What Idrettens Helsesenter does

Idrettens Helsesenter (IHS) is a Norwegian specialized sports healthcare provider founded in autumn 2009 and wholly owned by Norges Fotballforbund (NFF), operating from a single physical facility in Oslo (Ekebergveien 101) under a formal hospital license (sykehuskonsesjon) granted by the Ministry of Health and Care Services. IHS serves Norwegian athletes across recreational and elite levels — including all children under 13 and members of 17+ sports federations — and layers a triage hotline (Skadetelefon, daily 09:00–21:00) over a quality-assured treatment network of approximately 400 doctors and therapists spanning every Norwegian county. Beyond triage and rehabilitation, IHS runs a day-surgery hospital (arthroscopic orthopedic procedures), specialized clinical nutrition and psychology services (REDs, eating disorders, stress fractures, post-operative nutrition), a career-transition center (Idrettens Karrieresenter) jointly with NISO and NFF, and an occupational health line (Bedriftshelse) for corporate clients.

The underlying technology and product architecture is intentionally low-tech and protocol-driven: clinical expertise and evidence-based return-to-play pathways, a tiered provider-prioritization system (Prioriteringstabeller), annual network quality review, free e-learning modules for athletes and mandatory modules for network practitioners, and ISO 9001/ISO 14001 certifications. A Medical Advisory Board (Medisinsk Råd) of internationally recognized sports medicine professors (Jon Karlsson, Roald Bahr, Anna Melin, Michael Skovdahl Rathleff) underwrites protocol authority.

IHS's revenue mechanics combine several streams: (i) insurance-coordinated sports injury treatment, where IHS triages via Skadetelefon and coordinates payment between insurers (notably Gjensidige) and network providers; (ii) public-sector rehabilitation contracts with NAV (work-oriented rehabilitation) and Helse Sør-Øst (cardiac, chronic pain, obesity rehabilitation) at standard co-payment terms; (iii) corporate occupational health services delivered on-site; and (iv) hospital surgical revenue from day-case arthroscopic procedures. Distribution is hybrid — direct at the Oslo center, phone-based nationally via the hotline, and federated through the ~400-provider network — and the customer mix spans individual athletes, federation insurance schemes, public payers, and corporate employers.

Name

Idrettens Helsesenter

Legal name

Idrettens Helsesenter AS

Website

https://idrettshelse.no

Company type

Private

Founded year

2009

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Idrettens Helsesenter is a Norwegian specialized sports healthcare provider, wholly owned by the Norwegian Football Federation, delivering triage, rehabilitation, day surgery, and clinical nutrition services to athletes across Norway via an injury hotline and a ~400-provider treatment network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Sports Healthcare Services

NAICS

Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (62134), Offices of Physicians (6211), Offices of Physical, Occupational and Speech Therapists, and Audiologists (621340), Offices of Physicians (62111)

SIC

Services-Health Services (8000), Services-Offices & Clinics Of Doctors Of Medicine (8011), Services-Hospitals (8060), Services-Specialty Outpatient Facilities, Nec (8093)

akta.pro primary industry

Sports Rehabilitation, Return-to-Play & Performance Therapy Centers (MPAKAJAO)

akta.pro secondary industries

Orthopedic & Sports Rehabilitation Centers (HLAFAFAI), Sports Medicine, Athletic Training & Rehabilitation Services (EDALAIAH), Pain Management (Spine & Musculoskeletal) (HLAKALAM)

Keywords

• Sports medicine services
• Athlete healthcare
• Sports injury rehabilitation
• Orthopedic treatment
• Occupational health services

Headquarters

HQ city

Oslo

HQ country

Norway

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Insurance-based sports injury treatment: Treatment coordination and payment facilitation through insurance companies for licensed athletes. The injury hotline orders examination and treatment in the quality-assured treatment network, with insurance companies making payments to doctors and therapists.
2. Public rehabilitation contracts: Contracts with NAV for work-oriented rehabilitation, and Helse Sør-Øst for cardiac rehabilitation, chronic musculoskeletal pain management, and obesity rehabilitation. Standard patient co-payments apply.
3. Occupational health services (Bedriftshelse): Corporate health services including health examinations, vaccination, ergonomics, and health/lifestyle training delivered at workplaces.
4. Skadetelefon services to sports federations: Sports federations and insurance companies purchase the injury hotline service from IHS. Hotline provides injury prevention advice and coordinates treatment regardless of insurance coverage.

