Professor, PhD Kari Bø, Norwegian School of Sport Sciences (NSSS), 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 NSSS (a specialized university) 1998-2001 and rector (head) of the NSSS 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 Gynecoogy and is a board member of “The pelvic floor Center” at the same hospital.
Professor Bø has published > 265 scientific papers on pelvic floor dysfunction, treatment of incontinence and low back- and pelvic girdle pain, exercise during pregnancy and after childbirth, diastesis recti abdominis, measurement methodology, fitness and women’s health and has given > 260 invited international keynote presentations worldwide. She has supervised 15 completed PhD candidates and have 9 currently under supervision + numerous master students. In addition, she has published numerous articles, videos/dvds and books about the pelvic floor, fitness, pregnancy and physical activity, and women’s health in general for the lay public. She has developed and been in charge of the post-graduate course for physiotherapy for pelvic floor dysfunction on behalf of the Norwegian Physiotherapist Federation since the early 1990ies and has given numerous postgraduate courses for physiotherapists internationally. She was an appointed member of the Program committee for Clinical Research at the Norwegian Research Council for 3 years and is currently an appointed member from the Norwegian Research Council in Science Europe, EU. She has been a visiting fellow to Stanford University, USA, and a visiting professor at the University of Dunedin, New Zealand, University of Melbourne, Australia, The Ministry of Health, Singapore, The George Institute for Public Health, Sydney, Australia, Bristol Urology Institute, England, Monash University, Melbourne, Australia and Auckland University, New Zealand. Bø has been a guest professor at the University of Sao Paolo, Ribeirao Preto, Brazil for the last 7 years.
She is an honorary member of the Norwegian Physiotherapy Association's Subgroup of Women's health and the Brazilian and 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.