Physical Activity Researcher

Ashokan Arumugam is an Assistant Professor of Physiotherapy at the College of Health Sciences, University of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates.
He is an Orthopedic Manual Physiotherapist with a special interest in physical activity analysis in sedentary and diseased populations, biomechanical analyses of the lower limbs, and neuroplastic changes in individuals with and without musculoskeletal ligament injuries.
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This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | The New Gold Standard for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Monitoring
Learn more about Fibion: fibion.com/research
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Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely -
Discover new Fibion SENS Motion: https://sens.fibion.com/

Current State and Future: Role of Physical Activity in Public Health - Prof Russell Pate (Pt2)
Dr. Pate is Professor in the Department of Exercise Science in the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina. He has held several administrative positions including Chair, Department of Exercise Science; Associate Dean for Research, Arnold School of Public Health; and Vice Provost for Health Sciences.
Dr. Pate is an exercise physiologist with interests in physical activity and physical fitness in children and the health implications of physical activity. His research has been supported by NIH, CDC, the American Heart Association, and several private foundations and corporations.
He coordinated the effort that led to the development of the recommendation on Physical Activity and Public Health of the CDC and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) (1995).
He served on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee, and an Institute of Medicine panel that developed guidelines on prevention of childhood obesity. He currently serves as Chair of the National Physical Activity Plan Alliance. In 2012, he received the Honor Award from the ACSM.
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This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | The New Gold Standard for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Monitoring
Learn more about Fibion: fibion.com/research
---
Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely -
Discover new Fibion SENS Motion: https://sens.fibion.com/

Dr. Pate is Professor in the Department of Exercise Science in the Arnold School of Public Health at the University of South Carolina. He has held several administrative positions including Chair, Department of Exercise Science; Associate Dean for Research, Arnold School of Public Health; and Vice Provost for Health Sciences.
Dr. Pate is an exercise physiologist with interests in physical activity and physical fitness in children and the health implications of physical activity. His research has been supported by NIH, CDC, the American Heart Association, and several private foundations and corporations. He coordinated the effort that led to the development of the recommendation on Physical Activity and Public Health of the CDC and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) (1995).
He served on the 2005 Dietary Guidelines Advisory Committee, the 2008 Physical Activity Guidelines Advisory Committee, and an Institute of Medicine panel that developed guidelines on prevention of childhood obesity. He currently serves as Chair of the National Physical Activity Plan Alliance. In 2012, he received the Honor Award from the ACSM.
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This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | The New Gold Standard for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Monitoring
Learn more about Fibion: fibion.com/research
---
Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely -
Discover new Fibion SENS Motion: https://sens.fibion.com/

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This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | The New Gold Standard for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Monitoring
Learn more about Fibion: fibion.com/research
---
Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely -
Discover new Fibion SENS Motion: https://sens.fibion.com/

 
 
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This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | The New Gold Standard for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Monitoring
Learn more about Fibion: fibion.com/research
---
Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely -
Discover new Fibion SENS Motion: https://sens.fibion.com/

Announcement Related to the Rest of the 2022 - Irregular Publishing Schedule
Dear listeners,
So it happened that both of the podcast hosts became parents on the very same day!
Recordings have been swapped to diaper changing and lullaby singing. This means that the Meaningful Sport Series will be paused until about the end of the year.
Regular episodes and Practitioner`s Viewpoint Series will be running but with less episodes. Some of the popular episodes will be republished from earlier days of the podcast.
Thanks for your understanding and we hope that the over 400 episodes so far will provide something to listen to meanwhile. We are enthusiastic about the podcast and grateful for all the positive feedback and support, it really makes our day. While we scale back we would still appreciate all your feedback and suggestions on who and what you would like to hear in the podcast as it will be returning to full swing next year.
Have a great autumn all,
Noora and Olli
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Dr Samad Esmaeilzadeh got his PhD in 2015 from University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. His PhD thesis was about finding agreement between heart rate deflection point (HRDP) and maximal lactate steady state (MLSS).
He performed research studies about physical activity, physical fitness, weight status, cognitive function and depression in children and young adults. Currently, he is doing research at the South Eastern University of Applied Science, Mikkeli, Finland.
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This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | The New Gold Standard for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Monitoring
Learn more about Fibion: fibion.com/research
---
Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely -
Discover new Fibion SENS Motion: https://sens.fibion.com/

