Dr. W. IJzelenberg

Curriculum Vitae

Short biography

Helma IJzelenberg studied Human Movement Sciences at the VU University in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. From 2001 till 2005 she worked as a researcher at the department of Public Health at Erasmus University Medical Center in Rotterdam. During this period she specialized in epidemiology (Msc Epidemiology, Postgraduate Epidemiology Program, Netherlands Institute for Health Sciences) and started research in the field of musculoskeletal disorders, including the cost-effectiveness study of a preventive intervention for musculoskeletal disorders. The work at the Erasmus University Medical Center was concluded with a PhD-degree and the defense and publication of the dissertation entitled “Prevention of work-related musculoskeletal disorders”.
In 2005 she was appointed as post-doctoral researcher at the department for Health Sciences at the VU University, where she worked on a study to assess the cost-effectiveness of a comprehensive multidisciplinary structured lifestyle program for patients with manifest cardiovascular disease. Research that is embedded in the research program “Diabetes and Overweight” of the EMGO Institute of VU University Medical Center.
Since august 2007 she works as a assistant professor at the Department for Health Sciences of the VU University. Besides research activities she there teaches and coordinates courses for the sections Health Promotion and Disease Prevention and Health Technology Assessment and Health Economics.
Dr. Helma IJzelenberg

5 Key publications as 1st author

IJzelenberg W, Molenaar D, Burdorf A. Different risk factors for musculoskeletal complaints and musculoskeletal sickness absence. Scand J Work Environ Health. 2004 Feb;30(1):56-63.

IJzelenberg W, Burdorf A. Patterns of care for low back pain in a working population. Spine. 2004 Jun 15;29(12):1362-8.

IJzelenberg W, Burdorf A. Impact of musculoskeletal co-morbidity of neck and upper extremities on healthcare utilisation and sickness absence for low back pain.  Occup Environ Med. 2004 Oct;61(10):806-10.

IJzelenberg W, Burdorf A. Risk factors for musculoskeletal symptoms and ensuing health care use and sick leave.  Spine. 2005 Jul 1;30(13):1550-6.

IJzelenberg H, Meerding WJ, Burdorf A. Effectiveness of a back pain prevention program: a cluster randomized controlled trial in an occupational setting.  Spine. 2007 Apr 1;32(7):711-9.



Publications as co-author

Meerding WJ, IJzelenberg W, Koopmanschap MA, Severens JL, Burdorf A. Health problems lead to considerable productivity loss at work among workers with high physical load jobs. J Clin Epidemiol. 2005 May;58(5):517-23.

Lakerveld J, IJzelenberg W, van Tulder MW, Hellemans IM, Rauwerda JA, van Rossum AC, Seidell JC. Motives for (not) participating in a lifestyle intervention trial. BMC Med Res Methodol. 2008 Apr 10;8:17.





Last update 01.04.2010