Photo of Sofi Sonesson

Sofi Sonesson

Senior Associate Professor, Head of Division, Head of Unit

Senior associate professor of physiotherapy and specialist physiotherapist in sports medicine. Head of Prevention, Rehabilitation and Community Medicine and head of Physiotherapy. I conduct research and teach in physiotherapy and sports medicine.

Research Areas

My research and teaching focus on physiotherapy, with a particular interest in physical activity and sports medicine. My research areas include health promotion in sports, rehabilitation following knee injuries, and the development of education within the Faculty of Medicine in relation to generative AI.

Health Promotion in Sports

I conduct research within the SWIPE group – Sport Without Injury ProgrammE. We study the prevalence of injuries and illnesses among athletes, risk factors for sports-related health issues, and the effects of preventive measures. Our research spans team and individual sports, across children, adolescents, and adults, from recreational to elite levels. We collaborate closely with the sports community in planning, conducting, and implementing research, as well as in translating findings into practice.
I have a particular interest in pain in sports, and I analyze its prevalence, associated risk factors, and the perspectives of athletes and coaches on sports-related pain.

Rehabilitation After Knee Injury

My research focuses on treatment and recovery following anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) and meniscus injuries. I lead projects exploring athletes’ perspectives on experiencing an ACL injury and supporting their return to physical activity and sport. These projects aim to increase understanding of athletes’ and coaches’ experiences, perceptions, and needs for information and support during rehabilitation and return to sport. Our goal is to optimize on-field rehabilitation strategies after ACL injury.
I am involved in the NACOX study (Natural course and recovery after anterior cruciate ligament injury), where I investigate physical activity using accelerometry and self-reported questionnaires, as well as clinical outcome measures with a focus on muscle function. We also work with long-term follow-up after ACL-injury.

Development of Education Within the Faculty of Medicine in Relation to Generative AI

I lead research projects aimed at strengthening AI literacy in education within the Faculty of Medicine. Our focus is on understanding knowledge, habits, and attitudes toward generative AI among students, educators, and clinical supervisors in clinical placement, as well as developing educational initiatives that actively promote AI literacy.
Using both quantitative and qualitative methods, we examine how generative AI influences learning and teaching. We develop and implement educational interventions to support a critical, reflective, and informed use of AI, and evaluate their impact on the learning environment.

About me

CV

  • Senior associate Professor of Physiotherapy, LiU 2022
  • Docent (Associate Professor) of Physiotherapy, LiU 2021
  • Specialist competence in Physiotherapy with a specialization in sports medicine, 2014
  • PhD, LiU 2008
  • Physiotherapy bachelor degree, LiU 2000
  • Doctoral student supervision ongoing Timmy Gustafsson (main supervisor), Kalle Torvaldsson (assistant supervisor); completed: Hanna Tigerstrand Grevnerts (dissertation 2019, assistant supervisor) Ida Åkerlund (dissertation 2024, assistant supervisor)

Fields of Teaching

  • Diagnosis and treatment of musculoskeletal disorders
  • Physical activity and exercise
  • Sports medicine
  • Laboratory work in the motion science laboratory
  • Supervisor and examiner for degree projects at bachelor's, and master's level.

Assignments

  • Head of Division, Division of Prevention, Rehabilitation and Community Medicine
  • Head of Unit, Unit of Physiotherapy

Publications

2025

Hanna Lindblom, Sofi Sonesson, Markus Walden, Ida Åkerlund, Andreas Ivarsson, Martin Hägglund (2025) Enhancing Prevention of Injuries in Community youth and adult amateur football teams (EPIC) via implementation support for an exercise-based intervention: study protocol for a type 3 hybrid implementation-effectiveness cluster-randomised controlled trial BMJ Open, Vol. 15, Article e102008 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Kalle Torvaldsson, Kristina Fagher, Wayne Derman, Lars Engebretsen, Hanna Lindblom, Alexandre Dias Lopes, Phoebe Runciman, Martin Schwellnus, Torbjorn Soligard, Sofi Sonesson, Kathrin Steffen, Martin Hägglund (2025) Injury and illness epidemiology in elite athletes during the Olympic, Youth Olympic and Paralympic Games: a systematic review and meta-analysis British Journal of Sports Medicine (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Hanna Lindblom, Sofi Sonesson, Ida Åkerlund, Martin Hägglund (2025) How to make it work - a qualitative study on amateur football players' perspectives on injury prevention training Science and medicine in football (Article in journal) Continue to DOI
Yvonne Lindbäck, Karin Schröder, Torkel Engström, Karin Valeskog, Sofi Sonesson (2025) Generative artificial intelligence in physiotherapy education: great potential amidst challenges- a qualitative interview study BMC Medical Education, Vol. 25, Article 603 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

2024

Sofi Sonesson, Hanna Lindblom, Martin Hägglund (2024) To play or not to play, that is the question: an interview study with amateur football coaches on perceptions of pain during sports participation BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine, Vol. 10, Article e001941 (Article in journal) Continue to DOI

Research

Organisation