Idrottsforskning

Idrottsforskning, or sports science research, is the systematic study of sport, exercise and physical activity. It covers physiological and biomechanical processes underlying performance, psychological factors that influence motivation and learning, sociocultural aspects of sport, nutritional considerations, and pedagogical questions related to training and education. The field also investigates how sport and activity affect health, well-being, and public policy.

Researchers in idrottsforskning address elite performance, injury prevention and rehabilitation, exercise prescription, and the broader health effects of physical activity. Methods range from laboratory experiments and biomechanical analyses to field studies, longitudinal cohorts, randomized trials, surveys, and systematic reviews.

Work is conducted at universities, hospital-affiliated research units, national sports federations, and independent institutes, often through interdisciplinary collaborations across physiology, psychology, sociology, nutrition, and pedagogy. The aims include advancing scientific knowledge, translating findings into coaching and training practices, reducing injuries, and informing public health recommendations and sports policy.

Sweden and other Nordic countries have a tradition of supporting idrottsforskning through academic programs and collaborations with sports organizations, with results disseminated through journals, conferences, guidelines, and practice-oriented reports.