Sedentary behaviour and physical activity interventions for people living with Rheumatoid Arthritis

Career overview

Dr Sally A. M. Fenton obtained both her BSc in Sport and Exercise Sciences in 2008 and her PhD in Sport and Exercise Psychology in 2014 from the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Birmingham. Following the completion of her PhD, she served as a Post-doctoral Research Fellow, collaborating across the University of Birmingham and the Dudley NHS Foundation Trust on projects focused on physical activity and sedentary behaviour change in patients with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). In October 2017, Dr Fenton was appointed as a Lecturer in Lifestyle Behaviour Change and was promoted to Associate Professor in 2021. She has recently been awarded an NIHR Advanced Fellowship for the MISSION-RA project, which she will undertake until November 2027. Dr Fenton''s research primarily centres on the development, delivery, and evaluation of theory-based interventions aimed at promoting physical activity, particularly within clinical populations. She also possesses expertise in device-based assessments of physical activity and sedentary behaviour, utilising tools such as accelerometers and commercial wearables for intervention evaluation.

Research interests

Dr Sally A. M. Fenton''s research focuses on the development, delivery, and evaluation of theory-based interventions to promote physical activity, particularly among clinical populations. She has expertise in device-based assessments of physical activity and sedentary behaviour, utilising tools such as accelerometers and commercial wearables for both intervention purposes and to evaluate intervention efficacy. Dr Fenton aims to validate device-based measures of physical activity and sedentary behaviour and investigates their role in health and disease, with a recent emphasis on individuals living with Rheumatoid Arthritis (RA). Her current projects include developing motivation-theory grounded interventions to enhance physical activity and reduce sedentary behaviour in clinical populations, including patients awaiting liver transplants, those with lung cancer, and individuals with RA. Additionally, she leads research on behaviour change interventions to increase movement and decrease sitting time in cohorts associated with the NIHR Birmingham Biomedical Research Centre (BRC). Dr Fenton has been awarded an NIHR Advanced Fellowship for the MISSION-RA project, which focuses on innovative intervention development methods that integrate theory and data science to support physical activity in people with RA.

Prof Jet Veldhuijzen van Zanten's profile is coming soon

Career overview

Professor Joan Duda is a Professor of Sport and Exercise Psychology at the School of Sport, Exercise and Rehabilitation Sciences at the University of Birmingham and an Adjunct Professor in the Faculty of Psychology at the University of Bergen, Norway. She completed her Bachelor of Arts in psychology at Rutgers University in 1977, followed by a Master of Science in physical education at Purdue University in 1978, and a PhD in Sport Psychology/Kinesiology at the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign in 1981. Professor Duda is internationally recognised for her expertise in motivational processes and determinants of adherence and optimal functioning in sport, exercise, and dance. She has extensive experience as a mental skills consultant, working with athletes, coaches, and performers at various competitive levels. Professor Duda is the Director of a significant multinational project funded by the European Commission, aimed at promoting quality engagement in youth sport. Her research interests include developing, implementing, and evaluating theory-based interventions across healthy and clinical populations throughout the lifespan. She leads the Motivating Healthy Lifestyle theme within the Centre for Obesity Research and is associated with the Centre on Healthy Ageing and the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Movement. In addition to her research, Professor Duda has held various leadership roles within professional organisations, including serving as Past-President of the Association for the Advancement of Applied Sport Psychology and being a member of the executive boards of several prestigious societies. She has published over 220 scientific and applied papers and book chapters, and has edited significant works in the field of sport and exercise psychology. Professor Duda has been an invited keynote speaker globally and has received numerous accolades, including an honorary doctoral degree from the Norwegian School of Sport Sciences in 2008. She has been involved in high-profile projects with substantial funding and has contributed to the development of mental skills training programmes for various sports, including her role with the USA Gymnastics Women’s Artistic National Team during the 1996 Atlanta Olympics. Currently, she continues to consult with elite athletes and coaches, focusing on performance excellence and motivational strategies.

Research interests

Professor Duda''s research focuses on motivational processes and determinants of adherence and optimal functioning in sport, exercise, and dance. She is experienced in developing, implementing, and evaluating theory-based interventions in both healthy and clinical populations across the lifespan. Her work integrates major theoretical frameworks and methodological advancements, employing both field and lab-based studies with sophisticated quantitative techniques and qualitative approaches. Professor Duda leads the Motivating Healthy Lifestyle theme within the Centre for Obesity Research and is associated with the Centre on Healthy Ageing and the Institute of Sport, Exercise and Movement. She has contributed significantly to the field through her roles in various professional organisations and editorial boards, and has published over 220 scientific and applied papers and book chapters.