Where dermatology meets sport
- Ivan Bristow
- May 1
- 2 min read
Are you adventurous and looking for a new challenge? Have you considered volunteering to assist runners competing in an ultra marathon? Perhaps the last thing you think about when someone says Ultra marathons, is dermatology. You’re imaging lots of MSK injuries, heat stroke, dehydration, exhaustion etc. But in reality, the vast majority of injuries are blisters and more blisters.
Marathon Des Sables - Dermatology and Sport
The Marathon des Sables are ultra marathons with a difference. Now taking place all over the world, including Turkey, Namibia and Peru. The original MDS Legendary event being a gruelling 250km race over 6 days in the southern Moroccan Sahara.
In 2024, UK Podiatrists were recruited by the MDS for the first time to volunteer managing the variety of injuries and illnesses the runners encountered. Here podiatrists, Sean Savage and Michelle Reynolds chat with four of those podiatrists about their experiences, and hopefully answer some of the questions you want to know about what it’s like to volunteer at an ultra marathon event.
Sean is a specialist in podiatric sports medicine. Based in Belfast, Sean has a post- graduate qualification in Podiatric Sports Medicine. He has also completed a Diagnostic MSK Ultrasonography Qualification. Sean lectures nationally and internationally to the podiatric and orthopaedic professions. Sean is the secretary of the Royal College of Podiatry Special Advisory Group for Podiatric Sports Medicine.
Michelle Reynolds is a podiatrist in private practice in Stockport. She has an MSc in
Dermatology and is a member of the Royal College of Podiatry Special Advisory
Group for Dermatology in Podiatry.
If you would like to chat with the podiatrists interviewed in this webinar, they can be
contacted by email:
Emma Barnes ultrafeet@hotmail.com
Lindsey Ebbs info@blisterhelp.co.uk
Peter Gauntlett peter@southlondonfootclinic.co.uk
Anne Marie Brodrick annemarie@brodrickspodiatry.com
Alternatively you can contact Michelle via michelle@mrpodiatrist.co.uk or Sean via