Dr Samad Esmaeilzadeh got his PhD in 2015 from University of Mohaghegh Ardabili, Ardabil, Iran. His PhD thesis was about finding agreement between heart rate deflection point (HRDP) and maximal lactate steady state (MLSS).
He performed research studies about physical activity, physical fitness, weight status, cognitive function and depression in children and young adults. Currently, he is doing research at the South Eastern University of Applied Science, Mikkeli, Finland.
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This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | The New Gold Standard for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Monitoring
Learn more about Fibion: fibion.com/research
---
Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely -
Discover new Fibion SENS Motion: https://sens.fibion.com/

What type of projects want to measure PA?
Considerations when choosing an activity tracker grouped in three main topics:
Participant-centric:
Research and innovation driven
Regulatory
Dr Miriam Cabrita has done her Bachelor and Master degrees at NOVA School of Science and Technology in Portugal, and her PhD in biomedical engineering in University of Twente
Then she has worked at Roessingh Research and Development Center in Netherlands for 8 years coordinating and managing EU research projects related to eHealth
Teaching also courses on Physical Activity, Digital Health and Virtual Coaching at the University of Twente.
She has acted as a Board Member for 5 years in International Society for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour (ISMPB)
Currently she is working as a Chief Customer Officer at Fibion Inc.
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This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | Better Sleep, Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Research with Less Hassle
---
Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely -
Discover ground-breaking Fibion SENS
---
SB and PA measurements, analysis, and feedback made easy. 
Learn more about Fibion Research
---
Learn more about Fibion Sleep and Fibion Circadian Rhythm Solutions.
---
Fibion Kids - Activity tracking designed for children.
---
Collect self-report physical activity data easily and cost-effectively with Mimove.
---
Explore our Wearables,  Experience sampling method (ESM), Sleep,  Heart rate variability (HRV), Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity article collections for insights on related articles.
---
Refer to our article "Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Measurements" for an exploration of active and sedentary lifestyle assessment methods.
---
Learn about actigraphy in our guide: Exploring Actigraphy in Scientific Research: A Comprehensive Guide.
---
Gain foundational ESM insights with "Introduction to Experience Sampling Method (ESM)" for a comprehensive overview.
---
Explore accelerometer use in health research with our article "Measuring Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior with Accelerometers ".
---
For an introduction to the fundamental aspects of HRV, consider revisiting our Ultimate Guide to Heart Rate Variability.
---
Follow the podcast on Twitter https://twitter.com/PA_Researcher
Follow host Dr Olli Tikkanen on Twitter https://twitter.com/ollitikkanen
Follow Fibion on Twitter https://twitter.com/fibion
https://www.youtube.com/@PA_Researcher

Dr Stuart Smith – Elderly | Rehabilitation | Videogames | InnovationDr Stuart Smith is an international researcher with a passion developing technologies that facilitate independent living for all ages and abilities. His career has taken him from working with NASA in California to falls research in Ireland, working with Microsoft, Intel, Sony and other technology companies to develop games for older adults.
His expertise centres around the translation of the research evidence base to products and services that enable older adults and people living with a disability to remain independent, engaged and productive.
His academic interests range from understanding the biological basis of posture control in older adults to reduce their risk of falls though the development and use of virtual reality environments to deliver education and training programs, implementation of novel sensing and computing technologies to keep older adults living independently, well and productive through to the role that interactive digital games can be used to engage people in repetitive exercise programs.
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This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | The New Gold Standard for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Monitoring
Learn more about Fibion: fibion.com/research---
Physical Activity Researcher Podcast have created a ‘Purchase Guide for Researchers: Accelerometer-based Activity Trackers’. You can download it from here.---

