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Professor, PhD Kari Bø, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NIH), Oslo, Norway
Kari Bø is a trained physical therapist and exercise scientist. She had her PhD (doctor of science) in 1990 and was appointed professor of exercise science in 1997. She was elected pro-rector (vice head) of NIH (a specialized university) 1998-2001 and rector (head) of the NIH 2013-2017. She was the first vice president of the International Organization of Physical Therapists in Women’s Health, WCPT 1999-2007, and has been the vice president of the Norwegian Council for Physical Activity for 8 years, giving direct advice to the Norwegian Minister of Health on physical activity, fitness and health. In addition, professor Bø has been the vice president of the Norwegian Physiotherapy Association subgroup for Sport Physiotherapy 2003-2007. She holds a 20% position as project leader at Akershus University Hospital, Norway, Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology and is a board member of “The pelvic floor Center” at the same hospital.
Professor Bø has published/in press/submitted/in manuscript > 290 peer review scientific papers on pelvic floor dysfunction, treatment of incontinence and low back- and pelvic girdle pain, exercise during pregnancy and after childbirth, diastasis recti abdominis, measurement methodology, fitness and women’s health and has given > 300 invited international keynote presentations worldwide. Her H-factor on Research Gate in June 2020 was 61 and on Web of Science 48. She has supervised 19 completed PhD candidates and numerous master students and has 8 PhD students currently under supervision.
She is an honorary member of the Norwegian Physiotherapy Association’s Subgroup of Women’s health, the Brazilian Physiotherapy Association for Women’s Health and the Chilean Physiotherapy Association for Women’s Health. In 2014, one of her randomized controlled trials on pelvic floor muscle training was ranked and awarded one of 15 top trials in physiotherapy among >25.000 studies in the PEDro database. In 2015, she was awarded with the Mildred Elson Award, the most prestige’s award from the World Confederation of Physiotherapy (WCPT), for her contribution to research and education in pelvic floor dysfunction and women’s health. In 2016 she was awarded the International Continence Society Lifelong Achievement Award for her research and education on the pelvic floor and incontinence. In 2019 she was awarded as an honorary member of the Norwegian Physiotherapy Association for her work for physiotherapy in Norway and worldwide.
