Elisabeth Rydwik graduated as a physiotherapist from Karolinska Institutet in 1991. She subsequently worked in both primary and geriatric care settings. She received a BSc in physiotherapy in 1999 and has since been involved in researching the effects of physical training on physical performance in frail older people. Her research has included older people living in their own homes as well as those living in an institutional setting. She received her PhD in medical science from Karolinska Institutet in November 2007. The title of her dissertation was “Effects of physical training on physical performance in frail elderly people”. The main results of her dissertation, which involved a randomized clinical trial, showed an increase in muscle strength and habitual physical activity level in favor of the intervention group.

Before joining ARC Elisabeth was employed as a research assistant at Karolinska Institutet working on a European project which aimed at enhancing the possibilities for older people to be more physically active. As a part of this project she was also involved in a systematic review of assessments of physical performance in elderly people.

Elisabeth has been granted a part-time post-doc position at the Department of Neurobiology, Care Sciences and Society, and her time will be split between the Aging Research Center (ARC) and the Division of Physiotherapy. Her work at ARC will mainly consist of epidemiological studies of multi morbidity, disability and physical activity. At the Division of Physiotherapy, she is participating in a European project which aims to develop strategies and build policy capacities to increase the possibilities for sedentary older people to become more physically active.

Elisabeth also holds a part time position as a project manager and scientific leader at a Research and Development Centre for the care of older people, FOU äldre norr.