Dr Amanda Rebar - PA | SB | Behaviour Change | Habit | Automatic Evaluations
Dr Amanda Rebar is senior lecturer at Central Queensland University, Australia and director of the Motivation of Health Behaviours (MoHB) Lab. She has experience providing evidence-based guidance for community-based programs with a focus on mental health and safety outcomes.
Dr Rebar’s research focuses on the psychology of health behaviour change and the impact of physical activity on mental health and wellbeing. While her work draws on a range of methodologies, she is a strong advocate for longitudinal repeated assessment designs and multi-level analysis for testing predictive relationships in real-world contexts.
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This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | The New Gold Standard for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Monitoring
Learn more about Fibion: fibion.com/research---
Physical Activity Researcher Podcast have created a ‘Purchase Guide for Researchers: Accelerometer-based Activity Trackers’. You can download it from here.---

Dr Boris Gojanovic - Wearables | Telehealth | COVID-19 | Prehabilitation
Doctor Boris Gojanovic is a sports and exercise medicine physician, Health & Performance Medical Director at The Swiss Olympic Medical Centre, Hôpital de la Tour, Geneva.
He looks after elite and adolescent athletes, and active people, and is involved in education in sports science & medicine, research and development activities. He is the editor of The Sports and Exercise Medicine Switzerland journal (www.sems-journal.ch) and a board member for the Swiss Sports Medicine Society. The importance of knowledge translation and interdisciplinary in healthcare are core concerns of his and he is widely present on different types of media.
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This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | The New Gold Standard for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Monitoring
Learn more about Fibion: fibion.com/research---
Physical Activity Researcher Podcast have created a ‘Purchase Guide for Researchers: Accelerometer-based Activity Trackers’. You can download it from here.---

Dr Sira Karvinen - Sweat analysis | Exercise | Future applications
Sira Karvinen currently works at the Gerontology Research Center, University of Jyväskylä, Finland. She is a postdoctoral researcher in a EsmiRs-study - Risk of metabolic dysfunction in middle aged women: systemic and intracrine oestrogen and microRNAs as mediating factors.
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This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | The New Gold Standard for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Monitoring
Learn more about Fibion: fibion.com/research---
Physical Activity Researcher Podcast have created a ‘Purchase Guide for Researchers: Accelerometer-based Activity Trackers’. You can download it from here.---

Dr Sira Karvinen - Exercise | Longevity | Genes | Twins 
Sira Karvinen currently works at the Gerontology Research Center, University of Jyväskylä, Finland. She is a postdoctoral researcher in a EsmiRs-study - Risk of metabolic dysfunction in middle aged women: systemic and intracrine oestrogen and microRNAs as mediating factors.
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This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | The New Gold Standard for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Monitoring
Learn more about Fibion: fibion.com/research---
Physical Activity Researcher Podcast have created a ‘Purchase Guide for Researchers: Accelerometer-based Activity Trackers’. You can download it from here.---

Dr Timo Rantalainen - Accelerometry | Gait | Elderly
In this episode, we have Dr Timo Rantalainen, who is Research Fellow at the Gerontology Research Center, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, University of Jyväskylä, Finland.
Dr Rantalainen’s area of expertise pertains to neuromuscular and skeletal systems, specifically skeletal adaptation to mechanical loading and neural control of muscles, with a focus on estimating lower limb loading and bone responsiveness. His current research interests include: 1) the effect of loading on bone geometry, 2) neuromuscular function of muscle, 3) muscle and bone adaptations with age, and 4) the measurement of bone geometry using peripheral quantitative computed tomography (pQCT).
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This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | The New Gold Standard for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Monitoring
Learn more about Fibion: https://fibion.com/research
---
Physical Activity Researcher Podcast have created a ‘Purchase Guide for Researchers: Accelerometer-based Activity Trackers’. You can download it from here.---
Timestamps:02:00 Funding, success rate and part of luck in the process04:20 Physical state prediction from physical activity13:40 Activity parameters indicative of problems in rehabilitation16:35 Complexity of gait and cognition17.30 Dual task paradigm - simple way of detecting early Alzheimer’s19:30 Variability of gait as indicator of health20:15 Dual task and variability of gait21:13 Exerting hard and thinking23:20 Dual task paradigm during pedalling24:45 Advantages of using ergometer compared to gait25:40 Analysis of accelerometers on thorax and thigh32:10 Relativity of activity intensity classification35:00 Histogram analysis of physical activity36:45 Absolute accelerations as predictors37:50 Why walking is such important to study41:40 Static posturography43.10 Heart rate variability and arrythmias43.50 Variability of walking45.10 How to detect the walking from accelerometer signal56.30 Counts and proprietary algorithms57.40 How to test whether accelerometer you use have been calibrated?

