Lifestyle, health and pain in musculoskeletal disorders
Our research is mainly focused on physical activity and exercise in the rheumatic diseases.

Research focus
Our research mainly focuses physical activity and exercise in the rheumatic diseases in intervention studies and implementation studies, development and adaptation of assessment methods and exploration of patients’ and care givers’ perspectives on physical activity. Our research is translational and multiprofessional and performed in collaboration with researchers from multiple universities in Sweden and abroad.
Research projects/activities
- Determinants of functional outcomes after trauma in humanitarian settings
- Physical activity in rheumatoid arthritis – the PARA 2010 study
- Rheumatology patients’ and health professionals' awareness of physical activity measures. A survey across four European countries
- Barriers and complications related to physical activity in rheumatic conditions
- Promotion of a healthy lifestyle in rheumatology – the LIR project
- Implementation of best practice management to prevent osteoarthritis-related disability and comorbidity in rural India
- ICF mapping of physical ability for persons with long-term musculoskeletal pain
- Sense of coherence and self-efficacy as predictors of activity capacity after wrist fracture
Group leader
Nina Brodin
Senior lecturer/physcial therapistGroup members
Bérangère Gohy
PhD studentBirgitta Nordgren
Assistant senior lecturerChristina Helging Opava
Professor Emeritus/EmeritaEmma Swärdh
Assistant senior lecturerMarie Heidenvall
Additional group members
Annica Gustafsson
Collaborators and partners, financial support
List of our collaborators and partners, including main financial support.
Scientific publications
For a list of publications, please visit the individual researcher's personal profile page.