Eva Skillgate

Eva Skillgate is a professor of Health Care Science with research focus on function limiting musculoskeletal problems, with a large interest in research education as the vice dean for graduate education supervisor for in total 15 PhD-students.

In her research group Musculoskeletal and Sports Injury Epidemiology Center (MUSIC), clinically relevant research about long-lasting and functioning limiting pain conditions in the musculoskeletal system (including back and neck), mental problems, and sports medicine, is performed. The research group include multi-professional competences, and the research aim is to deepen the knowledge about health promotion and disease prevention actions, risk and prognostic factors, diagnostics, treatment and rehabilitation of functioning limiting pain conditions.  Research partners are national as well as international research groups, clinics, and specific sports associations.

Eva is a guest professor in epidemiology at Karolinska Institutet and an adjunct professor at Ontario Tech University in Canada.

Some ongoing projects

Randomized controlled trials (RCT):

1. Randomized controlled trials (RCT):Clinical trials with the overall aim to evaluate the effect of commonly used treatment strategies including manual therapy for musculoskeletal disorders, and to evaluate the effect of interventions to prevent sports injuries.
   • The STONE-trial (Stockholm Neck trial, n = 620) was performed to explore the effect of massage therapy and physical training on sub-acute and long-lasting neck pain, and to study the course of neck pain. Data is also used to identify prognostic factors for future secondary prevention strategies and to perform a health economic evaluation.
   • The KHAST-trial (Karolinska Handball trial, n=750) aims to evaluate interventions aiming to prevent injuries in the shoulder and knee in students at Handball-profiled High schools in Sweden.
   • The MINT-trial (Manual Intervention Trial, n=1 060) about the treatment effects of combinations of manual therapy (naprapathy) as well as the occurrence and severity of adverse events directly after manual therapy. Data from the trial is also used to identified prognostic factors for back and neck pain.

   Cohort studies

   Longitudinal studies with the overall aim to deepen the knowledge about risk and prognosis of function limiting long-lasting and musculoskeletal pain conditions and mental health problems, and the comorbidity with mental health problems.

   • The SUN study (Sustainable University Life, n=4 226): An extensive cohort study aiming to identify factors of importance for risk and prognosis for mental problems and function limiting musculoskeletal pain in university students.
   • The CAMP study (Corona and Manual Professions, (n=816): This cohort study aims to study how the COVID-19 pandemic affected the work environment, health and finances of licensed chiropractors and manual therapists.
   • The SHC study (The Swedish handball cohort) aims to deepen the knowledge about injuries in adolescent elite handball players, and to evaluate the implementation of injury prevention strategies. Players are included consecutively and up to date >1 900 players are included, who have answered >10000 questionnaires about handball and health.
   • The KIC study (Karolinska Football Injury Cohort, n=419): This project is a collaboration between epidemiology, medicine, psychology, orthopaedics, physiotherapy and naprapathy, composed of research groups at five universities, to identify risk factors for overuse and traumatic injuries. Young female elite footballers are included, and screen clinically after having filled in an extensive baseline questionnaire. They are followed with weekly surveys in one year.