Although figure skating attracts several hundred thousand participants worldwide, there is a lack of research regarding the health of young skaters. Poor health is devastating for those affected and also negatively impacts sports organisations, exemplified by athlete dropout, a significant issue today, as many teenage girls quit their sport.
My dissertation, “Physical and Mental Health among Swedish Figure Skaters” investigated the physical and mental health of young figure skaters, aiming to make the sport safer and healthier. The dissertation highlights that young Swedish figure skaters face significant health risks, which appear to intensify with age if not addressed. Factors such as repetitive load, inadequate nutrition, and lack of adult support may contribute to long-term harm. The research is conducted independently but is supported by the Swedish Figure Skating Association.
Engagement in sports from childhood to adulthood can yield lifelong benefits for both athletes and the sporting community. By adopting a holistic approach to promoting athlete well-being, performance is enhanced and the positive effects of sport are reinforced.
Sports and Exercise Medicine + Child and Adolescent Psychiatry
When sports participation is properly supported throughout development, lifelong benefits are generated for both athletes and the sports movement. Regular organised physical activity through sports participation enhances overall well-being and, ideally, provides a social context that imparts important life skills and knowledge.
The negative impacts of sports injuries, mental health problems, and unhealthy sports cultures highlight the importance of preventing adverse health consequences, promoting health, and the need to develop sustainable and safe sports environments for all athletes. Many sports participants are children and adolescents, spending as much time in sports as they do in school or at home. However, sports environments often lack the well-developed protective mechanisms for minors that exist in schools or homes.
Sport and exercise medicine research in Sweden is fundamentally interdisciplinary and multidisciplinary. There is no specific Swedish medical specialty in sports medicine; rather, the research field encompasses individuals from a wide array of specialties (physiology, orthopaedics, neurology, gynaecology, psychiatry, paediatrics, etc.) and various professions (physicians, physiotherapists, psychologists, dietitians, etc.). Since many athletes are children and adolescents, expertise in child and adolescent psychiatry is essential within sport and exercise medicine to continue fostering safe sporting environments.
Current Research Projects
I am involved in several ongoing and upcoming research projects:
- FIGURE SKATING: Ongoing work rooted in my dissertation. Principal Investigator: Toomas Timpka, Linköping University.
- FOOTBALL: The experiences of young female academy football players. Principal Investigator: Sofi Sonesson, Linköping University.
- SPORTS HIGH SCHOOLS: Intervention on mental health for teachers and sports coaches of students attending sports high schools. Principal Investigator: Carolina Lundqvist, Linköping University.
- VIOLENCE AGAINST CHILDREN IN SPORTS: Investigating the perceptions of various stakeholders regarding violence and their responses to violence against young athletes. Principal Investigator: Carolina Lundqvist, Linköping University.
- CHILDREN WITH DISABILITIES: A project in collaboration with Monash University (Melbourne, Australia) studying the health of children aged 5 to 12 years with disabilities who are participating in a gymnastics programme (www.monash.edu/medicine/spahc/rail/community-projects/georges-gymnastics-program). Principal Investigator: Natasha Brusco, Monash University.
Collaborations and Supervision
Since 2021, I have supervised several master’s and bachelor’s theses in the physiotherapy and medical programmes. In 2025, I will also serve as co-supervisor for a resident physician and a psychologist who are completing their respective specialist theses. Please feel free to contact me if you are interested in collaboration, research projects, or supervision.
