Hanne Dagfinrud – a driving force for physiotherapy and rehabilitation in modern rheumatological treatment

Hanne Dagfinrud continues to promote physiotherapy and rehabilitation as a natural part of modern rheumatology treatment. Now she is on her way to passing the baton on.

As a senior researcher at Diakonhjemmet Hospital and professor II at the University of Oslo, she has led groundbreaking studies that have documented the effects of physical activity and exercise on inflammatory joint diseases.

She has been behind projects such as the ESpA study , AktiWeb and Exe-Heart .

Her work has contributed to exercise now being a recommended part of treatment for these patients.

The fact that the hospital today has access to advanced CPET equipment for testing physical capacity is largely due to her.

Throughout her career, she has been a committed mentor and inspirer for young researchers and clinicians.

Even after retirement, she continues to be an important voice for innovation and interdisciplinary collaboration.

❓ What first made you pursue research into physiotherapy for patients with rheumatic diseases?

– For the first 20 years, I worked as a clinician, both with patients with rheumatic diseases and top athletes. The experiences sparked a desire to understand the mechanisms of action better – in order to be able to tailor treatment and interventions.

❓ You have been instrumental in documenting exercise as medicine – what do you see as your most important breakthrough?

– In short, we have shown that high-intensity exercise reduces disease activity and symptoms (pain and fatigue) in people with active inflammatory joint disease. Even those on effective medications can experience additional positive effects, and we have thereby shown that high-intensity exercise is an effective and feasible treatment option.

– It is important to emphasize that we have conducted the studies using solid methods, which is crucial for the results to be reliable.

❓ How has your research influenced the national and international treatment recommendations for physical activity in rheumatic diseases?

– Treatment recommendations must be based on solid research. Our evidence-based results have strengthened the basis for recommending physical activity as part of the treatment of rheumatoid joint diseases.

❓ You have led large projects such as the ESpA study, AktiWeb and ExeHeart – what have you learned that has changed practice?

– We have seen that high-intensity training not only produces good results, but is also feasible for participants. The adherence to the program and the follow-up have been very good, and participants have reported positive experiences in the qualitative studies.

❓ How has collaboration across professional groups – physiotherapists, doctors, researchers – shaped the results?

– To understand the biological mechanisms behind exercise, we have been completely dependent on collaboration with other scientific communities.

– In the ESpA and ExeHeart studies, we worked closely with rheumatologists and cardiologists. Without this collaboration, we would not have obtained such robust results. The interdisciplinary environment at Diakonhjemmet Hospital is unique and very valuable. 

❓ The access to CPET equipment at Diakonhjemmet Hospital is largely your merit. Why has this been so important?

– It is absolutely necessary to develop good treatment options for patients with chronic diseases. “Exercise as medicine” is a field of research that has had great importance within many diagnostic groups in recent years.

– Although there are effective drug treatments in the field of rheumatology, it is also important to optimize non-drug options.

– Diakonhjemmet Hospital has a leading position in rheumatology both nationally and internationally, and must therefore be able to offer evidence-based treatment and solid research methods for both drug and non-drug alternatives.  

– The CPET lab is used both in daily clinical practice and for research purposes, and helps strengthen the hospital's leading position in rheumatology.    

❓ Where do you see the greatest opportunities for further developing the field of physical activity and rehabilitation in rheumatology?

– The healthcare system will face major resource challenges in the future. Self-management, physical activity and rehabilitation will then become even more important.

– We need more knowledge about how the measures can be adapted individually, so that the benefit is greatest for each patient.

❓ What do you hope the next generation of researchers and clinicians will take away from your work?

– That only creation is important, that is, pushing the boundaries of one's own field a little, and that interdisciplinary collaboration is often necessary to make it happen.

❓ If you were to give one piece of advice to health authorities to strengthen rehabilitation and physical activity in the treatment of rheumatic diseases – what would it be?

– I would advise the health authorities to take on the challenges of the future. We need a health system that focuses on effective, documented measures for self-management and physical activity.

❓ What will you miss most – and least – from everyday life at Diakonhjemmet when you pass the baton on?

– I will miss the daily fruitful, interesting and hilarious conversations with the world's best colleagues! What will I miss least? Nothing.

----------------------------

See research projects and publications in the Norwegian Science Archive (NVA):

https://nva.sikt.no/filter?type=project&multiple=Hanne+Solveig+Dagfinrud&page=1&results=25

https://nva.sikt.no/filter?query=Hanne+Solveig+Dagfinrud