Running Symposium: Metrics and mindsets

Celebrate the opening of the SMA and ASCEP Conference!

Join us at our Running Symposium focused on 'Metrics and Mindsets - From data driven insights to patient-led decisions.'

Learn from our internationally respected keynotes and network with podiatrists and other allied health professsionals from across Australasia.

This symposium is proudly sponsored by Runeasi.

Join us for a dynamic, interactive afternoon designed for podiatrists, physiotherapists, exercise physiologists and allied health professionals dedicated to elevating their management of running-related injuries.

Co-hosted in partnership with Sports Medicine Australia, this symposium bridges the gap between hard biomechanical metrics and the qualitative reality of patient decision-making. Learn how to transform complex gait data and wearable tech metrics into practical, patient-centered clinical strategies.

Presentations

Assistant Professor Chris Napier (Simon Fraser University, Canada) will present on:

Keynote: From Training Load to Tissue Load: Using Wearable Sensors to Inform Running Injury Risk Management
Workshop: Making Running Data Clinically Useful: Practical Gait Analysis Inside and Outside the Clinic

Dr Benjamin Peterson (CQU) will present on:

Workshop title: TBA
Keynote: Five lessons learned from contemporary qualitative and mixed-methods research in running-related injury.

This keynote lecture will explore running-related injury, informed by recent qualitative and mixed-methods research— specifically, five key lessons for clinicians to work more effectively with recreational runners:

Challenging the dichotomy of ‘injured’ and ’not injured’
Male and female recreational runners view running-related injury differently
Health advice, peer-advice, online information, and street cred
Runners’ perspectives of footwear needs and preferences
The role of consumers in shaping the future of running-related injury prevention programs

What to expect

Gain cutting-edge insights on wearable sensor technology, load management, and the latest qualitative research on how runners actually view their injuries.
Step out of the theory and onto the treadmill. Learn real-world gait analysis techniques you can immediately apply inside and outside the clinic.
Connect with peers across podiatry, sports physiotherapy, sports medicine, osteopathy and chiropractic care.

Our sponsors

Special thank you to our Gold Sponsor, Runeasi for supporting our event and our community.

Registration

Registrations will open to non-SEPA members on 21 September, following advance registration access for SEPA members.

SEPA members—check your emails for your early access password.

$150 for SEPA and SMA Members
$240 for Non-Members
$300 Non-Member + SEPA Membership Package (Podiatrists only)

SEPA’s Professional Membership fee is $175 per annum.

Learn more SEPA’s member benefits which include discounted member pricing and advance registration access, plus other great discounts.

Speakers

More speakers to be announced soon. Check back for details.

Assistant Prof. Chris Napier

Dr. Chris Napier, PT, PhD is an Assistant Professor in the Department of Biomedical Physiology & Kinesiology at Simon Fraser University. He also actively practices as a sport physiotherapist at Restore Physiotherapy in downtown Vancouver where he specializes in the treatment of running injuries. Chris obtained his Master of Physiotherapy degree in 2003 and his Diploma of Sport Physiotherapy in 2007. He has a PhD in Running Biomechanics and Injury Prevention from UBC (2018) and completed a Postdoctoral Fellowship in Wearable Technology at SFU in 2020.

His research focuses on biomechanics and training load factors in running-related injury, using lab- and field-based measures. Clinically, he has worked at all levels of sport from weekend warrior to professional level. He is currently a physiotherapist for Athletics Canada and has been a member of the medical team for World Championships, Pan Am Games, Commonwealth Games, Winter Olympics, and Summer Olympics. He is the author of the bestselling book Science of Running and previously served on the Executive Board of the International Sports and Exercise Physiotherapy Association.

Dr Ben Peterson

Dr Benjamin Peterson leads a program of research at CQUniversity related to recreational running, spanning running-related injury, health and wellbeing outcomes of running, and determinants of running participation. Through his research and clinical practice, Benjamin has had the opportunity to work with hundreds of runners across his career ranging from novice runners to elite ultra runners.

Benjamin holds a PhD in Podiatry (running-related injury), a Bachelor of Health Science (Honours), and a Bachelor of Podiatry, and is appointed to the position Senior Lecturer and Head of Course (Podiatry) at CQUniversity. Benjamin lectures in lower limb biomechanics and clinical skills, among other areas of podiatry practice, and currently supervises several research higher degree (masters and PhD) and Honours students undertaking running research projects.