Franzén group
Research focus
Focus is on translational research from exploring neuronal mechanisms to clinical interventions/implementation in the field of neurological and geriatric rehabilitation. Our areas of special interest are balance control, exercise, physical activity and falls in elderly, individuals with Parkinson’s disease and spinal cord injury.
Research projects or activities include the following:
- BETA- PD: Balance Elderly Training and Activity in Parkinson’s disease
- Falls in traumatic spinal cord injury – A Swedish - Norwegian, cohort study.
- Traumatic spinal cord injuries etiology, clinical characteristics and mortality in an international perspective
- Preoperativ exercise - Better in Better out.
- Adults living with spina bifida -Physical function and cognitive impairments
- Effects on functioning and immune markers of a highly challenging balance training program (HiBalance) specific to multiple sclerosis – a randomized controlled study
Group leader
Erika Franzén
| Phone: | +46-(0)8-524 888 78 |
| Organizational unit: | Sektionen för fysioterapi |
| E-mail: | Erika.Franzen@ki.se |
Group members
Elisabeth Rydwik, Associate professor
Lena Nilsson Wikmar, Professor
Kirsti Skavberg-Roaldsen, Associate professor
Niklas Löfgren, Postdoc
Linda Rennie, PhD student
Conran Joseph, Postdoc
Breiffni Leavy, Postdoc
Emelie Karlsson, PhD student
Hanna Johansson, PhD student
Martina Bendt, PhD Student
Tobias Holmlund, PhD Student
Malin Freidle, PhD Student
Andreas Wallin, PhD Student
Petra Koski, research assistant
Former members
David Conradsson, PhD
Inka Löwenmark, PhD
Vivien Jörgensen, PhD
HÃ¥kan Nero, PhD
Caroline Forsell, Postdoc
Collaborators and partners
European Network for Action on Aging and Physical Activity (EUNAAPA)
Karolinska Institutet (IMM, NVS, Clinical Neuroscience)
Karolinska University Hospital
KTH
McGill University
Netherlands Organisation for Applied Scientific Research, TNO
Rehabstation Stockholm och Spinalis
Sunnaas Rehabiliteringssjukhus
University of Oslo
Oslo Metropolitan University
Uppsala University
South General Hospital, Stockholm
Ersta Hospital, Stockholm
Financial support
The Swedish research council
FORTE
VÃ¥rdal stiftelsen
AFA Insurance
Erasmus Action 2 for South Africa (European Commission)
EU- operating grants
National School in Health Care Sciences
NEURO Sweden
Sida
Stockholm County Council research funds
StratNeuro, Karolinska Institutet
Swedish Parkinson foundation
Parkinson research foundation
Selected scientific publications
Falls and fear of falling predict future falls and related injuries in ambulatory individuals with spinal cord injury: a longitudinal observational study.
J Physiother 2017 Apr;63(2):108-113
Monitoring training activity during gait-related balance exercise in individuals with Parkinson's disease: a proof-of-concept-study.
BMC Neurol 2017 Jan;17(1):19
High incidence of falls and fall-related injuries in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury: A prospective study of risk indicators.
J Rehabil Med 2017 Jan;49(2):144-151
Pre- and unplanned walking turns in Parkinson's disease - Effects of dopaminergic medication.
Neuroscience 2017 01;341():18-26
Objectively Assessed Physical Activity and its Association with Balance, Physical Function and Dyskinesia in Parkinson's Disease.
J Parkinsons Dis 2016 10;6(4):833-840
"Pushing the Limits": Rethinking Motor and Cognitive Resources After a Highly Challenging Balance Training Program for Parkinson Disease.
Phys Ther 2017 01;97(1):81-89
Investigating the Mini-BESTest's construct validity in elderly with Parkinson's disease.
Acta Neurol. Scand. 2017 Jun;135(6):614-621
Depressive symptoms associated with concerns about falling in Parkinson's disease.
Brain Behav 2016 10;6(10):e00524
Factors Associated With Recurrent Falls in Individuals With Traumatic Spinal Cord Injury: A Multicenter Study.
Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2016 11;97(11):1908-1916
Concerns about falling in wheelchair users with spinal cord injury--validation of the Swedish version of the spinal cord injury falls concern scale.
Spinal Cord 2016 Feb;54(2):115-9
Is highly challenging and progressive balance training feasible in older adults with Parkinson's disease?
Arch Phys Med Rehabil 2014 May;95(5):1000-3
The Effects of Highly Challenging Balance Training in Elderly With Parkinson's Disease: A Randomized Controlled Trial.
Neurorehabil Neural Repair 2015 Oct;29(9):827-36
Translation and validation of the Swedish version of the mini-BESTest in subjects with Parkinson's disease or stroke: a pilot study.
Physiother Theory Pract 2012 Oct;28(7):509-14
A novel conceptual framework for balance training in Parkinson's disease-study protocol for a randomised controlled trial.
BMC Neurol 2012 Sep;12():111
Reduced performance in balance, walking and turning tasks is associated with increased neck tone in Parkinson's disease.
Exp. Neurol. 2009 Oct;219(2):430-8
Is active sitting as active as we think?
Ergonomics 2013 ;56(8):1304-14
Joseph, C., Mji, G., Mlenzana, N., De Wet, C., Statham, S., & Rhoda, A. (2013). Changes in activity limitations and predictors of functional outcome of patients with spinal cord injury following in-patient rehabilitation. South African Journal of Physiotherapy, 69(1), 47-53.
Effects of physical training on physical performance in institutionalised elderly patients (70+) with multiple diagnoses.
Age Ageing 2004 Jan;33(1):13-23
Aspects of reliability and validity of the Swedish version of the Self-Efficacy for Exercise Scale for older people.
Physiother Theory Pract 2014 Feb;30(2):131-7
Effects of a physical and nutritional intervention program for frail elderly people over age 75. A randomized controlled pilot treatment trial.
Aging Clin Exp Res 2008 Apr;20(2):159-70
Is midlife occupational physical activity related to disability in old age? The SNAC-Kungsholmen study.
PLoS ONE 2013 ;8(7):e70471
Adherence to physical exercise recommendations in people over 65--the SNAC-Kungsholmen study.
Eur J Public Health 2013 Oct;23(5):799-804
Effects of weight-shift training on balance control and weight distribution in chronic stroke: a pilot study.
Top Stroke Rehabil ;19(1):23-31