Henri (H.L.P.) Hurkmans, PhD

I’m a senior researcher at the department of Orthopedics - Physical Therapy at the Erasmus MC. My research aims at optimizing the physical fitness and activity level of patients in a (pre- and post-)clinical setting by using innovative technology. The focus in this research is on the development, validation, usability, and effectiveness of technology based interventions (tele-therapy / web based physical therapy / exergaming / tele-monitoring / sensor technology).
I’m also the project leader of the Health Innovation Project 'Telefysio', a web based system to optimize the physical fitness and activity level of patients in a (pre- and post-)clinical setting.

Physical Therapy, Rehabilitation, physical activity, clinical research, exergaming, application of sensor monitoring technology

I obtained my MSc in Biomedical Health Sciences at the Radboud University in Nijmegen, and my PhD at the Erasmus University Rotterdam (Thesis: “Partial Weight Bearing: Long-term monitoring of load in patients with a total hip arthroplasty during postoperative recovery”, 2005). Currently, I’m a senior researcher at the department of Orthopedics at the Erasmus MC.

For publications click here

Supervising bachelor/master students of various studies/universities (e.g. medicine, human movement science, health science, health technology). Provide a lecture on innovations to stimulate human movement for the Minor “Rehabilitation & Sports” (Bachelor Medicine, Erasmus University). Supervise students for the Minor “Medicine for technical students” (Medical Delta). I worked for several years as a lecturer at Human Care Technology (Avans University of Applied Sciences), and provided for many years lessons for the NPI course “Trauma surgery and fracture interventions”. I also gave refreshers and training courses in research methods and evidence base practice to physical therapists.

Member of the International Society for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour (ISMPB)
Member of the  Initiatiefgroep Fysiotherapie Wetenschap (Initiative of Dutch Professors and Lectors of Physical Therapy)
Member of the Physical Activity Community Erasmus MC (PACE)
Member of the Vereniging voor Bewegingswetenschappen Nederland (VvBN)

Erasmus MC – Hillrom PhD grant (€250k; 2019): “Mobilization and physical activity of hospitalized patients - Optimizing patient care using advanced sensor technology"; project leader.

IMPAcT project (Increasing Mobility and Physical Activity using sensor Technology)
Telefysio project