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels5 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Idrettens Helsesenter AS operates as an athlete-focused hospital and sports healthcare center in Oslo, providing sports injury treatment, orthopedic surgery, rehabilitation, physiotherapy, nutrition and psychology services. It operates the Idrettens Skadetelefon (Injury Hotline) as a phone-based advisory service, runs Idrettens Sykehus for day surgery, and coordinates treatment through a nationwide network of approximately 400 quality-assured doctors and therapists. The company also delivers public rehabilitation programs under contracts with NAV and Helse Sør-Øst, and corporate occupational health services.

Product overview

Idrettens Helsesenter (IHS) operates as an integrated sports healthcare platform offering multiple interconnected services. The core offerings include: Idrettens Skadetelefon (injury hotline) as the front-door advisory service, Idrettens Sykehus (sports hospital) for surgical interventions, and Behandlernettverket (treatment network) providing nationwide quality-assured healthcare access. Supporting services include Ernæring og Psykologi (nutrition and psychology) for REDs and eating disorders, Fysioterapi/Testing/Trening for rehabilitation and return-to-sport protocols, and Rehabilitering programs for public healthcare patients. Additional offerings include Idrettens Karrieresenter for career transition support and Bedriftshelse for corporate health services. The Medisinsk Råd (medical advisory board) ensures evidence-based practices across all services. Founded in 2009 and wholly owned by Norges Fotballforbund, IHS serves athletes across all sports through insurance-funded and public healthcare pathways.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Idrettens Skadetelefon: Telephone-based advisory service for sports injuries, open all days 09:00-21:00, providing advice on injury prevention and treatment.
• Idrettens Sykehus
• Idrettens Karrieresenter

Products and services

• Idrettens Skadetelefon (Injury Hotline) Phone-based advisory service with sports medicine expertise that guides athletes through injury treatment. Open daily 09:00-21:00, staffed by physiotherapists with specialist physicians as second-line support. Coordinates treatment through the nationwide quality-assured network.
• Idrettens Sykehus (Sports Hospital) Day surgery facility approved under Norwegian law offering treatment for most orthopedic conditions including arthroscopic procedures (keyhole surgery) for hand, elbow, knee, and ankle.
• Behandlernettverket (Treatment Network) Nationwide quality-assured network of approximately 400 doctors and therapists across all Norwegian counties providing sports medicine treatment with annual follow-up.
• Rehabilitering (Rehabilitation) Public rehabilitation programs including work-oriented rehabilitation (NAV), cardiac disease programs, chronic muscle pain programs, and obesity rehabilitation (Helse Sør-Øst).
• Fysioterapi/Testing/Trening (Physiotherapy/Testing/Training) Sports physiotherapy services including functional testing during rehabilitation and return-to-sport protocols, led by specialists in sports physiotherapy.
• Ernæring og Psykologi (Nutrition and Psychology) Clinical nutrition and psychology services for athletes including treatment for REDs (Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport), eating disorders, stress reactions, and post-operative nutrition.
• Bedriftshelse (Corporate Health) Workplace health services including health examinations, vaccination, ergonomics, and training in health and lifestyle, provided by doctors, coaches, physiotherapists, nutritionists, and psychologists.
• Idrettens Karrieresenter (Sports Career Center) Career transition services for athletes, partnership between NISO, Idrettens Helsesenter, and Norges Fotballforbund helping athletes succeed in sports careers and working life after retirement from sports.
• Lege-tjenester (Medical Doctor Services) Medical services including sports medicine specialists treating all types of sports injuries, with staff including specialists in orthopedics, family medicine, and physical medicine.

