Johanna Ihalainen

Johanna Ihalainen

Senior Lecturer
Unit
Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences
Room number
VIV 233
Mobile
+358407062521
Postal address
Rautpohjankatu 8a
Fields of science
315 Sport and fitness sciences

Biography

I am a Senior Lecturer (Sport Science) and working to expand research and development opportunities in the high-performance sports in Finland.

My research focuses on optimising the training and health of athletes. I am particularly interested in issues affecting female athletes, such as how the menstrual cycle affects performance, recovery and training adaptations. At the moment I am running a research project on relative energy deficiency in sports (NoREDs).

In January 2018, I defended my PhD thesis on training and inflammation. The particular focus of my dissertation was on the effect of strength training on inflammatory markers in healthy young men. I also investigated and developed ways to predict and further reduce upper respiratory symptoms in endurance athletes.

I have a Master's degree in Sport Science from the University of Jyväskylä. I majored in exercise physiology and physical education. As part of my studies in physical education, I completed formal pedagogical training. As a PhD student and university lecturer at the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, teaching was part of my responsibilities. I taught undergraduate and postgraduate courses that focused mainly on human physiology, fitness testing (strength and endurance), nutrition, skill acquisition and coaching.

Due to my academic background, I have a comprehensive understanding of both basic and applied physiology. I am knowledgeable in body composition measurements (dxa, bioimpedance and skinfolds) and fitness testing (strength and endurance). I am a registered nurse and have planned, developed and performed various blood, urine, muscle biopsy and saliva analyses. Currently, I am also working with topics related to mental health of athletes.

I am always open to discuss my research topics or sport in general.


Links to the  RDI projects that I have been / am involved in

https://www.jyu.fi/sport/fi/tutkimus/hankkeet/noreds
https://www.jyu.fi/sport/fi/tutkimus/hankkeet/naisqs
https://www.jyu.fi/sport/fi/tutkimus/hankkeet/naisurheilija-2.0
https://www.jyu.fi/sport/fi/tutkimus/hankkeet/training-room
https://www.jyu.fi/sport/fi/tutkimus/hankkeet/fyysinen-kuormitus-jalkap…
https://kihu.fi/mita-teemme/urheilun-tutkimus-kehitys-ja-innovaatiot/tk…

https://www.jyu.fi/fi/hankkeet/kohti-tasa-arvoista-urheilua-yhteinen-ma…

Research interests

My research focuses on the athletes health and performance.

Publications

Publication
2025
Available through Open Access
Trials.
Konola, Ville-Markus
Parkkari, Jari
Multanen, Juhani
Nikander, Riku
Rantalainen, Timo
Vesanto, Johanna
Pekkala, Satu
Kalaja, Merja
Ihalainen, Johanna K.
Waller, Benjamin
Munukka, Matti
Sievänen, Harri
Nevalainen, Mika
Kautiainen, Hannu
Casula, Victor
Paloneva, Juha
Vasankari, Tommi
Peuna, Arttu
Saarakkala, Simo
Nieminen, Miika T.
Heinonen, Ari