Technological assessment of physical activity for health

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

Research group type

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

Niina Kajan

Project researcher

Kirsi Keskinen

Postdoctoral Researcher (absent)

Kaisa Koivunen

Postdoctoral Researcher

Katja Lindeman

Project researcher

Antti Löppönen

Postdoctoral Researcher

Postdoctoral Researcher

Mansour Taleshi

Postdoctoral Researcher

Topi Teitto

Research Assistant

Publications

Publication

2024

Free-Living Sit-to-Stand Characteristics as Predictors of Lower Extremity Functional Decline Among Older Adults

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.

Löppönen, Antti

Karavirta, Laura

Finni, Taija

Palmberg, Lotta

Portegijs, Erja

Rantanen, Taina

Delecluse, Christophe

Van Roie, Evelien

Rantalainen, Timo

Publication

2024

Laboratory-assessed gait cycle entropy for classifying walking limitations among community-dwelling older adults

Experimental Gerontology.

Mattila, Olli-Pekka

Rantanen, Taina

Rantakokko, Merja

Karavirta, Laura

Cronin, Neil

Rantalainen, Timo

Publication

2024

Longitudinal changes in life-space mobility and autonomy in participation outdoors among Finnish community-dwelling older adults from pre-COVID-19 to through the pandemic

Aging Clinical and Experimental Research.

Lindeman, Katja

Karavirta, Laura

Koivunen, Kaisa

Keskinen, Kirsi E.

Eronen, Johanna

Portegijs, Erja

Rantanen, Taina

Publication

2024

Physical Activity Changes From Before to During the First Wave of the COVID-19 Pandemic Among Community-Dwelling Older Adults in Finland

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity.

Lindeman, Katja

Karavirta, Laura

Eronen, Johanna

Kajan, Niina

Portegijs, Erja

Rantanen, Taina

Publication

2024

Physical Behavior Profiles Among Older Adults and Their Associations With Physical Capacity and Life-Space Mobility

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity.

Palmberg, Lotta

Löppönen, Antti

Hyvärinen, Matti

Portegijs, Erja

Rantanen, Taina

Rantalainen, Timo

Karavirta, Laura

Publication

2024

Reciprocal Associations Between Relative or Absolute Physical Activity, Walking Performance, and Autonomy in Outdoor Mobility Among Older Adults : A 4-Year Follow-Up

Journal of Aging and Health.

Lindeman, Katja

Koivunen, Kaisa

Rantalainen, Timo

Rantakokko, Merja

Portegijs, Erja

Rantanen, Taina

Karavirta, Laura

Publication

2024

The role of cardiorespiratory fitness and body composition in the association between physical activity and menopausal symptoms

Menopause: the Journal of the North American Menopause Society.

Hyvärinen, Matti

Karvanen, Juha

Karppinen, Jari E.

Karavirta, Laura

Juppi, Hanna-Kaarina

Tammelin, Tuija H.

Kovanen, Vuokko

Laukkanen, Jari

Aukee, Pauliina

Sipilä, Sarianna

Rantalainen, Timo

Laakkonen, Eija K.

Publication

2023

Association of Sit-to-Stand Capacity and Free-Living Performance Using Thigh-Worn Accelerometers among 60- to 90-Yr-Old Adults

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.

Löppönen, Antti

Delecluse, Christophe

Suorsa, Kristin

Karavirta, Laura

Leskinen, Tuija

Meulemans, Lien

Portegijs, Erja

Finni, Taija

Rantanen, Taina

Stenholm, Sari

Rantalainen, Timo

Van Roie, Evelien

Publication

2023

Autonomic nervous system and postural control regulation during orthostatic test as putative markers of physical resilience among community-dwelling older adults

Experimental Gerontology.

Koivunen, Kaisa

Löppönen, Antti

Palmberg, Lotta

Rantalainen, Timo

Rantanen, Taina

Karavirta, Laura

Publication

2022

Association between arterial stiffness and walking capacity in older adults

Experimental Gerontology.

Hinrichs, Timo

Portegijs, Erja

Rantanen, Taina

Infanger, Denis

Schmidt-Trucksäss, Arno

Karavirta, Laura

Publication

2022

Association Between Free-Living Sit-to-Stand Transition Characteristics, and Lower-Extremity Performance, Fear of Falling, and Stair Negotiation Difficulties Among Community-Dwelling 75 to 85-Year-Old Adults

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

Löppönen, Antti

Karavirta, Laura

Koivunen, Kaisa

Portegijs, Erja

Rantanen, Taina

Finni, Taija

Delecluse, Christophe

Van Roie, Evelien

Rantalainen, Timo

Publication

2022

Is Complexity of Daily Activity Associated with Physical Function and Life Space Mobility among Older Adults?

Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise.

Rantalainen, Timo

Koivunen, Kaisa

Portegijs, Erja

Rantanen, Taina

Palmberg, Lotta

Karavirta, Laura

Chastin, Sebastien