Orla is a Chartered Physiotherapist in private practice and a PhD student at University College Dublin. She holds a BSc. Physiotherapy (RCSI), and an MSc. Sports and Exercise Medicine (TCD). Orla has been working in musculoskeletal physiotherapy for the past 13 years and has gained experience working both in Ireland and the Middle-East.
Orla is currently completing her PhD research at UCD, which includes investigating the feasibility and acceptability of delivering synchronous online pain management programmes for adults with chronic pain.
- Year of PhD: Jan 2020- June 2023
- Supervisor(s): Catherine Doody, Brona Fullen
- Title of PhD: The MOVE-Online Trial- An investigation of a combined Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction and Exercise pain management programme, delivered live online for adults with chronic pain.
PhD Summary
The MOVE-Online trial is a parallel-group, feasibility randomised controlled trial that will be conducted among adults with chronic pain in Ireland. The research aims to explore the acceptability and feasibility of delivering a combined Mindfulness-Based Stress Reduction (MBSR) and exercise online programme for adults with chronic pain and to examine the feasibility of conducting a future fully powered randomised controlled trial to assess the effectiveness of a combined MBSR and exercise online programme compared with an online self-management guide.
The research will also include a qualitative study to explore individual experiences of participating in the MBSR and exercise intervention and their experience of the online delivery method. The qualitative investigation aims to increase understanding of the participants’ acceptability of the intervention and its live, interactive, online delivery method.
In addition, a secondary exploratory investigation of the effects of MBSR combined with exercise, on measures of nervous system sensitivity, in individuals participating in the MOVE-Online trial will be carried out. This investigation involves comparing quantitative sensory testing techniques, including pressure pain thresholds, conditioned pain modulation and temporal summation measures prior to and following participation in the online pain management programme.
Publications
Deegan, O., Fullen, B. M., Casey, M. B., Segurado, R., Hearty, C., & Doody, C. M. (2022). Combined online interactive mindfulness and exercise programme (MOVE-Online) compared with a self-management guide for adults with chronic pain: protocol for a randomised controlled feasibility trial. BMJ open, 12(2), e058265. (opens in a new window)https://doi.org/10.1136/bmjopen-2021-058265
Presentations
Platform
EFIC European Congress in Pain, Dublin, Ireland. June 2022.
Oral presentation (Irish Pain Society Meeting)
‘Combined online interactive mindfulness and exercise (MOVE-Online) compared with a self-management
guide for adults with chronic pain: A randomised controlled feasibility trial.’
Poster
IASP World Congress in Pain (virtual conference). June 2021.
‘Mindfulness Combined with Exercise Online (MOVE) Compared with a Self-Management Guide for Adults with Chronic Pain: Study protocol for a Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial.’
UCD College of Health and Agricultural Sciences, Graduate Research Student Symposium. April 2022
‘Combined online interactive mindfulness and exercise programme (MOVE-Online) compared with a self-management guide for adults with chronic pain: a randomised controlled feasibility trial’
EFIC European Congress in Pain, Dublin, Ireland. June 2022.
‘The MOVE-Online Trial: a qualitative study of participants perceptions following a mindfulness and exercise pain management programme for chronic pain’
IASP World Congress in Pain, Toronto, Canada. September 2022.
‘Mindfulness Combined with Exercise Online (MOVE) Compared with a Self-Management Guide for
Adults with Chronic Pain: A Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial.’
4th European Congress on Clinical Trials in Pain (SOPATE), Vienna, Austria. (accepted, to be presented Dec 2022)
‘Mindfulness Combined with Exercise Online (MOVE) Compared with a Self-Management Guide for Adults with Chronic Pain: A Feasibility Randomised Controlled Trial.’