Home page for Avela

Janne Avela, Ph.D.
Professor in Biomechanics
Neuromuscular Research CenterJanne Avela
Department of Biology of Physical Activity
University of Jyväskylä
PO Box 35
40014 Jyväskylän yliopisto
Finland

e-mail: janne.avela@jyu.fi

tel:  +358-50-505 4654

Background

I received my Ph.D. in biomechanics from the University of Jyväskylä, Finland in 1998 under the supervision of Professor Paavo Komi. My research interests deal with many aspects of neuromuscular control of human movement and its adaptation to exercise. Within the theme, I am especially interested in brain plasticity changes and muscle fatigue. I am currently working in the Department of Biology of Physical Activity, University of Jyväskylä as a professor in Biomechanics. I am also the vice head of the department and director of its Neuromuscular Research Center.

Current research projects

  • Neural overtraining syndrome in Finnish elite power-trained athletes
  • Brain plasticity changes and their effects on motor skill learning and motivation for physical activity
  • Is there cortical contribution in post activation potentiation?

Selected publications

Avela J., Kyröläinen H. and Komi P.V. (1999) Altered reflex sensitivity due to repeated and prolonged passive muscle stretching. J Appl Physiol 86(4): 1283-1291.

Avela J., Finni T., Liikavainio T., Niemelä E and Komi PV. (2004) Highlighted Topic; Neural Control of Movement: Neural and mechanical responses of the triceps surae muscle group after 1 hour repeated fast passive stretches. J Appl Physiol 96: 2325-2332.

Gruber M, Linnamo V, Strojnik V, Rantalainen T and Avela J. (2009) Excitability at the motoneuron pool and motor cortex is specifically modulated in lengthening compared to isometric contractions. J Neurophysiol. 101(4):2030-40.

Kumpulainen S, Mrachacz-Kersting N, Peltonen J, Voigt M, Avela J. The optimal interstimulus interval and repeatability of paired associative stimulation when the soleus muscle is targeted. Exp Brain Res. 2012 Sep;221(3):241-9.

Poutiainen P, Peltonen J, Isolehto J, Avela J. Comparison of impact characteristics of four different ice hockey arena dasher boards. Eur J Sport Sci. 2014;14(1):11-8.

Kulmala JP, Korhonen MT, Kuitunen S, Suominen H, Heinonen A, Mikkola A, Avela J. Which muscles compromise human locomotor performance with age? J R Soc Interface. 2014 Nov 6;11(100). pii: 20140858. doi: 10.1098/rsif.2014.0858

Main co-operation Universities at present:

University of Aalborg, Denmark

University of Konstanz, Germany

University of Queensland, Brisbane, Australia

Sheffield Hallam University, UK