Ottar Vasseljen

Degrees

• Bachelor of Science in Physical Therapy, University of Utah, USA (1982)
• Doctor of Philosophy (Work Physiology), University of Trondheim, Norway (1995)

Previous academic positions

• Post-doc at Div. of Organization and Work Science, NTH, University of Trondheim, Norway (1995-1998)
• Researcher at Dep. of Public Health and General Practice, NTNU, Norway (2000-2003)
• Associate professor at Dep. of Public Health and General Practice, NTNU, Norway (2003-2010)
• Visiting academic at University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia (2006-2007)
• Professor at Dep. of Public Health and General Practice, NTNU, Norway (2010- )

Publications

• Ottar Vasseljen

Current research

Research is within musculoskeletal disorders of the lower back, neck and shoulder. It entails basic science, method development, clinical trials, interventional studies and epidemiological cohort studies. Of major interest is to understand more of the mechanisms behind neck and low back pain, how the brain in terms of motion and motor control adapt to long-standing pain, and with a long-term goal to provide better diagnostic and treatment opportunities for clinicians.

Current and recent research projects:

• Developing advanced ultrasound imaging techniques to record rapid tissue deformations such as onset of muscle activity (e.g., abdominal muscles). This has been applied in clinical trials investigating the effect of tailored exercises on anticipatory muscle activation in the deep abdominal muscles in subjects with chronic low back pain. Furthermore, a 3D-motion tracking system has been adopted and refined to record and analyze motor control and trajectory patterns in the neck. This has recently been applied in a cross-sectional study to discriminate between whiplash, chronic neck pain and healthy subjects, and is currently being further developed in preparation for a large observational study of patients with chronic neck pain.
• Natural course, risk and prognostic factors for low back and neck pain are studied in the general population as part of The Nord-Trøndelag Health Survey (The HUNT Study), one of the largest health surveys ever performed.
• The effect of work-related rehabilitation on return-to-work is currently being studied in a RCT for patients sick-listed due to musculoskeletal or mild psychological disorders (The Hysnes Study).

 

Teaching and supervision

• Lectures in musculoskeletal disorders for medical and master students. Research methods are primarily thought to master students in the Master of Clinical Health science (clinical design including RCTs, diagnostic tests, reliability, critical reading, research protocol and research writing). Supervising master and PhD students.

Academic activites

• Appointed member of International Advisory Board in the Manual Therapy journal. Member of Advisory Board of Advances in Physiotherapy.
• Reviewer for the following scientific journals: Journal of Applied Physiology, Journal of Rheumatology, BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders, Manual therapy, Australian Journal of Physiotherapy and Physiotherapy Theory and Practice.
• Appointed member of the External Scientific Board of the Swedish FAS centre; the body at work-from problem to potential (Centre of Excellence), Gävle, Sweden, (2011- ).
• Reviewer of grant application for The Health Research Board of Ireland and for Helse Nord RHF, Norway.
• Opponent at three doctoral dissertations in Norway (University of Oslo and University of Bergen).
• Chair of programme board for Master in Clinical Health Science. Member of the programme board for Master in Health Science and PhD programme boards in Health Science, Community Medicine and the central PhD committee at Faculty of Medicine, NTNU.
• Member of The National Council for Master and PhD Programs in Health Science, The Norwegian Association of Higher Education Institution.
• Head of the Primary Health Care and Social Medicine Research Group and member of management team at Department of Public Health and General Practice, NTNU.
• Managed the development of the first Centre of Competence in Physiotherapy Research at NTNU (at the Dep. of Public Health and General Practice), where four physiotherapist associated with the unit has received their PhD so far.
• Contributed to raise US $ 12.2 million for previous, ongoing and currently two large collaborative research projects in the initiating phase.
• Awarded price for best research project in 2009 on neck and low back pain by The Norwegian Organization for Spinal Research.
• Average citations per published article: 23.9 (range 0-123). Average Impact Factor of publishing journals per 2009: 2.30 (range 0.77-5.37)
• Chaired scientific sessions at international conferences.
• Eleven platform presentations at international conferences with review (Canada, Netherlands, Scotland, Denmark and USA)