Helen Hanstock
Universitetslektor|Senior Lecturer
- Professional title: Senior Lecturer
- Academic title: Associate Professor
- Other title: Accredited teacher
- Area of responsibility: Head of Subject, Sports Science
- Telephone: +46 (0)10-1428124
- Email: helen.hanstock@miun.se
- Room number: D308e
- Location: Östersund
-
- Employed at the subject:
- Sports Science
-
- Research centers:
- The Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre
-
- Department:
- Department of Health Sciences (HOV)
Dr Helen Hanstock's research aims to improve athlete health, particularly in winter endurance sports. Key areas include prevention of asthma and respiratory illnesses, as well as fine-tuning training and performance optimisation strategies to minimise the risk of accumulated stress leading to underperformance. A core theme of her research is the development of novel approaches for athlete biological monitoring, more recently through the application of omics technologies to identify multi-panel biomarkers fit for monitoring health and performance.
Helen has worked in international consortia to develop guidelines for the reporting of illness and injury epidemiology in snow sports, and contributed to the International Biathlon Union's coach education programme.
In addition Helen currently serves as Associate Editor for the European Journal of Sport Science in Applied Sports Science.
Background
2015-present: Lecturer, Sports Science, Mid Sweden University & researcher with the Swedish Winter Sports Research Centre.
PhD Exercise Immunology, Bangor University UK
BA (Hons) Physiological Sciences, Oxford University UK
Area of interest
Exercise Physiology
Exercise Immunology
Environmental Physiology
Exercise in Cold Climates
Biomarkers of health and training status
Remote and non-invasive athlete monitoring
Sports-omics
Research
Noninvasive markers of immune status
Immunological effects of exercise, training and psychological stress
Airway effects of cold environments
Sports metabolomics
Other information
The Physiological Society (Associate); International Society of Exercise Immunology; European College of Sports Science.
Research projects
Current
Aegis: use of heat exchangers when training in cold environments
ASPE-P project: prospective study on asthma, medication and performance
Examining Heart Rate, Oxygen Uptake, and Immune Response in Constant Intensity Endurance Exercise
Finished
Publications
Articles in journals
Conference papers
Doctoral theses, monographs
Manuscripts
Articles in journals
Sporri, J. , McGawley, K. , Alhammoud, M. , Bahr, R. , Dios, C. , Engebretsen, L. , Gilgien, M. , Gouttebarge, V. & et al. (2025). Snow sports-specific extension of the IOC consensus statement : methods for recording and reporting epidemiological data on injury and illness in sports. British Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 59: 1, pp. 8-23.
Hanstock, H. , Karlsson, Ø. , Govus, A. & McGawley, K. (2024). 671 FO15 – Identification of biomarkers of illness incidence in national team cross-country skiers using metabolomics. British Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 58
Talbot, N. P. , Cheng, H. , Hanstock, H. , Smith, T. G. , Dorrington, K. L. & Robbins, P. A. (2024). Hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction does not limit maximal exercise capacity in healthy volunteers breathing 12% oxygen at sea level.. Physiological Reports, vol. 12: 4
Karlsson, Ø. , Govus, A. , McGawley, K. & Hanstock, H. (2024). Metabolic Phenotyping from Whole-Blood Responses to a Standardized Exercise Test May Discriminate for Physiological, Performance, and Illness Outcomes : A Pilot Study in Highly-Trained Cross-Country Skiers. Sports Medicine - Open, vol. 10: 1
Kock, H. , Schürer, A. , Staunton, C. & Hanstock, H. G. (2024). The snow must go on : how German cross-country skiers maintained training and performance in the face of COVID-19 lockdowns. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, vol. 6
Ahokas, E. K. , Ihalainen, J. , Hanstock, H. , Savolainen, E. & Kyröläinen, H. (2023). A post-exercise infrared sauna session improves recovery of neuromuscular performance and muscle soreness after resistance exercise training. Biology of Sport, vol. 40: 3, pp. 681-689.
Jong, M. , Hanstock, H. G. , Stenfors, N. & Ainegren, M. (2023). Elite skiers' experiences of heat- and moisture-exchanging devices and training and competition in the cold : A qualitative survey. Health Science Reports, vol. 6: 9
Ahokas, E. K. , Hanstock, H. , Löfberg, I. , Nyman, M. , Wenning, P. , Kyröläinen, H. , Mikkonen, R. & Ihalainen, J. K. (2023). Nocturnal Heart Rate Variability in Women Discordant for Hormonal Contraceptive Use. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, vol. 55: 7, pp. 1342-1349.
