Our research

Our research focuses on preventing and managing musculoskeletal injuries and disease from youth to an older age. The target groups are athletes and non-athletic populations that either have or are at high risk of joint injury/disease, e.g., to the hip or knee. The goal is to enhance lifelong participation in sport and physical activity.

Together with our closest research collaborators, we represent different disciplines: physiotherapy, sports and exercise medicine, sport and exercise psychology, orthopedics, biomechanics, epidemiology, and implementation. Our research is conducted in close collaboration with end-users, such as health beneficiaries, intervention deliverers, and organizations.

Aims

Through interdisciplinary studies, and from a lifespan perspective, our research aims to:

• assess effects of joint injury/disease on function from a biomechanical, physical, and psychological perspective

• develop and evaluate clinically feasible outcome measures for function or diagnostic tools

• assess risk factors and protective factors for joint injury/disease

• develop and evaluate new intervention strategies

• implement evidence-based interventions

Impact

Reduced participation in physical activity is common in people with musculoskeletal injuries or disease as a result of the injury/disease. Our research will improve the conditions for patients with musculoskeletal injury/disease to safely return to participation in sport and physical activity.

How our research contributes to CoPARLU

Our interdisciplinary research contributes a sports science perspective to the field to enhance conditions for life-long participation in sport and physical activity for people currently affected by or at high risk of joint injury/disease.