Clara Onell, Nutritionist, MSc, PhD (candidate)

Program of study: PhD, Care Sciences
Institution: Sophiahemmet University, Stockholm, Sweden
Project title: Lifestyle behaviours, musculoskeletal pain and sports injuries in students
Project background: Injuries among adolescent handball players are common and increases the risk of discontinuing sports participation. Also, musculoskeletal pain among university students is common and may result in future implications for individual health and society. The knowledge about the role of different lifestyle behaviours for sports injuries and musculoskeletal pain in young adults is scarce and large prospective studies assessing these associations are warranted for the implementation of future prevention strategies.
Project objectives: The Swedish Handball Cohort aims to evaluate the implementation of prevention strategies for knee and shoulder injuries among adolescent handball players. The specific aim of my thesis is to describe players’ food habits and prospectively assess the role of food habits for injury incidence. The Sustainable UNiversity Life study aims to identify modifiable risk factors for mental health problems and musculoskeletal pain among university students. Here, the specific aim of my thesis is to describe students’ lifestyle behaviours during the COVID-19 pandemic as well as the association between compulsive exercise, body image and musculoskeletal pain.
Funding sources:
- Sustainable UNiversity Life study:

- - The Swedish Research Council for Health, Working Life and Welfare.
  - Sophiahemmet Ideell Förening.

- - The Swedish Research Council for Sport Science
  - The Scandinavian College of Naprapathic Manual Medicine
  - Sophiahemmet Ideell Förening
  - The Swedish Naprapathic Association

Committee Members:
- Eva Skillgate, PhD (Sophiahemmet University, Sweden)
- Martin Asker, PhD (Sophiahemmet University, Sweden)
- Pierre Côté, PhD (Ontario Tech University)

Photo Credit to Joakim Lehnström