UK

Urho Kujala

Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Jyväskylä University, University of Jyväskylä, University of Helsinki, The Finnsh Foundation of Sports Medicine, University of Tampere

Research areas: Medicine · Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health · Physical Activity and Health · Sports injuries and prevention · Cardiovascular and exercise physiology

ORCID iD 0000-0002-9262-1992
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About

Has been official supervisor in 33 doctoral dissertations. Has been leader in numerous research projects on musculo-skeletal injuries, population-, athlete- and twin studies, exercise intervention studies and studies on the mechanisms mediating the effects of physical activity on health. Has also been the leader/chief physician of the research and clinical medicine unit of the Finnish Foundation of Sports Medicine in Helsinki for 12+ years and lead research on Sports & Exercise Medicine at the University of Jyväskylä for 15+ years.

Development and leading of a sports & exercise medicine master program as well as establishment and leading of physical activity and health-related research line in the University of Jyväskylä during 2005-2021.

Editor (together with Ilkka Vuori and Simo Taimela): Finnish textbook on Sports and Exercise Medicine (Liikuntalääketiede, 3rd edition, Kustannus OY Duodecim, Helsinki 2005, 699 pages).

420+ published original articles in international peer review scientific journals (see: Kujala U*[Author] - Search Results - PubMed (nih.gov) ). Publications include papers on the effects of physical activity and sports beyond the level of the highest impact factors in sports medicine.

Selected details of the activity:

Physical activity, heritability and health in Finnish twins has been one of the main research projects. This long-term research project is based on the studies that have used the Finnish Twin Cohort as subjects (see JAMA 1998;279:440-44). Co-twin control studies of long-term physical activity discordant twin pairs has been a unique contribution (for a summary see Kujala UM et al. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2022;32:1316-1323).

Studies on the health of male former elite athletes including differing health benefit and risk profiles of different types of sports participation has been one of the key focuses (see Metabolism 1994;10:1255-1260, Sports Medicine 2003;33:553-561, and JAMA 1996;276:216-220).

Has been international level amateur orienteering runner merits including bronze medal in Word Championships in relay competition and bronze medal in individual and gold in relay academic world championships in 1978, as well as 5 gold medals in Finnish orienteering championships in individual and relay competitions in junior and adult classes.

As a clinical medical specialist in Sports and Exercise Medicine has participated in the treatment of athletes through about 20 000 patient appointments with much research on the prevention treatment and rehabilitation of sports injuries. This role was associated with the Turku Sports Medical Research Unit, University of Turku (later Paavo Nurmi Centre) during 1980 to 1990, and was very important during working as the chief physician at The Finnish Foundation of Sports Medicine from 1990 to 2003.

Educational and clinical work in increasing the role of physical activity and exercise in the prevention and treatment of chronic diseases:
This has been a key work topic since specializing to sports and exercise medicine. Aside clinical and research work this has included regular lecture series on exercise or physical activity in the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of chronic diseases at the University of Helsinki/Open University (1990-2003) and at the University of Jyväskylä (2003-2021). Scientific studies included many pioneering research findings on the role of physical activity in the prevention of diseases, but also in the treatment of diseases such as the use of strength training in the treatment of non-insulin-dependent diabetes (Int J Sports Med 1997;18:242-246). This work also included a key role in the establishment of Sports and Exercise Medicine clinic to Central Finland Central Hospital serving public health care. The main aims of this clinic are:
• Tailoring exercise therapy to patients with challenges in exercising; first goal better function and avoiding the need of more expensive treatments
• Coordination of exercise therapy in Central Finland hospital district (prevention and treatment)
• Incorporating exercise for the treatment guidelines of different diseases in a personalized way
• Follow-up of effectiveness (walking tests, body composition analyses etc.)
For more details see: Postgrad Med 2023;135:283-289.
The principles of Individualized sports and exercise medicine include: When tailoring exercise to formerly inactive individuals take into account previous exercise level, health and fitness status, motivational factors/exercise preferences, practical possibilities. The most important effects of exercise in patients with chronic disease include positive influences on fitness and functioning, mood, pain, quality of life and some indicators of disease progression (see medRxiv 2021.02.11.21251608). This means that both the society and the individual benefits when the patients will have more independent years outside hospitals and nursery homes.

