Academic Merits:
Bachelor of Physiotherapy 1972, Lund University,
Sweden
Master of Science in Physiotherapy 1996, Lund University,
Sweden
PhD, Thesis "Muscle tenderness in women. Pressure pain thresholds
in the trapezius and deltoid muscles at rest, after muscle exertion
and after noxious stimulation" May 2003, Lund University,
Sweden.
Clinical Merits:
1972-1993: Clinical Physiotherapist, Malmö University
Hospital, Sweden (within psychiatry, surgery, pulmonary medicine,
thoracic surgery, orthopedics, anesthesia/intensive care and
primary care)
1984-1985 and 1986-1987: Deputy Chief of the Physiotherapy
Organization, Malmö University Hospital
1990-1993: Chief Physiotherapist, Pain Rehabilitation Unit, Malmö
University Hospital
1995- 2002: Consulting Physiotherapist, Department of
Rehabilitation, Lund University Hospital
1993-1997: pro tem. Lecturer, Division of Physiotherapy, Department
of Health Sciences Lund University
1999: Specialist in physiotherapy (pain and pain management)
by the Scientific Board of the Swedish Association of Registered
Physiotherapists, Sweden
1998-1999, 1999-2000 and 2000-2001: pro tem. Lecturer (40 %), Malmö
University
2002 -2003: pro tem. Lecturer and Coordinator, Department of
Rehabilitation, Umeå University
2003-2005: Project Leader and Director of Studies, Department of
Rehabilitation, Umeå University
Main activities
Assistant supervisor for phd-student Karen Prip 2006-2010,
University of Southern Denmark, Denmark
Supervisor for around 30 student projects on undergraduate and
master level, Lund, Malmö and Umeå University, Sweden, since
1995
Examination of many student projects on undergraduate and master
level, Lund, Malmö and Umeå University, Sweden since 1995
Referee for the journals Applied Ergonomics, Advances in
Physiotherapy, Disability and Rehabilitation, Journal of
Rehabilitation Medicine, Torture
Main research areas
Musculoskeletal pain is the most common non-malignant chronic pain
disorder (including pain after TOV) and includes pain in muscles,
bones and joints. The mechanisms of chronic pain are still not
clearly understood making it difficult to choose the most effective
treatment method for each individual. The underlying cause is
probably multi-factory with a combination of physical,
psychological social components. My earlier research has focused on
biological mechanisms for musculoskeletal pain in the shoulder
region using quantitative sensory testing, (QST), mostly pressure
pain thresholds.
My ongoing research includes:
- Mechanisms for musculoskeletal and neuropathic pain
- Clinical team-oriented assessment and outcome measures of
treatment methods and rehabilitation of chronic pain or other
impairments giving functional restrictions as well as prevention
and rehabilitation of stress-related musculoskeletal disorders
- Assessment and outcome measures in the encounter with chronic
pain patients
List of publications
Persson AL, Westermark S, Merrick, Sjölund BH. Validity of
electrical stimulus magnitude matching in chronic pain. Journal of
Rehabilitation Medicine 41:898-903, 2009
Sjölund BH, Kastrup M, Montgomery E, Persson AL. Rehabilitataing
torture survivors. Journal of Rehabilitation Medicine 41:689-696,
2009
Persson AL, Sjölund BH, Larsson B. Three clusters of different
properties characterize women with chronic trapezius myalgia.
Journal of Musculoskeletal Pain 16:289 - 299, 2008
Persson AL, Veenhuizen H, Zachrison L, Gard G. Relaxation as
treatment for chronic musculoskeletal pain - a systematic review of
randomised controlled studies. Physical Therapy Reviews 13:355-365,
2008
Prip K, Persson AL. Clinical findings in men with chronic pain
after falanga torture. Clinical Journal of Pain 24:135-41,
2008
Andersson E, Persson AL, Carlsson CPO: Are auricular maps reliable
for chronic musculoskeletal pain disorders? : a double-blind
evaluation. Acupuncture in Medicine 5:72-79, 2007
Brogårdh C, Persson AL, Sjölund BH. Intra- and inter-rater
reliability of the Sollerman hand function test in patients with
chronic stroke. Disability and Rehabilitation 29:145-54, 2007
Hauggaard A, Persson AL: Specific spinal stabilisation exercises in
patients with low back pain : a systematic review. Physical Therapy
Reviews 12:233-248, 2007
Sjölund BH, Persson AL. Pressure pain threshold changes after
repeated mechano-nociceptive stimulation of the trapezius muscle:
possible influence of previous pain experience. Journal of Pain
8:355-62, 2007
Lundmark H, Persson AL. Physiotherapy and management in early
whiplash associated disorders (WAD) - a review. Advances in
Physiotherapy 8:98-105, 2006
Lönnerheim J, Eliasson S, Persson AL. Physical exercise in
fibromyalgi - a review of randomized controlled studies. Nordisk
Fysioterapi 10: 29-40, 2006 Article in Swedish
Jernbom-Lundberg B, Pietilä-Holmner E, Persson AL. The development
of movement disorders in complex regional pain syndrome (CRPS). A
review and discussion based on two case reports. Nordisk
Fysioterapi 8:132-43, 2004 (Article in Swedish)
Persson AL, Brogårdh C, Sjölund, BH. Tender or not tender:
test-retest repeatability of pressure pain thresholds in the
trapezius and deltoid muscles of healthy women. Journal of
Rehabilitation Medicine 36:17-27; 2004
Persson AL, Hansson G-Å, Kalliomäki J, Sjölund B H. Increases in
local pressure pain thresholds after muscle exertion in women with
chronic shoulder pain. Archives of Physical Medicine and
Rehabilitation 84:1515-22, 2003
Baltsén J, Roslund M, Gard G, Lindström I, Persson AL. Hur bör
kvinnor med fibromyalgi bemötas på bästa sätt? Nordisk Fysioterapi
6:125-33, 2002 (Article in Swedish)
Persson AL, Hansson G-Å, Kalliomäki J, Moritz U, Sjölund BH.
Pressure pain thresholds and local muscular fatigue induced by a
muscular endurance test in normal females. Clinical Journal of Pain
16:155-63, 2000
Book chapter
Persson, AL. Sjukgymnastiska behandlingsmetoder. I: Strang P,
Werner M (red.): Smärta och smärtbehandling. Stockholm: Liber 2003,
pp 198-209
Other publications
Persson AL. Aktivitet och inte vila kan vara en lösning på
smärtproblem. Primärvårdens Nyheter 2005;1-2:25-8
Persson AL.Mätning av smärttrösklar för tryck i
skuldermuskulaturen. Primärvårdens Nyheter 2005;10:32-8
Persson AL. Muskelömhet hos kvinnor. Svensk Rehabilitering 2004
(3): 36-9