Sylvia Söderström

Sylvia Söderström is a Professor of Health Sciences at the Department of Neuromedicine and Movement Sciences, Norwegian University of Science and Technology (NTNU). She holds a PhD in Health Sciences and has been employed at NTNU since 2011, focusing on teaching and research in physiotherapy education. Her teaching spans undergraduate social science topics for physiotherapy students (e.g., sociological perspectives on health and disability) and master’s-level qualitative research methods.

Her research specializes in disability studies, particularly the intersection of technology, youth, and disability services. Key interests include assistive technology’s role in social participation, identity negotiation, and healthcare practices. She has conducted extensive work on how assistive technologies impact daily life for individuals with disabilities, including studies on cognitive aids for intellectually disabled young adults and ICT accessibility for visually impaired youth.

Publications since 2025 highlight her focus on qualitative analyses of physiotherapy practices, nursing home care environments, and pediatric interventions. Recent studies explore therapeutic alliances in low back pain treatment and interprofessional team dynamics in healthcare settings.

Her work emphasizes participatory approaches, examining how marginalized groups (e.g., disabled youth, minority families) navigate healthcare and educational systems. Notable collaborations include projects on transition planning for young people with disabilities and the implementation of assistive technologies in home-based services.