Formerly a gym instructor and physical education subject leader, in 2020 Conrad completed an MSc in Sport and Health Sciences at the University of Exeter, focusing on exercise and complex health conditions such as juvenile idiopathic arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis. Following this, he undertook a PhD at the University of Plymouth, researching the feasibility, safety and physiological, mechanistic and clinical effects of high-intensity interval training for people with Parkinson’s disease.
In 2024, Conrad joined the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University as a Research Associate, working with Dr Elizabeth Stamp.
Conrad is currently working alongside Dr Elizabeth Stamp, to co-create and pilot a novel health behaviour intervention for remote workers.
Conrad is a strong advocate of drug-free strength sports, and regularly competes in international powerlifting. He is currently the BDFPA British, and WDFPF European and World single lift bench champion (M3,100kg category).
Featured publications
- Harpham, C., Harpham, Q.K. and Barker, A.R., 2022. The effect of exercise training programs with aerobic components on C‐reactive protein, erythrocyte sedimentation rate and self‐assessed disease activity in people with ankylosing spondylitis: A systematic review and meta‐analysis. International journal of rheumatic diseases, 25(6), pp.635-649. DOI: 10.1111/1756-185X.14315
- Harpham, C., Gunn, H., Marsden, J. and Connolly, L., 2023. The feasibility, safety, physiological and clinical effects of high-intensity interval training for people with Parkinson’s: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Aging clinical and experimental research, 35(3), pp.497-523. DOI: 10.1007/s40520-022-02330-6
- Harpham, C., Gunn, H., Marsden, J. and Connolly, L., 2023. Co-creating a feasible, acceptable and safe home-based high-intensity interval training programme for people with Parkinson’s: the HIIT-Home4Parkinson’s study. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 20(9), p.5671. DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20095671
- Harpham, C., Gunn, H., Marsden, J., Bescos Garcia, R. and Connolly, L., 2024. Home‐based high‐intensity interval training for people with Parkinson's: Protocol for the HIIT‐Home4Parkinson's randomized, controlled feasibility study. Health Science Reports, 7(1), p.e1800. DOI: 10.1002/hsr2.1800