Employment

  • Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Jyväskylä University Professor emeritus
    2022 - Present
  • University of Jyväskylä Professor of Sports & Exercise Medicine
    2003 - 2022
  • The Finnsh Foundation of Sports Medicine Chief Physician and Executive Director
    1990 - 2003
  • Turku University Hospital Assistant Physician
    1990 - 1990
  • Härkätie Health Care Center Primary Care Physician
    1990 - 1990
  • Turku City (Primary Health Care) Primary Care Physician
    1989 - 1989
  • Turku City Hospital Assistant Physician in Surgery
    1989 - 1989
  • Turku Sports Medical Research Unit Spesializing Physician for Sports & Exercise Medicine
    1988 - 1989
  • Orthopaedic Hospital of Invalid Foundation Assistant Physician in Rehabilitation Medicine
    1987 - 1988
  • Turku Sports Medical Research Unit Young Investigator
    1987 - 1987
  • Turku Sports Medical Research Unit Spesializing Physician for Sports and Exercise Medicine
    1987 - 1987
  • Rehabilitation Research Centre of the Social Insurance Physician
    1986 - 1986
  • Rehabilitation Research Centre of the Social Insurance Physician
    1986 - 1986
  • Turku Sports Medical Research Unit Young Investigator (PhD student)
    1984 - 1986

Education

Projects & Funding

  • Non-Invasive Real-Time Wearable Monitoring of Health and Physical-Performance Indicators Tekes
    2017 - 2019
  • Branched-chain amino acid catabolism and fat oxidation Academy of Finland
    2016 - 2020
  • Long-term leisure-time physical activity and other determinants and correlates of older age physical activity/inactivity and cognition in twins. Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture
    2016 - 2017
  • Long-term leisure-time physical activity and other determinants and correlates of older age physical activity/inactivity and cognition in twins. Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture
    2015 - 2016
  • Health Data Mining (consortium) – Physical activity and work-related stress. Tekes – the Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation. Role: Partner.
    2014 - 2016
  • Female steroid hormone mediated regulation of apoptosis as a mechanism of muscle ageing and sarcopenia Academy of Finland
    2014 - 2018
  • Effect of exercise therapy on function in the treatment of chronic disease: an overview of meta-analyses of randomized controlled trials. JYPE
    2014 - 2015
  • Long-term leisure-time physical activity and other determinants and correlates of older age physical activity/inactivity and cognition in twins. Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture
    2014 - 2015
  • Physical activity and fitness, high-risk body fat, other cardio-metabolic risk factors and neuro-psychological function in twins Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture
    2012 - Present
  • Developing predictors of the health benefits of exercise for individuals European Union Seventh Framework Program
    2011 - 2016
  • Muscle and liver cell lipid droplets and their coat proteins Academy of Finland
    2010 - 2013
  • Association between physical activity and fitness with cardio-metabolic risk factors. Longitudinal study in twins (FinnTwin16) Juho Vainio Foundation
    2010 - Present
  • Physical activity and fitness, high-risk body fat, other cardiometabolic risk factors and neuro-psychological function in twins Finnih Ministry of Education and Culture
    2010 - Present
  • Mind and Body Tekes - The Finnish Funding Agency for Technology and Innovation
    2010 - 2011
  • Effects of physical inactivity vs. activity on metabolism and cardiovascular system - study of twin pairs who have been discordant for physical activity for 30 years (TWINACTIVE) Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture
    2008 - Present
  • Metabolic and cardiovascular consequences of physical inactivity vs. activity – A study on twin pairs who have been persistently discordant for physical activity for 30 years. Academy of Finland
    2007 - 2009
  • Metabolic and cardiovascular consequences of physical inactivity vs. activity - A study on twin pairs who have been persistently discordant for physical activity for 30 years Juho Vainio Foundation
    2007 - 2008
  • Effects of physical inactivity vs. activity on metabolism and cardiovascular system - study of twin pairs who have been discordant for physical activity for 30 years (TWINACTIVE) Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture
    2007 - Present
  • Sports injuries; incidence, prevention and consequences EVO/Hospital ORTON
    2006 - 2008
  • Sum effect of physical activity on health - A study on twin pairs persistently discordant for physical activity Finnish Ministry of Education
    2006 - 2007
  • Sum effect of physical activity on health - A study on twin pairs persistently discordant for physical activity. Finnish Ministry of Education
    2005 - 2006
  • Knee arthroscopy and home exercise program vs. home exercise program only among subjects with chronic patellofemoral pain syndrome. A randomized controlled trial. Paulo foundation
    2003 - 2003
  • Physical activity and use of medications among former athletes Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture
    2002 - 2002
  • Genetic and environmental factors in the etiology of osteoarthritis Academy of Finland
    1999 - 2000
  • Genetic and environmental factors in the etiology of osteoarthritis Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture
    1999 - 2000
  • The effect of physical activity during young adulthood and middle-age on the occurrence of chronic diseases Juho Vainio Foundation
    1998 - 1998
  • Health benefits and addverse effects of intensive exercise Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture
    1997 - 1998
  • The effect of physical activity on risk factors of metabolic diseases. A study on twins and their parents. Finnish Ministry of Education and Culture
    1994 - 1995

Publications (566)