Dr. Matteo Crotti has got his PhD from the Liverpool John Moores University. He has been involved in various research projects concerning children’s physical activity, motor skills and health. Furthermore, he conducted a study concerning the relationship between play behaviours and motor skills in preschool children.
His early career researcher was in the field of Sports Sciences and his key research focus on physical activity promotion, physical activity assessment, physical education and coaching.
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This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | The New Gold Standard for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Monitoring
Learn more about Fibion: fibion.com/research
---
Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely -
Discover new Fibion SENS Motion: https://sens.fibion.com/

Physical activity in later life is often promoted for its potential physical, psychological and social benefits for older adults. However, sometimes these programmes, despite good intentions, can perpetuate negative stereotypes about ageing and youthful ideas about good life. Have we forgot to ask old people themselves how and why they are (not) active?
As our guest explains, ageing is not only a physical and psychological phenomenon, but also a cultural phenomenon. Cultural narratives including ageing-as-decline, successful ageing and active ageing can have significant consequences on how we make meaning of later life.
In this episode, we ask critical questions about what is ageing, who is an older person, and what implications different physical activity campaigns for older adults might have.
Dr Adam Evans is currently an Associate Professor in Sociology of Sport at the Department of Nutrition, Exercise and Sport (NEXS) at the University of Copenhagen, Denmark. He is the current director of the Sport, Health and Innovation research group at NEXS, and is Editor in Chief of the European Journal for Sport and Society (www.tandfonline.com/toc/ress20/current). His research interests cohere around understanding the lived experiences of sport, physical activity amongst several groups, including older adults and those with specific health needs, together with work in swimming and aquatic activity.

Dr. Matteo Crotti has got his PhD from the Liverpool John Moores University. He has been involved in various research projects concerning children’s physical activity, motor skills and health. Furthermore, he conducted a study concerning the relationship between play behaviours and motor skills in preschool children.
His early career researcher was in the field of Sports Sciences and his key research focus on physical activity promotion, physical activity assessment, physical education and coaching.
-----------------------------------------
This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | The New Gold Standard for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Monitoring
Learn more about Fibion: fibion.com/research
---
Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely -
Discover new Fibion SENS Motion: https://sens.fibion.com/

Dr. Matteo Crotti has got his PhD from the Liverpool John Moores University. He has been involved in various research projects concerning children’s physical activity, motor skills and health. Furthermore, he conducted a study concerning the relationship between play behaviours and motor skills in preschool children.
His early career researcher was in the field of Sports Sciences and his key research focus on physical activity promotion, physical activity assessment, physical education and coaching.
-----------------------------------------
This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | The New Gold Standard for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Monitoring
Learn more about Fibion: fibion.com/research
---
Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely -
Discover new Fibion SENS Motion: https://sens.fibion.com/

Dr. Matteo Crotti has got his PhD from the Liverpool John Moores University. He has been involved in various research projects concerning children’s physical activity, motor skills and health. Furthermore, he conducted a study concerning the relationship between play behaviours and motor skills in preschool children.
His early career researcher was in the field of Sports Sciences and his key research focus on physical activity promotion, physical activity assessment, physical education and coaching.
-----------------------------------------
This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | The New Gold Standard for Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Monitoring
Learn more about Fibion: fibion.com/research
---
Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely -
Discover new Fibion SENS Motion: https://sens.fibion.com/

