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Physical activity has been considered an important factor affecting recovery. However, occupational and leisure-time physical activity can have opposite health effects. The results of the dissertation showed that employees with high levels of occupational physical activity reported a high perceived need for recovery.

"Meeting the exercise recommendations through occupational physical activity does not necessarily produce the desired health effects of exercise," reflects doctoral researcher Tiina Karihtala from the Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences at the Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥.

In this study, the amount of physical activity during leisure time was not associated with need for recovery. More information is needed on how different forms of leisure-time physical activity affect recovery, and what kinds of physical activity could best support individual recovery.

The study also showed that a high need for recovery was associated with insomnia. This association was particularly strong among employees with high levels of occupational physical activity, highlighting the multifaceted nature of recovery.

"Especially when occupational physical activity is high, attention should be paid to getting sufficient, high-quality sleep and finding individually suitable recovery methods, both during the workday and in leisure time," Karihtala notes.

The demands of modern life can cause stress both at work and during leisure. Adequate recovery is essential for maintaining health and work ability. A balanced life is achieved when work, leisure, and sleep are harmoniously integrated, ensuring that stress and recovery are in proper proportion.

The doctoral dissertation is based on the DagisWork - Work Ability Promoting Workplace Intervention for Daycare Workers research project by the Finnish Institute of Occupational Health.

The public examination of MSc Tiina Karihtala's doctoral dissertation "Recovery from Work, Sleep and Physical Activity in Daycare Personnel - Cluster Randomised Controlled Trial with a Remote Multiple Health Behaviour Change Approach" will be held on Friday, April 25, 2025, at 12:00 in Agora, room Ag B222.1 Gamma. The opponent will be Research Director Tuija Tammelin (Likes) and the custos will be Emeritus Professor Ari Heinonen (Ä¢¹½Ö±²¥). The language of the dissertation defense is Finnish.

Karihtala has worked as a physiotherapist and trainer, in expert role in the third sector, and as a lecturer in physiotherapy. She currently works as a research and development manager at Metropolia University of Applied Sciences.

More information: 

Tiina Karihtala, MSc 
tiina.karihtala@gmail.com