Ann-Katrin Grotle

Field of work

My Academic Background and Research Interests

I have a strong academic interest in cardiovascular physiology, exercise physiology, sports nutrition, and environmental physiology. My research focuses on understanding physiological mechanisms and strategies to improve health and performance.

Research Areas:

• Autonomic regulation of circulation during physical activity
• Cardiovascular consequences of menopause, physical inactivity, and chronic diseases
• Women's health
• Exercise as medicine: preventive and therapeutic effects of physical activity and exercise
• Alternative strategies, including nutritional strategies and heat and cold therapy (e.g., sauna and cold water immersion) to enhance health and performance

My research aims to increase knowledge about physiological mechanisms and identify effective strategies for improved health and performance.

Sports 

I have a strong passion for football, with experience as both a player and coach at a high level. During my master’s studies, I was involved in developing strategies for injury prevention and enhancing physical capacity in elite female and male football players.

Head of the 'Sports, Health, and Function' Research Group

I lead the Sports, Health, and Function research group and the Human Health and Performance Laboratory at HVL. Our laboratory is part of a multidisciplinary research group collaborating across three faculties. For more information, visit our websites or get in touch.

🔗 Research Group Website: HVL Research 📷 Lab Instagram: @hvl.performancelab

In addition, I am the meeting place leader for the new initiative under Idrettsklynge Vest called “Kvinnelaget”, which aims to ensure that all women and girls have the opportunity to actively participate in society throughout their lives.
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Education and Academic Background

• Bachelor in exercise science (sports science), Department of Kinesiology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, USA

• Master in exercise science (sports science), Department of Kinesiology, The University of Texas at San Antonio, USA

• PhD in exercise physiology, Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin, USA

• Postdoctoral Fellow, Human Neural Cardiovascular Control Laboratory, The University of Texas at Arlington, USA

Research Projects I Lead

• BEETBOOST: Beetroot juice – a natural boost for cardiovascular health in postmenopausal women?
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• REACT study Bergen: Cardiovascular reactivity to physical stress – strategies and mechanisms
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Media Coverage

• Bergens Tidende: Is cold water immersion and sauna actually beneficial?

• Faktisk.no: Cold water immersion – miracle cure or myth?

• Forskning.no: Can it be dangerous to push oneself to sit in a sauna for too long?

• Khrono.no: In four-degree water – Martin has volunteered for research

• HVL.no: Researching the effects of sauna and cold water immersion

• Forskning.no: Public health is threatened by pseudoscience – we must rethink what children learn in school

• Utdanningsforskning.no: Public health is threatened by pseudoscience – we must rethink what children learn in school

• UiB.no: Interdisciplinary and inspiring Christmas seminar

📩 Feel free to contact me if you are interested in collaboration!

Research Groups

• Sports, Health, and Function (primary)

• Sports and Health Psychology (secondary)

• DiaBEST (tertiary)