000 people every weekend across 22 countries worldwide.
In this seminar we will discuss a really common condition- arthritis. Our global parkrun survey told us that many people are running, walking and volunteering in parkrun while living with this condition. We will explain what arthritis is, what creates the symptoms and how exercise can really help manage it. We will bust some myths about running and walking with arthritis, and give some tips on how to get the best out of participating in an exercise programme (particularly parkrun!) to help this condition.
Speakers for this event include:
Dr Fiona Wilson
Fiona Wilson is a Chartered Physiotherapist and an Associate Professor in the School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin, where she is Head of the Discipline of Physiotherapy. She has over 30 years of experience in clinical physiotherapy, teaching and research. Her research focuses on the role of exercise in pain and injury with a specific emphasis on back pain. She has published widely on the role of exercise and physical activity in managing pain and improving well-being in inflammatory arthritis. Combining her clinical experience and research findings she has a passion for designing exercise and activity programmes that can make a meaningful contribution to improving the life of people with arthritis.
Professor Ursula Fearon
Ursula Fearon is Professor of Molecular Rheumatology, School of Medicine, Trinity College Dublin. She is an international leader in translational rheumatology with a focus on preclinical development of biotherapeutics for the early treatment of arthritis and systemic rheumatic diseases. In recognition of this, Professor Fearon and colleagues received the award of European Centre of Excellence in rheumatology by the European League against Rheumatism (EULAR) in 2015. Prof Fearon’s research focuses on understanding the underlying mechanisms that drive diseases development and examining components of joint inflammation at a cellular and molecular level in patients who have inflammatory arthritis and rheumatic diseases
Dr Laura Durcan
Laura Durcan MD, FRCPI is a Consultant Rheumatologist, physician and Associate Clinical Professor in the Royal College of Surgeons Ireland. Her sub-speciality interests are in systemic lupus erythematosus, women’s health and in exercise in inflammatory disease.