Nicole Voet is an experienced medical doctor specializing in neuromuscular disorders, currently working at the neuromuscular disease outpatient clinic at Klimmendaal Rehabilitation Center in Arnhem and the Rehabilitation Department of Radboudumc. At both locations, she provides care to patients with slowly progressive neuromuscular diseases, with a particular focus on facioscapulohumeral dystrophy (FSHD). 

Nicole has a strong academic background, holding a Master’s degree in Medicine from the University of Nijmegen and a PhD focused on the efficacy of aerobic exercise and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) in FSHD. In 2016, she defended her PhD thesis, and in 2017, she received the International PhD Award Rehabilitation Medicine for her groundbreaking work. Her current research emphasizes improving the quality of life for patients with FSHD, particularly by analyzing fatigue and evaluating the effects of exercise and physical activity in patients with neuromuscular diseases.

As the Head of the Centre for Expertise (Research, Education, Innovation) at Klimmendaal, Nicole plays a pivotal role in advancing care for neuromuscular disorders. With expertise in clinical research, medical education, and therapies for exercise and fatigue, she is committed to bridging research and practical applications in rehabilitation medicine. She is skilled in cognitive behavioral therapy, neuromuscular disease management, and fostering community and professional connections in the healthcare industry.

Research lines Nicole Voet

I am a rehabilitation physician specialized in neuromuscular disorders, affiliated with Klimmendaal Rehabilitation Center and the Department of Rehabilitation of the Radboud University Medical Center. I am chair of the Dutch national neuromuscular care network and internationally active in advisory boards and expert groups such as ERN EURO-NMD, INSPIRE-NMD, and the Myositis Health & Research Alliance. My mission is to improve the quality of life and societal participation for people with neuromuscular disorders through personalized rehabilitation, patient-centered care models, and network-based innovation. All my work is grounded in close collaboration with patients as partners.

Research line 1: Fatigue and pain in daily life

This line focuses on understanding and reducing muscle fatigue and pain, two significant symptoms severely impacting daily functioning in people with neuromuscular disorders. We combine wearable sensor technology, real-time monitoring, and AI-driven data analysis with patients’ experiences to develop tools for better diagnosis, personalized training, and adaptive pacing. One of the current goals is to create a wearable “muscle watch” that enables real-time assessment of local muscle fatigue, which can be used in daily life and rehabilitation settings. These methods can be applied beyond neuromuscular diseases, including in other chronic conditions and elite sports.

Collaborations and projects:

GRIP on FSHD study: home exercise training in FSHD

• Experts involved: Mariska Janssen and Ronne Pater (Radboudumc), Thomas Lapole (University of St. Etienne, France), Giuseppe d’Antona (University of Pavia, Italy), Vincent Bastiaans and David Sluijs (HAN University of Applied Sciences)

Intelligent gait analysis in children and young adults with NMD (Klimmendaal, Johanna Kinderfonds)

• Experts involved: Mariska Janssen and Ronne Pater (Klimmendaal/ Radboudumc), Marieke Hunnekens (Klimmendaal), Saskia Houwen and Corrie Erasmus (Radboudumc)

One size fits nobody study: Strength training in FSHD

• Experts involved: Mariska Janssen, Ronne Pater, Nicol Voermans, Harriette Jager-Wittenaar, Philip van der Wees (Radboudumc), Ton Satink (HAN University of Applied Sciences)

Research line 2: Complex personalized rehabilitation interventions

This research aims to design and evaluate personalized, multimodal treatment programs that combine physical activity, mental well-being, and lifestyle factors to support self-regulation and overall health in neuromuscular diseases. Inspired by the biopsychosocial model and recent advances in lifestyle medicine, we develop inclusive programs that promote “trial fitness” (optimizing condition before novel treatment) and sustainable behavior change. The work builds on my PhD studies on CBT and exercise in FSHD and evolves into complex interventions funded by national and international consortia.

Ongoing studies include:

One size fits nobody study: Strength training in FSHD

• Experts involved: Mariska Janssen, Ronne Pater, Nicol Voermans, Harriette Jager-Wittenaar, Philip van der Wees (Radboudumc), Ton Satink (HAN University of Applied Sciences)

Research line 3: Innovative care models and network care

As healthcare systems face increasing complexity, the third research focus is on developing and implementing network-based care models for people with neuromuscular disorders. These models promote shared care across settings (1st, 2nd, 3rd line), reduce fragmentation, and are designed to accommodate the arrival of high-cost therapies. As chair of the national neuromuscular care network, I lead the co-design of care pathways with patients, clinicians, and policy-makers. Through digital health, co-creation, and value-based approaches, we aim to shape future-proof, equitable care.

Key initiatives:

Spierziekten Zorgnetwerk (national care network)

• Project group: Martin Beuzel, Esther Kruitwagen and Anita Beelen (UMCU), Kirsten IJsebaert (Klimmendaal), patiënt organisation Spierziekten Nederland

Patient design teams (KIDZ grant)

• Project group: Patient organisation Spierziekten Nederland

Techniques/keywords: pain, (muscle) fatigue, patient-reported outcome measures, exercise, functional outcome measures, integrated care models, wearable technology, exercise physiology, FSHD