About
I am qualified as a physiotherapist and have extensive clinical experience, mainly from primary health care. My interest has been particularly directed at patients with chronic muscle pain, and how such pain can be understood and treated. In my PhD, I analyzed illness narratives of men and women with chronic pain from a gender perspective. More recently, my research has focused on clinical encounters in physiotherapy; on interaction and communication between therapist and patient and how knowledge of illness and health is negotiated and produced in clinical encounters. My interest and enthusiasm for narratives and narrative analysis has followed me all the way. I am inspired by the medical humanities and concerned with how theories and perspectives from other fields and disciplines can help to shed new light on physiotherapy as profession and practice and contribute to developing health care services in the future.
I am responsible for the Master’s specialization in psychomotor physiotherapy, and leader of the Research Group (Re)habilitation – individual, services and society.
Fields of study
Academic disciplines
Physiotherapy Health sciences Midical sciences
Subject areas
Rehabilitation Fysioterapi Critical culture studies Chronic illnesses Narrative analysis Physiotherapy and Mental Health Illness narratives Research
Research groups
Research projects
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To touch and be touched: Communication and interaction in physiotherapy practice
Touch as a therapeutic tool is essential in physiotherapy practice and used for various therapeutic purposes.
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Young adults with musculoskeletal pain and physiotherapy in primary health care: Body and culture
The project aims to find new knowledge on how physiotherapists better can treat musculoskeletal pain in young adults and prevent similar health issues in adult life.
Publications and research
Scientific publications
Ahlsen, Birgitte; Nilsen, Anne Birgitta
(2022).
Getting in touch: Communication in physical therapy practice and the multiple functions of language.
8 p.
Frontiers in Rehabilitation Sciences.
Vol. 3.
https://doi.org/10.3389/fresc.2022.882099
Larsen, Marie Hamilton; Mengshoel, Anne Marit; Andersen, Marit Helen; Borge, Christine Råheim; Ahlsen, Birgitte; Dahl, Kari Gire; Eik, Hedda; Holmen, Heidi; Lerdal, Anners; Mariussen, Kari; Thoresen, Lisbeth; Tschamper, Merete Kristin; Urstad, Kristin Hjorthaug; Vidnes, Tone Karine; Wahl, Astrid Klopstad
(2022).
“A bit of everything”: Health literacy interventions in chronic conditions – a systematic review.
17 p.
Patient Education and Counseling.
Vol. 105.
https://doi.org/10.1016/j.pec.2022.05.008
Rake, Silje Kristine; Ahlsen, Birgitte (2022). I spagaten - en diskursanalytisk tilnærming til hvordan psykomotorisk fysioterapi posisjonerer seg som fagdisiplin og behandlingstilnærming. Fysioterapeuten.
Ahlsen, Birgitte; Mengshoel, Anne Marit; Engebretsen, Eivind
(2022).
Legitimacy in clinical practice: How patients with chronic muscle pain position themselves in the physiotherapy encounter.
7 p.
Journal of Evaluation In Clinical Practice.
https://doi.org/10.1111/jep.13768
Worum, Hilde; Lillekroken, Daniela; Roaldsen, Kirsti Skavberg; Ahlsen, Birgitte; Bergland, Astrid
(2020).
Physiotherapists’ perceptions of challenges facing evidence-based practice and the importance of environmental empowerment in fall prevention in the municipality – a qualitative study.
BMC Geriatrics.
Vol. 20.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12877-020-01846-8
Ottesen, Alette; Askheim, Clemet; Ahlsen, Birgitte
(2020).
Omsorg i fysioterapi: Lyssky virksomhet eller uomgjengelig del av kunnskapsbasert praksis?.
Fysioterapeuten.
https://fysioterapeuten.no/fagfellevurdert-omsorg-...
Ahlsen, Birgitte; Ottesen, Alette; Askheim, Clemet (2020). Care in physiotherapy - a ghost story. Nicholls, David; Groven, Karen Synne; Anjum, Rani Lill; Kinsella, Anne Elisabeth (Ed.). Mobilizing Knowledge in Physiotherapy Critical Reflections on Foundations and Practices. Routledge.
Holmen, Heidi; Larsen, Marie Hamilton; Sallinen, Merja Helena; Thoresen, Lisbeth; Ahlsen, Birgitte; Andersen, Marit Helen; Borge, Christine Råheim; Eik, Hedda; Wahl, Astrid Klopstad; Mengshoel, Anne Marit
(2020).
En balansegang: helsepersonells erfaringer med mennesker med kronisk sykdom - en oversiktsartikkel av kvalitative studier.
BestPractice Nordic.
https://issuu.com/ckn-bpno/docs/bpno-no-i-nr1-2020...
Holmen, Heidi; Larsen, Marie Hamilton; Sallinen, Merja Helena; Thoresen, Lisbeth; Ahlsen, Birgitte; Andersen, Marit Helen; Borge, Christine Råheim; Eik, Hedda; Wahl, Astrid Klopstad; Mengshoel, Anne Marit
(2020).
Working with patients suffering from chronic diseases can be a balancing act for health care professionals - a meta-synthesis of qualitative studies.
BMC Health Services Research.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12913-019-4826-2
Worum, Hilde; Lillekroken, Daniela; Roaldsen, Kirsti Skavberg; Ahlsen, Birgitte; Bergland, Astrid
(2020).
Reflections of older people about their experience of fall prevention exercise in the community- a qualitative study exploring evidence-based practice.
15 p.
BMC Public Health.
Vol. 20.
https://doi.org/10.1186/s12889-020-09630-4