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

Table of contents

Research group type
Research group
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.

Publications

Publication
2025

European Review of Aging and Physical Activity
Hyvärinen, Matti
Kankaanpää, Anna
Rantalainen, Timo
Rantanen, Taina
Laakkonen, Eija K.
Karavirta, Laura
Publication
2025

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

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
2024

International Journal of Behavioral Nutrition and Physical Activity
Palmberg, Lotta
Suorsa, Kristin
Löppönen, Antti
Karavirta, Laura
Rantanen, Taina
Rantalainen, Timo
Publication
2024

GeroScience
Koivunen, Kaisa
Portegijs, Erja
Karavirta, Laura
Rantanen, Taina
Publication
2024

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

Experimental Gerontology
Mattila, Olli-Pekka
Rantanen, Taina
Rantakokko, Merja
Karavirta, Laura
Cronin, Neil
Rantalainen, Timo
Publication
2024

Aging Clinical and Experimental Research
Lindeman, Katja
Karavirta, Laura
Koivunen, Kaisa
Keskinen, Kirsi E.
Eronen, Johanna
Portegijs, Erja
Rantanen, Taina
Publication
2024

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity
Lindeman, Katja
Karavirta, Laura
Eronen, Johanna
Kajan, Niina
Portegijs, Erja
Rantanen, Taina
Publication
2024

Journal of Aging and Physical Activity
Palmberg, Lotta
Löppönen, Antti
Hyvärinen, Matti
Portegijs, Erja
Rantanen, Taina
Rantalainen, Timo
Karavirta, Laura
Publication
2024

Journal of Aging and Health
Lindeman, Katja
Koivunen, Kaisa
Rantalainen, Timo
Rantakokko, Merja
Portegijs, Erja
Rantanen, Taina
Karavirta, Laura
Publication
2024

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.

Research group

Group leaders

Laura Karavirta

Laura Karavirta

Academy Research Fellow

Timo Rantalainen

Senior Researcher

Members

Matti Hyvärinen

Matti Hyvärinen

Postdoctoral Researcher
Niina Kajan

Niina Kajan

Project researcher
Kirsi Keskinen

Kirsi Keskinen

Postdoctoral Researcher
Kaisa Koivunen

Kaisa Koivunen

Postdoctoral Researcher
Katja Lindeman

Katja Lindeman

Doctoral Researcher
Antti Löppönen

Antti Löppönen

Postdoctoral Researcher

Olli-Pekka Mattila

Project researcher

Joona Neuvonen

Doctoral Researcher

Heli Peltomaa

Doctoral Researcher

Eeva Kettunen

Postdoctoral Researcher