Maria Willerslev-Olsen

Maria Willerslev-Olsen is a Guest Researcher in the Motor Control group within the Department of Neuroscience at the University of Copenhagen's Faculty of Health and Medical Sciences. Her research focuses on cerebral palsy, motor control mechanisms, and neurorehabilitation strategies for children and adults with movement disorders.

Her primary research interests include:

• Cerebral Palsy mechanisms and interventions
• Muscle contracture development and prevention
• Neuroplasticity in pediatric populations
• Gait analysis and walking patterns in children with movement disorders
• Early diagnosis and intervention protocols for infants at risk of cerebral palsy
• Parent-infant interactions in high-risk developmental contexts
• Muscle physiology in children with neurological conditions

Dr. Willerslev-Olsen's publication record demonstrates a consistent trajectory from basic science investigations to clinical applications. Her early work focused on understanding the physiological mechanisms underlying movement disorders in cerebral palsy, particularly examining muscle growth and contracture development. More recently, she has shifted toward developing and testing clinical interventions, including neuroplastic training approaches for preventing contractures in toddlers and gait training protocols to improve walking patterns in children with cerebral palsy. Her research often combines biomechanical analysis with neurological assessment to develop targeted rehabilitation strategies.

Her scientific contributions have been published in high-impact journals including Brain, Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, BMJ Open, and BMC Pediatrics, reflecting both the clinical relevance and scientific rigor of her work. She has been involved in multiple multicenter clinical trials, demonstrating her ability to coordinate complex research projects across institutions.