Hanna Johansson

Hanna Johansson

Lecturer
Visiting address: Alfred Nobels Allé 23, 14183 Huddinge
Postal address: H1 Neurobiologi, vårdvetenskap och samhälle, H1 Fysioterapi Franzen, 171 77 Stockholm

About me

  • I am a registered physiotherapist with a PhD in medical science from Karolinska Institutet. I defended my doctoral thesis "Balance and Gait in Parkinson's disease: from Perceptions to Performance" in 2020. I am currently an SFO-V fellow and postdoctoral researcher at the Division of Physiotherapy, and a member of the Balance, gait, exericise and physical activity in neurological diseases - Franzén Group. I am also affiliated to Karolinska University Hospital and Stockholm Sjukhem.

Research

  • I primarily conduct research connected to the STEPS (Support for home Training using Ehealth in Parkinson's disease) trial, which is a collaborative project between Karolinska Institutet and Stockholm Sjukhem. The project evaluates the effect of individually adapted, eHealth-delivered, home training for people with Parkinson's disease (PD). In my research, I also evaluate how primary care can optimize the clinical assessment of people with PD by integrating wearable sensors for motion analysis.

    I am a member of the Balance, gait, exericise and physical activity in neurological diseases - Franzén Group where the focus is on  translational research from exploring neuronal mechanisms to clinical interventions/implementation in the field of neurological and geriatric rehabilitation.

Selected publications

Articles

All other publications

Grants

  • Swedish Research Council for Health Working Life and Welfare
    1 July 2023 - 30 June 2026
    Older people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) are one of the frailest groups in society, as debilitating symptoms place them at high risk for physical inactivity, social withdrawal and reduced quality of life. PD symptoms also lead to emotional and communicative changes which can severely affect social functioning and result in loneliness and stigmatization.  The proposal outlines five studies which ultimately aim to increase the accessibility and success of implementing evidence-based welfare technology to support active and dignified ageing with PD, and also older adults requiring support for chronic disease.   Research goals are:To investigate the efficacy of eHealth delivered motor-cognitive home training with regards to functional capacity, motor-cognitive ability, and physical activity behaviour, by performing a randomised controlled trial.To investigate how the use of novel wearable technologies can enhance the assessment of motor-cognitive performance in PD. To investigate patterns of participation in places for activities outside of the home among people with PD, and to explore how use of eHealth and other factors are associated with these patterns.To explore and describe perceptions of carers to people with PD regarding the potential for eHealth technology to support everyday life and participation.To investigate health care professional’s perspectives on determinant factors for the implementation of welfare technology for the care older adults with chronic diseaseOur methods will span a variety of designs and methods - a randomised control trial (RCT), cross-sectional observational studies and qualitative data collection. We will also investigate perceptions of welfare technology from multiple perspectives, including carers to people with PD and a wide range of health care personnel.  Findings from these studies will have direct relevance for older people living with chronic and progressive disease, their relatives or carers and for the future implementers of welfare technology- health care providers specialised in the care of older adults. The project group is multi-professional and incorporates physiotherapists, a Neurologist MD, occupational therapists and neuropsychologists. The planned studied are in conjuntion with clinical Geriatric hospital, which ensures timely implementation of findings. Studies 1 (RCT) and 2 (cross-ectional) are underway (commenced Oct 2022), all remaining studies studies are planned to be completed by summer 2026.

Employments

  • Lecturer, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 2025-2026
  • Postdoctoral Researcher, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 2021-2025

Degrees and Education

  • Degree Of Doctor Of Philosophy, Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, Karolinska Institutet, 2020
  • Bachelor Of Medical Science, Karolinska Institutet, 2006
  • Bachelor Of Science In Physiotherapy, Karolinska Institutet, 2006

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