International conference Football is Medicine in Jyväskylä 14–16 January 2025 to highlight the health effects of football
The Football is Medicine conference addresses the health effects of football and brings together the perspectives of sport science, exercise physiology, sport medicine, sport psychology, and social sciences related to sport and physical activity. The programme includes altogether more than 50 presentations.
“Football micro games provide an intensive and well-rounded combination of strength, endurance and aerobic, high-intensity interval exercise,” says Associate Professor Kasper Salin from the JYU Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences. “The exercises can be used in the prevention and rehabilitation of many chronic diseases.”
Professor Peter Krustrup (University of Southern Denmark), one of the main speakers at the conference, founded the Football is Medicine network in 2018. It includes nowadays more than 250 researchers from 25 countries. The conference, which is part of the network’s activities, is being held for the seventh time.
The event is now more multidisciplinary, more diversified and more multi-voiced. In addition to scientific presentations, the science-meets-practice perspective will be strongly present,” says Professor of practice Mihaly Szerovay, who will berepresentingthe Football Association of Finland as well as the Ģֱ.
“From the programme, I would highlight the keynote presentation by UEFA’s Medical Specialist Katrine Kryger on women’s football and about how to make the traditional football environment more inclusive,” Szerovay says, “and also the panel discussion about international models and best practices for football as a hobby.”
In addition, keynote presentations will be given by Dr Maysa Vieira de Sousa (Karolinska Institutet and University of Sao Paulo) and Associate Professor Felipe Lobelo(Hubert Department of Global Health at Emory’s Rollins School of Public Health).
The conference is intended for a wide range of different target groups, such as researchers, students, coaches, practical operators in clubs, PE teachers, physicians, and sport service providers. As part of the conference, there will also be a training session on fitness soccer for club representatives.
The conference is organised jointly by the JYU Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, the Football Association of Finland, and Laurea University of Applied Sciences.
Further information:
Conference website: jyu.fi/footballismedicine
JYU Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences:
Mihaly Szerovay, Professor of Practice
mihaly.m.szerovay@jyu.fi, 050 351 5445
Henri Louste, Coordinator
henri.a.louste@jyu.fi
Media registrations:
Katri Lehtovaara, Communications Specialist
katri.lehtovaara@jyu.fi, 050 475 0815
