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Dr Katie Walker-Small

University of Cumbria, Programme Leader for Sport Rehabilitation

I have worked in academia over the past 8 years, as Programme Leader for Sport Rehabilitation at the University of Cumbria. My role involves the teaching and learning of undergraduate students as well as supervising them during placements.

It was through this that I was contacted by Brathay regarding students performing placement with the 10in10 runners during the 2014 10in10 event. From then onwards, my involvement with, and love for the charity and event has only continued to grow. I currently work alongside Lead Therapist for the event, Adam Smith, to supervise students who work on the runners (don’t mention ‘elbows in the glutes’!).

I consider myself a ‘geek’, as research is my passion. I hold a PhD in Sports Injuries and use this background to help me perform research at the event and with the runners. The outcome of my most recent work has investigated common injuries the runners sustain, as well as when during the 10in10, and why some are more likely to sustain them than others. From this, it has helped inform ongoing injury prevention advice and strategies given to the runners, because let’s face it, it’s a pretty tough event where they do tend to pick up a little niggle or two!!

Outside of the lecture room or my nose from a research article, I’ll take part in anything to help keep me fit. This ranges from HIIT training, cycling, swimming, weight training and even the ASICS Windermere marathon itself in 2015 having been so inspired by the 2014 runners and appreciation of the cause of their efforts for the charity.

Just trying to help the charity through helping the runners; one tight Achilles tendon at a time!!!

Experience

  • 2006: Sport Rehabilitation with Salford City Reds Rugby League
  • 2008: Presented early PhD research at 1st World Conference on Science & Soccer
  • 2009: Completed PhD – “Effects of soccer-specific fatigue on hamstring injury risk”
  • 2010: Presented PhD research at Sports Science & Medicine Conference
  • 2013: Cumbrian Run Half Marathon (…discovered I could run!)
  • 2014: Cumbrian Run Half Marathon (…discovered I could run a little faster)
  • 2015: ASICS Windermere Marathon (with a sprint finish to finish under 4 hours)
  • 2016: Injury Prevention Research with Carlisle United FC
  • 2017: Presented Brathay 10in10 research at IOC World Conference on Prevention of Illness & Injury in Sport

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