prof. dr. C. (Cindy) Veenhof Full Professor

Cindy Veenhof is professor in Clinical Health Sciences, specifically Physiotherapy Sciences at the Department Rehabilitation, Nursing Sciences & Sport. She has lot of experience in research in the field of physiotherapy. Before she started in her current position (2014) at the UMCU, she worked over 15 years at the NIVEL-institute (Netherlands Institute for Health Services Research). First as PhD-student, on the effectiveness of behavioral graded activity in patients with osteoarthritis, and since 2006 she was research coordinator on the topic allied health care and physical activity.

Her research is closely linked to the daily practice of physiotherapy.  She has a lot of focus on the questions from daily practice and also on the implementation of the results in daily practice. Her current research focuses on the physical functioning  and physical (in)activity of patients before/during and after hospital stay, the challenges of integrating eHealth within physiotherapy practice and innovation in physiotherapy care. She performs her research at the UMCU and also in the Center for Physiotherapy Research & Innovation in Primary Care at Leidsche Rijn Julius Health Care Centers.

Cindy Veenhof is responsible for the Physiotherapy Sciences Master Program of the University Utrecht (annual graduation 20-25 students) and supervises eight PdD students. She has published over  forty peer-reviewed papers, over forty practice publications and contributed to several books.

Research line

Physiotherapy, physical (in)activity, innovation, eHealth, implementation

Most recent key publications

1: Kloek CJ, Bossen D, Veenhof C, van Dongen JM, Dekker J, de Bakker DH. Effectiveness and cost-effectiveness of a blended exercise intervention for patients with hip and/or knee osteoarthritis: study protocol of a randomized controlled trial. BMC Musculoskelet Disord. 2014 Aug 8;15:269.
2: Bossen D, Veenhof C, Van Beek KE, Spreeuwenberg PM, Dekker J, De Bakker DH. Effectiveness of a web-based physical activity intervention in patients with knee and/or hip osteoarthritis: randomized controlled trial. J Med Internet Res. 2013 Nov 22;15(11).
3: Pisters MF, Veenhof C, van Dijk GM, Heymans MW, Twisk JW, Dekker J. The course of limitations in activities over 5 years in patients with knee and hip osteoarthritis with moderate functional limitations: risk factors for future functional decline. Osteoarthritis Cartilage. 2012 Jun;20(6):503-10.
4: Hoogeboom TJ, Oosting E, Vriezekolk JE, Veenhof C, Siemonsma PC, de Bie RA, van den Ende CH, van Meeteren NL.Therapeutic validity and effectiveness of preoperative exercise on functional recovery after joint replacement: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One. 2012;7(5):e38031.
5: Barten DJ, Swinkels LC, Dorsman SA, Dekker J, Veenhof C, de Bakker DH. Treatment of hip/knee osteoarthritis in Dutch general practice and physical therapy practice: an observational study. BMC Fam Pract. 2015 Jun 27;16:75