Physical activity assessment for health

Using wearable technology, our goal is to develop methods for the measurement of physical activity that are widely usable in research and practice to enhance our understanding of the benefits of a physically active lifestyle on long-term health.

Walk test with wearable sensors on a laboratory corridor

Overview

Core fields of research

Physical activity, health and wellbeing

Research areas

JYU.Well

Physical activity through life span

Active aging

Faculty

Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences

Research group description

We are using wearable technology and advanced analysis methods to quantify health-related aspects of daily physical activity. We are exploring different dimensions of activity, such as volume, intensity, duration, frequency, and type, and their associations to health in different population groups. The main goals are to develop methods that are widely usable in research and practice and to enhance our understanding of the benefits of a physically active lifestyle on long-term health.

Current

Members

Research group

Group leaders

Laura Karavirta

Associate professor

Members

Matti Hyvärinen

Postdoctoral Researcher

Kirsi Keskinen

Postdoctoral Researcher (absent)

Kaisa Koivunen

Academy Research Fellow

Katja Lindeman

Grant researcher, doctoral degree

Antti Löppönen

Postdoctoral Researcher

Postdoctoral Researcher

External members

Jenny Ray

Doctoral researcher

University of Jyväskylä and Folkhälsan Research Center

Publications

Publication

2026

Association between physical activity bout length and physical functioning in older adults using absolute and relative intensity thresholds: A longitudinal cohort study

Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences.

Hyvärinen, Matti

Löppönen, Antti

Aittokoski, Timo

Brage, Soren

Gonzales, Tomas

Rantanen, Taina

Karavirta, Laura

Publication

2026

Association between relative free-living sit-to-stand transition thigh angular velocities and difficulties in mobility and daily functioning

Aging Clinical and Experimental Research.

Löppönen, Antti

Koivunen, Kaisa

Rantanen, Taina

Karavirta, Laura

Rantalainen, Timo

Publication

2026

Does sit-to-stand transition velocity vary across the day? Association with physical functioning and fatigability in community-dwelling older adults

Innovation in Aging.

Löppönen, Antti

Karavirta, Laura

Rantakokko, Merja

Lindeman, Katja

Delecluse, Christophe

Van Roie, Evelien

Rantanen, Taina

Palmberg, Lotta

Publication

2026

Feasibility of a field‐based submaximal stair ascent test for estimating aerobic capacity and lower‐limb strength in middle‐aged and older adults

Clinical Physiology and Functional Imaging.

Hyvärinen, Matti

Kajan, Niina

Kettunen, Eeva

Lehtiö, Ari

Kallio, Jouni

Knittle, Keegan

Cronin, Neil

Karavirta, Laura

Publication

2026

Longitudinal associations between physical activity and preferred walking speed in community-dwelling older adults: a 4-year follow-up study

European Review of Aging and Physical Activity.

Neuvonen, Joona

Hyvärinen, Matti

Löppönen, Antti

Aittokoski, Timo

Rantanen, Taina

Karavirta, Laura

Publication

2025

Body composition and functional capacity as determinants of physical activity in middle-aged and older adults : a cross-sectional analysis

European Review of Aging and Physical Activity.

Hyvärinen, Matti

Kankaanpää, Anna

Rantalainen, Timo

Rantanen, Taina

Laakkonen, Eija K.

Karavirta, Laura

Publication

2025

Determinants of mobility in community-dwelling older adults : a network analysis before, during and two years after the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic

Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences.

Lindeman, Katja

Rantanen, Taina

Tuomola, Essi-Mari

Eronen, Johanna

Karavirta, Laura

Koivunen, Kaisa

Publication

2025

Differences in prolonged walking intensity and duration between older people reporting difficulty, modifications or no difficulty in walking

Experimental Gerontology.

Peltomaa, Heli

Rantakokko, Merja

Matikainen-Tervola, Emmi

Aittokoski, Timo

Rantanen, Taina

Karavirta, Laura

Publication

2025

Free-Living Physical Activity Energy Expenditure Based on Accelerometry Versus Heart Rate in Community-Dwelling Older Adults

Journal for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour.

Neuvonen, Joona

Aittokoski, Timo

Rantalainen, Timo

Lipponen, Jukka

Palmberg, Lotta

Brage, Soren

Gonzales, Tomas I.

Portegijs, Erja

Rantanen, Taina

Karavirta, Laura

Publication

2025

Physical determinants of daily physical activity in older men and women

PLoS ONE.

Karavirta, Laura

Aittokoski, Timo

Pynnönen, Katja

Rantalainen, Timo

Westgate, Kate

Gonzales, Tomas

Palmberg, Lotta

Neuvonen, Joona

Lipponen, Jukka A.

Turunen, Katri

Nikander, Riku

Portegijs, Erja

Rantanen, Taina

Brage, Søren

Publication

2025

Use it or lose it : a four-year follow-up assessing whether physical activity near one’s capacity reduces the risk of functional decline among older adults

European Review of Aging and Physical Activity.

Löppönen, Antti

Lindeman, Katja

Palmberg, Lotta

Van Roie, Evelien

Delecluse, Christophe

Portegijs, Erja

Rantanen, Taina

Rantalainen, Timo

Karavirta, Laura

Publication

2024

24-hour movement behaviors and changes in quality of life over time among community-dwelling older adults : a compositional data analysis

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity.

Palmberg, Lotta

Suorsa, Kristin

Löppönen, Antti

Karavirta, Laura

Rantanen, Taina

Rantalainen, Timo