Alexander Olsen

• Olsen, Alexander; Andersen, Vidar & Sæterbakken, Atle Hole (2025). Relative strength does not influence the sticking region among recreational trained participants in squat. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology. 10(3), p. 321–321. doi: 10.3390/jfmk10030321. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Objectives: The barbell back squat is one of the most frequently used exercises to improve lower-body strength and power. The aim of this study was to examine the impact of relative strength on the kinematics in the barbell back squat to a 90-degree angle. Methods: Forty-six recreationally trained men completed five familiarization sessions over three weeks to ensure proper lifting technique. The participants were tested in a ten-repetition maximum (10 RM), during which barbell velocity, acceleration, vertical displacement, and the time of the pre-sticking, sticking, and post-sticking regions were measured. The participants were then categorized into two groups: (1) the above-median group or (2) the below-median group, to examine whether kinematics were affected by relative strength (10 RM load/body weight). Results: The below-median group had a relative strength of 1.37, whereas the above-median group had a relative strength of 1.76. There was a 5.86% non-statistical difference (p = 0.052) in vertical barbell displacement between the groups. There were no significant differences between the groups in barbell velocity or lifting time for the whole movement nor differences between the groups for any of the kinematic variables in the pre-sticking, sticking, or post-sticking regions. When combining the data from the two groups, there was a significant weak negative correlation between relative strength and barbell displacement throughout the whole movement. Conclusions: These findings suggest that distinct levels of relative strength may not influence lifting kinematics in 90-degree back squats among recreationally trained participants.

• Olsen, Alexander; Tangen, Steffen; Sando, Ole Johan & Sandseter, Ellen Beate Hansen (2025). Toddlers’ actualization of affordances during free exploration in a varied natural environment. International Journal of Play. ISSN 2159-4937. 14(1), p. 99–113. doi: 10.1080/21594937.2025.2464349. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Research indicates that the natural environment offers diverse and challenging play and exploration opportunities that support developmental aspects in children. However, studies on toddlers’ utilization of natural settings are scarce. This study investigates how toddlers use a varied natural environment when allowed to explore freely and was conducted with a mixed methods approach. To capture how the toddlers utilized the natural environment, data were collected through head-mounted GoPro cameras as seven toddlers explored freely. The results demonstrate that toddlers engage in a wide range of activities, including gross motor, loose material, and water activities in the natural environment. There were large variations among the toddlers concerning time spent on different surfaces and exploratory activities, supporting the notion of nature as a child-friendly environment for toddlers. The findings have implications for early childhood and education and care (ECEC) practices, where toddlers should be given ample time and space to explore nature freely, in areas with varied and challenging surfaces and a rich diversity of natural elements and materials to explore.

• Tangen, Steffen; Olsen, Alexander & Sandseter, Ellen Beate Hansen (2022). A GoPro Look on How Children Aged 17–25 Months Assess and Manage Risk during Free Exploration in a Varied Natural Environment. Education Sciences. 12(5), p. 1–14. doi: 10.3390/educsci12050361. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Research indicates that risky play has positive effects on children’s development, learning and health, and ability to assess and manage risk, but there is a lack of knowledge on how toddlers engage in risky play. This study aims to investigate how toddlers assess and manage risk in free exploration in a varied natural environment and was conducted within an explorative qualitative approach. Observations were collected through head-mounted GoPro cameras while seven toddlers freely explored a natural environment. The results show that toddlers are able to assess and manage risks in challenging natural environments. They develop their own risk management skills and assess risks directly and indirectly. The results also show that practitioners sometimes perform risk assessment/management on behalf of the child and thus override the child’s own actions. The findings suggest implications for an early childhood education and care (ECEC) practice where children even as young as 17–25 months should be allowed to explore challenging environments and learn how to assess and manage risks