Stenfors, N. , Persson, H. , Tutt, A. , Tufvesson, E. , Andersson, E. P. , Ainegren, M. & Hanstock, H. G. (2022). A breathing mask attenuates acute airway responses to exercise in sub-zero environment in healthy subjects. European Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 122: 6, pp. 1473-1484.
Ainegren, M. , Hanstock, H. & Stenfors, N. (2022). Breathing resistance in heat and moisture exchanging devices. Proceedings of the Institution of Mechanical Engineers, Part P, vol. 236: 2, pp. 97-105.
Eklund, L. M. , Skondal, A. , Tufvesson, E. , Sjostrom, R. , Söderstrom, L. , Hanstock, H. G. , Sandstrom, T. & Stenfors, N. (2022). Cold air exposure at-15 degrees C induces more airway symptoms and epithelial stress during heavy exercise than rest without aggravated airway constriction. European Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 122: 12, pp. 2533-2544.
Hanstock, H. G. , Kapellos, T. S. , Keir, H. R. , Khedoe, P. P. S. , Long, M. B. , Evren, E. , Ubags, N. D. & Cruz, J. (2022). Highlights of the ERS Lung Science Conference 2022. Breathe, vol. 18: 4
Blakeson, M. C. , Jerome, S. P. , Walsh, N. P. , Schagatay, E. & Hanstock, H. G. (2022). Illness Incidence, Psychological Characteristics, and Sleep in Dogsled Drivers During the Iditarod Trail Sled Dog Race. Wilderness & environmental medicine (Print), vol. 33: 1, pp. 92-96.
Gavrielatos, A. , Ratkevica, I. , Stenfors, N. & Hanstock, H. G. (2022). Influence of exercise duration on respiratory function and systemic immunity among healthy, endurance-trained participants exercising in sub-zero conditions. Respiratory Research, vol. 23: 1
Hanstock, H. , Eklund, L. , Sandström, T. & Stenfors, N. (2022). No differences in cytokine responses to moderate-intensity exercise in -10°C versus 10°C.. ERJ Open Research, vol. 8: suppl 8
Hanstock, H. , Tutt, A. S. , Persson, H. , Andersson, E. , Ainegren, M. & Stenfors, N. (2021). 390 Can a heat-and-moisture exchanger attenuate inflammatory responses to exercise in sub-zero conditions?. British Journal of Sports Medicine, vol. 55: Suppl 1
Tutt, A. , Persson, H. , Andersson, E. P. , Ainegren, M. , Stenfors, N. & Hanstock, H. G. (2021). A heat and moisture-exchanging mask impairs self-paced maximal running performance in a sub-zero environment. European Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 121: 7, pp. 1979-1992.
Pojskić, H. , Hanstock, H. G. , Tang, T. & Rodríguez-Zamora, L. (2021). Acute Exposure to Normobaric Hypoxia Impairs Balance Performance in Sub-elite but Not Elite Basketball Players. Frontiers in Physiology, vol. 12
Eklund, L. , Schagatay, F. , Tufvesson, E. , Sjöström, R. , Söderström, L. , Hanstock, H. , Sandström, T. & Stenfors, N. (2021). An experimental exposure study revealing composite airway effects of physical exercise in a subzero environment. International Journal of Circumpolar Health, vol. 80: 1
Stenfors, N. , Hanstock, H. , Ainegren, M. & Lindberg, A. (2021). Usage of and attitudes toward heat‐ and moisture‐exchanging breathing devices among adolescent skiers. Translational Sports Medicine, vol. 4: 3, pp. 337-343.
Hanstock, H. , Ainegren, M. & Stenfors, N. (2020). Exercise in Sub-zero Temperatures and Airway Health : Implications for Athletes With Special Focus on Heat-and-Moisture-Exchanging Breathing Devices. Frontiers in Sports and Active Living, vol. 2: 34
Hanstock, H. , Govus, A. , Stenqvist, T. B. , Melin, A. K. , Sylta, Ø. & Torstveit, M. K. (2020). Influence of Immune and Nutritional Biomarkers on Illness Risk During Interval Training. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, vol. 15: 1, pp. 60-67.
