Marie Kierkegaard

About me

I am a registered physiotherapist since 1984, have a PhD in physiotherapy since 2010, associate professor (docent) 2019, and I am a certified specialist in Physiotherapy in Neurology since 2002. I have a combined position as senior lecturer at the Karolinska Institutet with research, education and clinical work at the Centerof Neurology, Academic Specialist Center, Stockholm Health Services. I belong to the research group Neuroepidemiology and health services research. I collaborate with researchers and clinicians at both national and international level, have for example been scientific advisor in the EU project OPTIMISTIC. Physical activity and health is a major interest, and I am editor of the neurological chapters in FYSS and main author of the chapter on physical activity in multiple sclerosis (MS).

Research description

My research area is functioning, disability and health, including effects of physical exercise, in people with neurological and neuromuscular disorders. An on-going project is to study the effects of high-intensity resistance training in people with MS with disease-related fatigue. In addition to studying the effects of diseases on health, function, activity and participation in society, I also study the use and satisfaction with health care in people with neurological/neuromuscular disease. An example of this is the ongoing research project “To live with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis (ALS): health-related quality of life, and use and satisfaction with care during the course of the disease”.

Education

Certificate of Proficiency in English, University of Cambridge, 1981

University Certificate in Physiotherapy, Uppsala College of Health and Caring Sciences, 1984

Master of Medical Science in Physiotherapy, Karolinska Institutet, 1998

Certified Specialist in Physiotherapy in Neurology, 2002

Doctor of Philosophy in Physiotherapy, Karolinska Institutet, 2010