Physical activity and Sports medicine with focus on prevention
Our research focus is in the area of physical activity, physical exercise and sports medicine.
We study the link between physical activity and health, the effect of exercise interventions on habitual physical activity levels, and the prevention of sports injuries. Our research combines epidemiology, method development and intervention research. Our vision is to increase health, especially among individuals with risk factors, disabilities or injuries through high quality epidemiological and intervention/implementation research in the area physical activity and sports medicine.
Research projects/activities
CanMoRe (2016 - 2024)
The CanMoRe project will evaluate if enhanced mobilisation after surgery using innovative digital methods at the hospital and a new model for physical rehabilitation in the primary care can lead to decreased frequency of readmission to hospital due to less postoperative complications in patients that have undergone major abdominal surgery due to cancer.
OPTIMIST-project
The purpose of the OPTIMIST-project (OPtimal TIme-use coMpositIons for Sleep and acTivity) is to explore the optimal daily time-use composition of sleep, sedentary behaviour (SB) and physical activity (PA) for different non-communicable diseases (NCDs). Using national and international registers, we will construct a large-scale cohort on objective measured time spent in PA, SB and sleep with data on NCDs. The risk of developing NCDs, adjusted for genetic, sociodemographic and socioeconomic factors will be established. We also aim to explore health care personnel’s experiences in providing health counselling to patients with NCDs.
The ABC study (Attitude, Behavior and Change)
The Attitude, Behavior and Change study (ABC) is a cross-sectional and longitudinal research project on health behaviors with data collection by questionnaire and physical activity monitoring.
Screening of athletes, sport injury registration and prevention (2013-2026)
The long term goal of this project is to reduce the risk, for adolescent elite athletes, to sustain injuries (overuse and acute), recurrent injury and pain that reduces participation in sports and thereby enhance increased awareness, performance and health.
Hormonal influences on physical exercise
The menstrual cycle implies a basic difference in the biology of women and men but the effect of the hormonal variation during the menstrual cycle on physical performance is still only partly understood. Our research group has performed menstrual cycle related studies during the last 20 years. We have performed studies on physical performance and premenstrual symptoms during the menstrual cycle and during use of oral contraceptives. Furthermore, we were the first group to characterize the variation in gene and protein expression levels of sex steroid hormone receptors in skeletal muscle during the menstrual cycle.
Health promotion and healthy lifestyle research
Our research group are responsible for or involved in several health promotion and lifestyle research projects.
Group leader
Maria Hagströmer
Professor/fysioterapeutGroup members
Ing-Mari Dohrn, PhD
Linda Ekenros, PhD
Cecilia Fridén, docent
Patrik Karlsson, PhD student
Andrea Porserud, PhD, postdoc
Callum Regan, doktorand
Simon Torikka, research assistant
Philip von Rosén, docent, deputy group leader
Collaborating researchers
Kristina Larsson, PhD student
Jenny Rossen, PhD
Video: Understanding and using physical activity for health
Collaborators and partners
We have on-going research collaboration at local (KI), national and international levels. We have for example been part of two large EU-funded projects (HELENA-study and the ALPHA-study) and one large international project (IPS).
Scientific publications
For a list of publications, please read more on the project pages, or visit the individual researcher's personal profile page.