Ahokas, E. K. , Kyröläinen, H. , Mero, A. A. , Walker, S. , Hanstock, H. & Ihalainen, J. K. (2020). Water immersion methods do not alter muscle damage and inflammation biomarkers after high-intensity sprinting and jumping exercise. European Journal of Applied Physiology, vol. 120, pp. 2625-2634.
Sjöström, R. , Söderström, L. , Klockmo, C. , Patrician, A. , Sandström, T. , Björklund, G. , Hanstock, H. & Stenfors, N. (2019). Qualitative identification and characterisation of self-reported symptoms arising in humans during experimental exposure to cold air. International Journal of Circumpolar Health, vol. 78: 1
Hanstock, H. , Edwards, J. & Walsh, N. (2019). Tear Lactoferrin and Lysozyme as Clinically Relevant Biomarkers of Mucosal Immune Competence. Frontiers in Immunology, vol. 10
Hanstock, H. , Edwards, J. , Roberts, R. & Walsh, N. (2018). High heart rate reactors display greater decreases in tear SIgA concentration following a novel acute stressor. Biological Psychology, vol. 133, pp. 85-88.
Eriksson, L. , Schagatay, F. , Sjöström, R. , Soderstrom, L. , Hanstock, H. , Sandström, T. & Stenfors, N. (2018). Symptoms of moderate exercise in subzero temperatures - An experimental exposure study. European Respiratory Journal, vol. 52
Hanstock, H. , Walsh, N. P. , Edwards, J. P. , Fortes, M. B. , Cosby, S. L. , Nugent, A. , Curran, T. , Coyle, P. V. & et al. (2016). Tear Fluid SIgA as a Noninvasive Biomarker of Mucosal Immunity and Common Cold Risk. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, vol. 48: 3, pp. 569-577.
Diment, B. , Fortes, M. B. , Edwards, J. P. , Hanstock, H. , Ward, M. D. , Dunstall, H. M. , Friedmann, P. S. & Walsh, N. P. (2015). Exercise Intensity and Duration Effects on In Vivo Immunity. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, vol. 47: 7, pp. 1390-1398.
Conference papers
Bäckebjörk, E. , Hanstock, H. & Stenfors, N. (2024). 785 MEP004 Effect of a heat and moisture exchanger on type-2 inflammatory biomarker responses to exercise in subzero conditions. Paper presented at the 7th IOC World Conference on Prevention of Injury and Illness in Sport
Ahokas, E. , Hanstock, H. , Kyröläinen, H. & Ihalainen, J. K. (2024). Effects of regular use of post-exercise infrared sauna on development of neuromuscular performance and hypertrophy.. Paper presented at the European Congress of Sports Science, Glasgow, 2-5 July, 2024
Ek, L. , Hanstock, H. , Ainegren, M. , Lindberg, A. & Stenfors, N. (2024). Förekomst av och riskfaktorer för ansträngningsutlöst bronkkonstriktion hos unga elitsatsande skidåkare. : En screeningstudie med ansträngningstest i köldkammare. Paper presented at the Svenska Lungkongressen, Örebro, 24-26 april, 2024
Ek, L. , Hanstock, H. , Ainegren, M. , Lindberg, A. & Stenfors, N. (2024). Prevalence of exercise-induced bronchoconstriction in adolescent cross-country skiers using exercise challenge test in sub-zero air. Paper presented at the ERS congress, Vienna, Austria, 7-11 September, 2024
Gavrielatos, A. , Ratkevica, I. , Stenfors, N. & Hanstock, H. (2022). Acute respiratory responses to moderate-intensity exercise at -15°C in atopic and non-atopic subjects. In Biomedical Basis of Elite Performance 2022 12 – 13 April 2022 | University of Nottingham, UK Abstracts.. pp. 65--67.
Ahokas, E. , Kyröläinen, H. , Löfberg, I. , Taipale Mikkonen, R. , Hanstock, H. & Ihalainen, J. (2021). Menstruation has no effect on heart rate variability and subjective sleep quality of physically active women. Paper presented at the ECSS Virtual Congress, September 8-10, 2021.
