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Christina Helging Opava

Christina Helging Opava

Professor Emeritus/Emerita
Visiting address: ANA 23 (B3), 14183 Huddinge
Postal address: H1 Neurobiologi, vårdvetenskap och samhälle, H1 Fysioterapi Brodin, 171 77 Stockholm
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About me

  • Christina H Opava (formerly Stenström) is from 2021 Professor emerita, formerly a full Professor of physiotherapy since 2006, a registered physiotherapist since 1978 and formally specialised in physiotherapy in rheumatology since 1996. Founder and member of research team with main focus on Physical Activity and Health in Rheumatic Disease.

    Is a foreign adjunct professor at Dr. APJ Abdul Kalam College of Physiotherapy, Pravara Institute of Medical Sciences, Loni, India.

    Education and career:
    • University diploma, Physiotherapy, Lund University, 1978
    • Doctoral degree, Medical Science, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 1993
    • Associate Professor (docent), Physiotherapy in Rheumatology, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 1999
    • Full Professor, Physiotherapy, ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2006

    Academic honours, awards and prizes:
    • Distinguished Scholar Award, Association of Rheumatology Health Professionals, USA 2002
    • Nanna Svartz prize in Clinical Rheumatology Research, Pfizer/Swedish Rheumatology Association, 2004
    • Ann Kunkel Advocacy Award, Association of Rheumatology Health professionals, USA, 2016
    • Honorary membership, European League Against Rheumatism, 2017
    • Lifetime Achievement Award, Association of Rheumatology Health professionals, USA, 2018
    • Leadership in Rehabilitation Award, World Confederation for Physical Therapy, 2019
    • Honorary membership, Swedish Society of Rheumatology, 2019
    • Honorary membership, Swedish Physiotherapy Association, 2020
    • Honorary Award for Zealous and Devoted Service to the Nation, Swedish Agency for Government Employers/̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2021
    • Silver Medal recognising excellent efforts to support the activities of ̽»¨¾«Ñ¡, 2021
    • Lifetime Achievement Award, European Alliance of Associations for Rheumatology, Health Professionals in Rheumatology, 2022

Research

  • Main research focus on 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. Studies on physical activity effects on mechanisms behind systemic and local inflammation, pain modulation and cardiovascular function are performed in collaboration with specilists in these areas. The research is translational and multiprofessional and performed in collaboration with researchers from multiple universities in Sweden and abroad.

Teaching

  • Teaching experiences mainly from the KI physiotherapy program, but also from all levels at eight Swedish universities and in the USA, Italy, the Netherlands, Switzerland and India. Development and administration of courses within the KI Physiotherapy program and editorship and writing of textbooks (chapter) and other teaching materials in Swedish and English.

    Regular lectures and presentations on evidence-based physiotherapy by invitations from clinics, professional organisations and patient organisations.