Learn more about Fibion Student Lab: https://fibion.com/studentlab
For any questions and quote, please contact Dr Miriam Cabrita at miriam.cabrita@fibion.com
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Dr Miriam Cabrita has done her Bachelor and Master degrees at NOVA School of Science and Technology in Portugal, and her PhD in biomedical engineering in University of Twente
Then she has worked at Roessingh Research and Development Center in Netherlands for 8 years coordinating and managing EU research projects related to eHealth
Teaching also courses on Physical Activity, Digital Health and Virtual Coaching at the University of Twente.
She has acted as a Board Member for 5 years in International Society for the Measurement of Physical Behaviour (ISMPB)
Currently she is working as a Chief Customer Officer at Fibion Inc.
_____________________
This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | Better Sleep, Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Research with Less Hassle
---
Learn more about Fibion Sleep and Circadian Rhythm Solutions:
https://sleepmeasurements.fibion.com/
---
Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely -
Discover groundbreaking Fibion SENS: https://sens.fibion.com/
---
SB and PA measurements, analysis, and feedback made easy. 
Learn more about Fibion Research : fibion.com/research
---
Follow Fibion on Twitter https://twitter.com/fibion
Follow host Dr Olli Tikkanen on Twitter https://twitter.com/ollitikkanen
Follow the podcast on Twitter https://twitter.com/PA_Researcher
 

Can small daily changes really improve health outcomes for people with disabilities? Dr. James Haley believes they can—and he explains how.From setting water bottle goals to using wearable tech, this episode dives into practical strategies backed by science and lived experience.
In the final part of this enlightening series, Dr. James Haley joins Dr. Olli Tikkanen to discuss accessible, research-based methods for increasing physical activity in people with disabilities. Dr. Haley emphasizes the importance of small, consistent habits and how mobile health technologies—including wearables and behavior change apps—can help form sustainable routines. He shares simple strategies like smart reminders, social accountability, and goal-setting that anyone can integrate into their daily life.
The episode also covers the role of wearable technologies in monitoring movement, heart rate, and sleep, along with their limitations in cost and accessibility. Dr. Haley explores how biomechanical feedback from devices might inform both research and personal activity habits. In addition, he offers a global perspective on funding challenges, collaboration needs, and the value of AI in democratizing support and feedback for people with disabilities. The episode ends with an optimistic message: meaningful change doesn't require perfection—it just requires a step forward, however small.
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This podcast episode is sponsored by Fibion Inc. | Better Sleep, Sedentary Behaviour and Physical Activity Research with Less Hassle
---
Collect, store and manage SB and PA data easily and remotely -
Discover ground-breaking Fibion SENS
---
SB and PA measurements, analysis, and feedback made easy. 
Learn more about Fibion Research
---
Learn more about Fibion Sleep and Fibion Circadian Rhythm Solutions.
---
Fibion Kids - Activity tracking designed for children.
---
Collect self-report physical activity data easily and cost-effectively with Mimove.
---
Explore our Wearables,  Experience sampling method (ESM), Sleep,  Heart rate variability (HRV), Sedentary Behavior and Physical Activity article collections for insights on related articles.
---
Refer to our article "Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Measurements" for an exploration of active and sedentary lifestyle assessment methods.
---
Learn about actigraphy in our guide: Exploring Actigraphy in Scientific Research: A Comprehensive Guide.
---
Gain foundational ESM insights with "Introduction to Experience Sampling Method (ESM)" for a comprehensive overview.
---
Explore accelerometer use in health research with our article "Measuring Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior with Accelerometers ".
---
For an introduction to the fundamental aspects of HRV, consider revisiting our Ultimate Guide to Heart Rate Variability.
---
Follow the podcast on Twitter https://twitter.com/PA_Researcher
Follow host Dr Olli Tikkanen on Twitter https://twitter.com/ollitikkanen
Follow Fibion on Twitter https://twitter.com/fibion
https://www.youtube.com/@PA_Researcher