Gavrielatos, A. , Ratkevica, I. , Stenfors, N. & Hanstock, H. (2021). No differences in acute lung function responses between two cold air exercise trials of different durations. Paper presented at the ECSS 2021 - 26th Annual Congress of the European College of Sports Science, [DIGITAL], September 8-10, 2021
Hanstock, H. , Tutt, A. , Persson, H. , Andersson, E. , Ainegren, M. & Stenfors, N. (2020). A heat-and-moisture exchanging mask may increase the physiological demands of submaximal exercise in -15 degrees Celsius.. In Book of Abstracts of the 25th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science – 28th - 30th October 2020.. pp. 75--76.
Tutt, A. , Persson, H. , Andersson, E. , Ainegren, M. , Stenfors, N. & Hanstock, H. (2020). A heat-and-moisture-exchanging mask affects each sex differently during exercise in sub-zero conditions. Paper presented at the Nordic Winter Sports Conference 2020, [DIGITAL]
Hanstock, H. (2020). Development of Asthma in Young Skiers: What Can We Tell From Airway Immunological Responses to Exercise in Cold?. In Abstracts From the 31st Pediatric Exercise Physiology Meeting: Children-Exercise-Physical Activity & Sport Performance (September 2019, Umeå, Sweden).. pp. S2-
Tutt, A. , Persson, H. , Andersson, E. , Ainegren, M. , Stenfors, N. & Hanstock, H. (2020). Heat-and-moisture exchanging masks : Advantage or a hindrance during exercise in sub-zero conditions?. In Book of Abstracts of the 25th Annual Congress of the European College of Sport Science, 28th - 30th October, 2020... pp. 49--50.
Tutt, A. , Persson, H. , Andersson, E. , Ainegren, M. , Stenfors, N. & Hanstock, H. (2020). Sex differences in muscle oxygenation during sub-zero exercise with a heat-and-moisture exchanger. Paper presented at the Nordic Winter Sports Conference 2020, [DIGITAL], 1-2 October, 2020
Ahokas, E. K. , Kyrolainen, H. , Mero, A. , Walker, S. , Hanstock, H. & Ihalainen, J. K. (2019). Minimal effect of water immersion on markers of inflammation and muscle damage after intensive exercise. In Proc Physiol Soc 44.
Hanstock, H. , Govus, A. , Stenqvist, T. B. , Melin, A. , Sylta, Ö. & Torstveit, M. K. (2018). Evaluation of physiological and nutritional risk factors for upper respiratory illness using a zero-inflated negative binomial model. In Journal of Sports Sciences : Volume 36, 2018 - Issue sup1: BASES Conference 2018 – Programme and Abstracts.. pp. 44--45.
Hanstock, H. , Govus, A. , Stenqvist, T. B. , Melin, A. K. , Sylta, Ö. & Torstveit, M. K. (2018). Influence of interval duration on immunological responses to 4-weeks’ high-intensity interval training. In Journal of Sports Sciences : BASES Conference 2018 – Programme and Abstracts.. pp. 1--94.
Eriksson, L. , Schagatay, F. , Sjöström, R. , Söderström, L. , Hanstock, H. , Sandström, T. & Stenfors, N. (2018). Symptom av måttlig träning i minusgrader : En experimentell exponeringsstudie. Paper presented at the Svenska Lungkongressen, Linköping, 16-17 april, 2018
Eklund, L. , Schagatay, F. , Sjöström, R. , Söderström, L. , Hanstock, H. , Sandström, T. & Stenfors, N. (2018). Symptoms of moderate exercise in subzero temeperatures : An experimental exposure study. Paper presented at the European Respiratory Society Congress, Paris, France, 15-19 September
Hanstock, H. , Edwards, J. P. & Walsh, N. P. (2017). Potential of tear fluid antimicrobial proteins to evaluate risk of upper respiratory illness. In 13th ISEI Symposium : Training our immune system for health and performance.
Hanstock, H. (2017). Understanding ”ski asthma”: risk factors and management strategies.. Paper presented at the Nationellt Vintersportcentrum Conference, Åre, October 5-6, 2017
Doctoral theses
Hanstock, H. (2016). Tear Secretory IgA: A Noninvasive Biomarker of Mucosal Immune Competence. Dis. Bangor University, 2016
Manuscripts
Karlsson, Ø. , Govus, A. , McGawley, K. & Hanstock, H. Changes in the metabolic profiles of highly-trained endurance athletes in response to high-intensity exercise.