Articles

  • Article: PHYSIOTHERAPY THEORY AND PRACTICE. 2024;40(2):327-337
    Swardh E; Thorstensson CA; Khatri S; Kindblom K; Opava CH
  • Article: PHYSIOTHERAPY RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL. 2023;28(4):e2014
    Opava CH; Kindblom K; Rao K; Thorstensson CA; Swardh E
  • Article: PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH. 2023;3(9):e0001723
    Gohy B; Opava CH; von Schreeb J; Van den Bergh R; Brus A; Fouda Mbarga N; Ouamba JP; Mafuko J-M; Mulombwe Musambi I; Rougeon D; Côté Grenier E; Gaspar Fernandes L; Van Hulse J; Weerts E; AIM-T Study Group; Brodin N
  • Article: PHYSIOTHERAPY THEORY AND PRACTICE. 2022;38(11):1683-1692
    Swardh E; Jethliya G; Khatri S; Kindblom K; Opava CH
  • Article: ACR OPEN RHEUMATOLOGY. 2022;4(2):111-118
    Pettersson S; Demmelmaier I; Nordgren B; Dufour AB; Opava CH
  • Article: PLOS GLOBAL PUBLIC HEALTH. 2022;2(12):e0001334
    Gohy B; Opava CH; von Schreeb J; Van den Bergh R; Brus A; El Hamid Qaradaya A; Mafuko J-M; Al-Abbasi O; Cherestal S; Fernandes L; Da Silva Frois A; Weerts E; AIM-T Study Group; Brodin N
  • Article: PHYSIOTHERAPY THEORY AND PRACTICE. 2021;37(9):963-972
    Swardh E; Opava CH; Nygard L; Lindquist I
  • Article: SCANDINAVIAN JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY. 2021;50(3):178-182
    Hedenstierna L; Opava CH; Askling J; Jiang X; Ernestam S; Alfredsson L; Klareskog L; Saevarsdottir S
  • Article: RMD OPEN. 2021;7(2):e001635
    Swardh E; Opava C; Brodin N
  • Article: FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE. 2021;8:788243
    Hupin D; Sarajlic P; Venkateshvaran A; Friden C; Nordgren B; Opava CH; Lundberg IE; Baeck M
  • Article: PHYSICAL THERAPY. 2020;100(12):2144-2153
    Swardh E; Nordgren B; Opava CH; Demmelmaier I
  • Article: BMC MEDICAL RESEARCH METHODOLOGY. 2020;20(1):124
    Axen I; Jensen I; Forslund EB; Grahn B; Jorgensen V; Opava CH; Bodin L
  • Article: ARTHRITIS CARE AND RESEARCH. 2019;71(12):1556-1565
    Oude Voshaar MAH; Das Gupta Z; Bijlsma JWJ; Boonen A; Chau J; Courvoisier DS; Curtis JR; Ellis B; Ernestam S; Gossec L; Hale C; Hornjeff J; Leung KYY; Lidar M; Mease P; Michaud K; Mody GM; Ndosi M; Opava CH; Pinheiro GRC; Salt M; Soriano ER; Taylor WJ; Voshaar MJH; Weel AEAM; de Wit M; Wulffraat N; van de Laar MAFJ; Vonkeman HE
  • Article: PHYSIOTHERAPY THEORY AND PRACTICE. 2019;35(1):31-39
    Nessen T; Opava CH; Martin C; Demmelmaier I
  • Article: JOURNAL OF INTERNAL MEDICINE. 2018;284(6):664-673
    Sarajlic P; Friden C; Lund LH; Manouras A; Venkateshvaran A; Larsson SC; Nordgren B; Opava CH; Lundberg IE; Back M
  • Article: ARTHRITIS RESEARCH & THERAPY. 2018;20(1):262
    Lofgren M; Opava CH; Demmelmaier I; Friden C; Lundberg IE; Nordgren B; Kosek E
  • Article: RHEUMATOLOGY INTERNATIONAL. 2018;38(11):2147-2155
    Demmelmaier I; Pettersson S; Nordgren B; Dufour AB; Opava CH
  • Article: JOURNAL OF RHEUMATOLOGY. 2018;45(8):1093-1100
    Nordgren B; Friden C; Demmelmaier I; Bergstrom G; Lundberg IE; Nessen T; Dufour AB; Opava CH
  • Article: INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF BEHAVIORAL MEDICINE. 2018;25(4):438-447
    Nessen T; Opava CH; Demmelmaier I
  • Article: ARTHRITIS CARE AND RESEARCH. 2018;70(5):695-702
    Demmelmaier I; Bjork A; Dufour AB; Nordgren B; Opava CH
  • Show more

All other publications

  • Letter: EUROPEAN JOURNAL OF PREVENTIVE CARDIOLOGY (EJPC). 2018;25(10):1106-1108
    Venkateshvaran A; Sarajlic P; Lund LH; Friden C; Nordgren B; Opava CH; Lundberg IE; Larsson SC; Manouras A; Back M
  • Editorial comment: THE LANCET. 2015;385(9966):396-398
    Opava CH; Bjork M
  • Review: JOURNAL OF REHABILITATION MEDICINE. 2010;42(10):897-902
    Forseth KO; Hafstrom I; Husby G; Opava CH
  • Corrigendum: PHYSICAL THERAPY. 2008;88(10):1232
    Swaerdh E; Biguet G; Opava CH
  • Editorial comment: ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY. 2004;51(6):874-876
    Li LC; Backman C; Bombardier C; Hammond A; Hill J; Iversen M; Petersson IF; Stenström C; Vlieland TV
  • Review: LAKARTIDNINGEN. 2004;101(45):3516-3519
    Stenström CH; Sturk N
  • Published conference paper: ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY. 2003;49(3):428-434
    Stenström CH; Minor MA
  • Review: ARTHRITIS & RHEUMATOLOGY. 1997;10(2):135-150
    Stenstrom CH; Nisell R

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