• Sæterbakken, Atle Hole; Olsen, Alexander; Behm, David G; Bårdstu, Hilde Bremseth & Andersen, Vidar (2019). The short and long-term effects of resistance training with different stability requirements. PLOS ONE. 14(4), p. 1–18. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0214302. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  The aim of this study was to assess the short- and long-term effects of resistance training (RT) with different stability requirements. Fifty-nine men underwent a 3-week familiarization period followed by a 7-week training period. During familiarization, all participants trained four sessions of squats with a Smith machine, free weights and free weights standing on a wobble board. After week-3, participants were randomized into a low (Smith machine), medium (Free-weight) or high (Wobble board) stability RT program, and Control group. All participants were tested pre-, after week-3 and post-intervention. Ten repetition maximum (10RM), rate of force development (RFD), electromyography (EMG) and maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) were tested in all three squat conditions in addition to countermovement jump (CMJ) on stable and unstable surfaces, and muscle thickness. After familiarization, greater 10RM loads (21.8–27.3%), MVIC (7.4–13.5%), RFD (29.7–43.8%) and CMJ (4.9–8.5%) were observed in all conditions. Between week 3 and 10, the Free-weight and Wobble board groups similarly improved 10RM in all conditions. Smith machine group demonstrated greater improvement in the trained exercise than the medium and high stability exercises. All training groups showed similar improvement in muscle thickness, RFD and MVIC. There was no CMJ improvement on the stable surface, but the Wobble board group demonstrated significantly greater improvement on the unstable surface. In conclusion, low, medium or high stability RT resulted in similar improvements in trained and non-trained testing conditions except for greater CMJ on the unstable surface in the Wobble group. Greater 10RM strength in trained than non-trained exercise was only observed in low stability group. Familiarization was associated with substantial improvements in 10RM and CMJ, with greater improvement associated with higher stability requirements. These findings suggest that high stability can increase strength, muscle thickness and explosive measurements similar to training with lower stability.

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• Tangen, Steffen & Olsen, Alexander (2026). The Nordic Healthy Cities’ Webinar: Child-Friendly Places. Full text in Research Archive
• Olsen, Alexander & Tangen, Steffen (2026). Risikofylt lek skal gjøre barn mer robuste. [Internet]. hiof.no. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Innlegg om utviklingsprosjekt med fredrikstad kommune på hiof.no

• Olsen, Alexander & Tangen, Steffen (2026). Klatring og skrubbsår skal gjøre barn mer robuste. [Journal]. Fredrikstad Blad. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Innlegg om risikolek i Fredrikstad blad

• Olsen, Alexander (2026). Intervju om vårt utviklingsarbeid i samarbeid med Fredrikstad Kommune på NRK Østfold morgensending. [TV]. Nrk Østfold. Full text in Research Archive
• Olsen, Alexander (2026). Intervju om vårt utviklingsarbeid i samarbeid med Fredrikstad Kommune på NRK Østfold Radio. [Radio]. Nrk Østfold Radio. Full text in Research Archive Show summary

  Intervju om vårt utviklingsarbeid med tre barnehager med mål om å bedre barnas sosio-emosjonelle ferdigheter. Varighet fra 2025-2028

• Tangen, Steffen & Olsen, Alexander (2025). 1-2-åringenes vurdering og håndtering av risiko ved fri utforsking av natur. Full text in Research Archive
• Olsen, Alexander; Tangen, Steffen; Sandseter, Ellen Beate Hansen & Sando, Ole Johan (2024). Toddlers’ actualization of affordances during free exploration in a varied natural environment. Full text in Research Archive
• Olsen, Alexander & Tangen, Steffen (2024). De yngste barnas utforskning i naturen. Full text in Research Archive
• Tangen, Steffen & Olsen, Alexander (2024). De yngste barna i naturen. Full text in Research Archive
• Olsen, Alexander; Tangen, Steffen; Sando, Ole Johan & Sandseter, Ellen Beate Hansen (2024). De yngste barnas realisering av innbydelser under fri utforskning i natur. Full text in Research Archive
• Olsen, Alexander (2023). De yngste barnas risikovurdering og håndtering. Full text in Research Archive
• Olsen, Alexander & Tangen, Steffen (2023). Use of GoPros to explore how young children assess and manage risk in a natural environment. Full text in Research Archive
• Olsen, Alexander; Tangen, Steffen & Sandseter, Ellen Beate Hansen (2022). Children’s own perception of risks. How children (1-2 years) cope with risks in a varied natural environment – and possible implications for the pedagogues. Full text in Research Archive
• Olsen, Alexander; Sandseter, Ellen Beate Hansen & Tangen, Steffen (2022). A GoPro-look on how children aged 17-25 months assess and manage risk during free exploration in a varied natural environment. Full text in Research Archive
• Jacobsen, Adrian Kristinsønn; Tangen, Steffen; Olsen, Alexander; Hoveid, Sigrid & Eide, Cathrine Aasgaard (2022). De yngste barna i naturen. Full text in Research Archive
• Tangen, Steffen; Olsen, Alexander & Sandseter, Ellen Beate Hansen (2021). De yngste barnas vurdering og håndtering av risiko i fri utforsking av natur. Full text in Research Archive
• Hoveid, Sigrid; Eide, Cathrine Aasgaard; Tangen, Steffen; Rasmussen, Adrian Kristinsønn & Olsen, Alexander (2020). Å la barns nysgjerrighet lede vei i utforsking av naturen. Full text in Research Archive

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