Urheilutiede

Urheilutiede, known in English as sports science, is an interdisciplinary field that studies the scientific basis of sport and exercise. It combines natural and social sciences to understand how physical activity influences performance, health, and welfare, and how training and rehabilitation can be optimized for individuals and groups. The term is used in Finnish higher education and research to denote this domain.

Subdisciplines include exercise physiology, biomechanics, motor control and motor learning, sports psychology, nutrition and metabolism, conditioning and training theory, sport pedagogy, and injury prevention and rehabilitation. Related areas cover performance analysis, data analytics, and the social and cultural aspects of sport.

Methods include laboratory testing, field assessments, motion capture, wearable sensors, and computational modeling. Findings are applied in coaching, athlete development, talent identification, concussion and injury management, rehabilitation, and public health interventions to promote physical activity.

Education and career: In Finland, urheilutiede is studied at universities and universities of applied sciences, with degree programs at bachelor’s and master’s levels. Graduates work as sport scientists with national teams and clubs, in sports medicine and rehabilitation, in university research, or in sport education and policy roles. Internationally, urheilutiede aligns with the global sport science community and participates in collaborative research to advance performance, health, and participation in sport.