Quantifiable outcome

• Time from injury to insurance reporting reduced from 120 days to 10 days
• +5 more outcomes

Named customers4 records

Segments5 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Norges Fotballforbund (Norwegian Football Federation)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerProud owner of Idrettens Helsesenter (IHS). The football federation, as a voluntary organization, aims through IHS to take extended social responsibility. NFF has specialized competence in physical training, diet, nutrition, and lifestyle. IHS was established in 2009 to ensure quality sports medical treatment with the athlete at the center.
• Best Helse ASminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerCollaboration agreement between IHS and Best Helse. Espen Rooth is CEO of both IHS and Best Helse. Transparency maintained with full disclosure and IHS board review to ensure no conflicts of interest.
• NISO (Norges Idrettsutøveres Sentralorganisasjon)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership in Idrettens Karrieresenter (IKS) - the Athlete Career Center. Joint collaboration between NISO, Idrettens Helsesenter, and Norges Fotballforbund to help athletes succeed in sports careers and working life.
• Høyskolen KristianiaminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEducational partnership offering study programs for athletes to combine education with elite sports careers. Sponsors study places for selected athletes. Collaboration focused on career preparation during sporting career.
• Gjensidige (Insurance)coreOthersInsurance company handling payments for licensed athlete injuries. Payments of approximately NOK 35.5 million to ~450 treatment locations plus individuals since 2010. Approximately NOK 5.9 million paid to IHS since April 2013.
• 17+ Sports FederationscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSports federations that include Skadetelefonen in their insurance coverage. As of 2016, assists athletes from 17 special sports federations plus all children under 13 under children's sports insurance. Federations determine insurance company and Skadetelefon inclusion.

Scale indicators10 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Regional players

• Swedish Sports Medicine Centre (Idrottsmedicinska enheten, Karolinska / Sophiahemmet): Swedish specialist sports medicine providers (notably linked to Sophiahemmet) delivering orthopedic and sports physiotherapy services. Comparable in clinical specialty but serving a different Nordic geography with a different public/private mix.
• HPR (Health, Performance, Recovery): Norwegian physiotherapy and rehabilitation chain offering sports injury treatment and post-operative rehab. Comparable on rehabilitation and physiotherapy delivery, but without IHS's hospital license, federation ownership, or nationwide triage network.
• Klinikk for Alle: Norwegian outpatient physiotherapy and specialist clinic chain providing physical medicine, rehabilitation, and some occupational health services. Comparable on physical medicine / rehabilitation delivery to general public in Norway, but lacking IHS's athlete specialization.

Direct peers

• Norsk Idrettsmedisinsk Institutt (NIMI): Norway's largest specialist sports medicine clinic, offering physician, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation services to athletes and active individuals. Most direct Norwegian private competitor to IHS, overlapping strongly on sports medicine, orthopedic, and rehab offerings.
• Clínica CEMTRO: Madrid-based private orthopedic and sports medicine hospital treating elite athletes and the public. Closely comparable as a private orthopedic hospital with embedded sports medicine, physiotherapy, and rehabilitation services.
• Fortius Clinic: London-based specialist sports medicine and orthopedic clinic serving elite and amateur athletes with consultants, surgery, and rehabilitation. Comparable in clinical scope (orthopedic surgery + rehab + sports physician) and athlete focus, though operating in a private-pay UK market.
• Aspetar Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital: Qatar-based specialized sports medicine hospital providing orthopedic surgery, rehabilitation, and return-to-play services to elite athletes. Closest international analogue to IHS's hospital-plus-rehab-plus-network model, though at significantly larger scale and with state funding.
• Isokinetic Medical Group: International sports rehabilitation and orthopedic group (originating in Italy, now in UK and beyond) specializing in return-to-play after joint and ligament surgery. Comparable to IHS's RTP protocols and rehabilitation depth, with multi-country footprint.
• Olympiatoppen: Norwegian Olympic elite sport center providing medical, physiotherapy, nutrition, and psychology services to national-team athletes. Directly comparable to IHS as a publicly funded national sports medicine hub, but serving elite rather than federation-wide athlete populations.

Broad incumbents

• Manchester Institute of Health & Performance (MIHP): UK facility co-developed with elite sport partners offering sports medicine, rehabilitation, and performance testing. Comparable as an integrated sports medicine and rehab hub, though operated within a larger UK hospital system rather than as a federation-owned entity.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/idrettshelse.no
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/idrettens-helsesenter-as

Compliance3 records

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Idrettens Helsesenter