The International Puijo Symposium, Haapaniementie 16, Kuopio (2026)

28/04/2026

Puijo Symposium 2027 – Ralph S. Paffenbarger Jr. Abstract Award

All accepted abstracts submitted to the Puijo Symposium will be eligible for the Ralph S. Paffenbarger Jr. Abstract Award, recognizing high-quality research across exercise medicine and related fields.

All abstracts will be presented on Wednesday, June 30, in short ~3-minute PowerPoint presentations. Based on these presentations, the top three will be selected for the final round, where finalists will deliver 15-minute presentations to an international audience.

🏆 The winner will receive a €1000 prize.

This competition offers an excellent opportunity to present your research, gain international visibility, and engage in scientific discussion with leading experts in the field.

📌 Puijo Symposium 2027 – where high-quality research meets international visibility.

23/04/2026

The Puijo Symposium 2027 brings together the future of Individualized Exercise Medicine — and we invite you to be part of it.

Are you an early-career researcher working in fields such as exercise science, sports medicine, cardiology, public health, geriatrics — or any discipline where physical activity, health, and human performance intersect? This is your opportunity to present your work, gain international visibility, and connect with leading experts across disciplines.

🧬 Martti J. Karvonen Young Investigator Award

We warmly encourage submissions from researchers aged 40 or under, holding a position below associate professor level.
To participate, applicants are required to submit both an abstract and an e-poster (detailed instructions are available on the symposium website). All participants will present their work in a short oral pitch during the poster session, while three finalists will be selected to give extended presentations during the symposium. The winners will be selected by an international expert panel.

🎟️ Registration is now open, with early bird fees available until September 2026.
Join us in Kuopio in summer 2027 — and take your place in shaping the future of exercise medicine.

10/04/2026

🧬 Puijo Symposium 2027 – Gene–Lifestyle Interaction

The opening day of the Puijo Symposium will conclude with a compelling session on Gene–Lifestyle Interaction — a topic at the very heart of individualized exercise medicine.

How do our genes and environment interact to shape cardiometabolic health? And why do lifestyle interventions, including exercise, lead to different outcomes across individuals? This session brings together cutting-edge research exploring genetic mechanisms behind these differences.

We will hear from leading experts, including professor Päivi Pajukanta on the epigenomics of exercise and environmental factors in cardiometabolic disease, and professor Tuomas Kilpeläinen on genetic modifiers of exercise effects on adiposity and cardiometabolic risk.

Join us as we close the first day by diving into the complex interplay between genes, lifestyle, and health — and what it means for the future of truly personalized exercise medicine.

25/02/2026

Puijo Symposium 2027 Opening Session

The scientific program will begin on Tuesday, immediately after the opening ceremony, with a bold and fundamental question:
What Is Individualized Exercise Medicine and Why Do We Respond Differently to the Same Exercise?

For decades, exercise has been prescribed as if one protocol could fit all. Yet clinical practice and research consistently show wide inter-individual variability in training response. Why does the same exercise stimulus lead to profound improvements in one person — and minimal change in another?

This opening session sets the intellectual foundation for the entire symposium. We will explore e.g. biological variability, adaptive mechanisms, genetic influences, environmental modifiers, and the complexity behind heterogeneous training responses. Most importantly, we challenge the traditional “average response” model and move toward a precision-based framework in exercise medicine.

If we aim to make exercise truly therapeutic, predictive, and personalized, we must first understand why responses differ.

Join us as we launch the symposium by reframing one of the most important questions in modern exercise science.

13/02/2026

🌟 Join us at Puijo Symposium 2027! 🌟
Session: Enhancing Rehabilitation Outcomes Through Individualized Exercise Medicine
🕘 Chaired by Dr Marja Äijö, Savonia University of Applied Sciences Finland

Regards from Marja Äijö;
I’m delighted to chair a high‑level expert session at Puijo Symposium 2027, focusing on how individualized exercise medicine can transform rehabilitation outcomes across diverse clinical populations.
Together with leading international researchers and clinicians, we will explore evidence‑based insights and practical applications that shape the future of personalized rehabilitation:

🔹 08:30 – Memory Disorders
Dr Humberto Omana, Canada
Insights into tailored exercise strategies supporting cognitive health and functional capacity.

🔹 09:00 – Multiple Sclerosis
Prof Kamila Rasova, Czech Republic
Latest advances in MS rehabilitation and the role of individualized training in managing variability in symptoms and progression.

🔹 09:30 – Clinical Applications in Cardiovascular Diseases
Speaker to be confirmed
Practical approaches to customizing exercise therapy for improved cardiovascular outcomes.

🔹 10:30 – Frailty
Prof Hans Hobbelen, Netherlands
Explores the concept of frailty and its significance for the wellbeing of ageing populations, emphasizing its crucial role in guiding effective, evidence‑based rehabilitation.

🔹 11:10 – Cost-effectiveness in rehabilitation
Prof. Arto Hautala, Finland
Discusses how impact and cost-effectiveness intersect in rehabilitation — and highlights the growing role of the Finnish Universities Network for Rehabilitation (FiRe).

This session offers a valuable opportunity for clinicians, researchers, and educators to deepen their understanding of personalized rehabilitation and to translate cutting‑edge knowledge into everyday practice.

💡 Welcome to explore, learn, and shape the future of exercise medicine with us!

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05/02/2026

One of the Wednesday sessions at the Puijo Symposium will focus on ”Motivation and Adherence in Personalized Training” — a critical yet often underestimated factor in successful exercise interventions.
While personalization can optimize physiological outcomes, long-term impact depends on how well individuals stay engaged and committed over time.

This session explores behavioral, psychological, and data-driven approaches to understanding motivation and improving adherence in personalized training programs. Join the discussion on how personalized exercise medicine can move beyond prescriptions to create sustainable, meaningful change in real-world settings.

Stay tuned for more insights from Puijo Symposium 2027!

28/01/2026

Although Puijo Symposium will take place next summer 2027 preparations are already well underway. We are excited to share that both the practical arrangements and the scientific program are progressing smoothly, and the overall structure is beginning to take shape.

The practical arrangements are handled by the small but efficient team at KuLTu (Kuopio Research Institute of Exercise Medicine): Associate Professor Kai Savonen (Chair of the Organizing and Scientific Committees), Symposium Coordinator Saila Hiltunen, Director Pirjo Komulainen, Research Fellow Heikki Pentikäinen, Chief Physician Timo Eronen, and Research Nurse Sari Aalto-Oravainen.

The high-quality scientific program is organized by KuLTu staff (Kai Savonen, Pirjo Komulainen, Heikki Pentikäinen, Timo Eronen), along with Staff Research Scientist Pauli Ohukainen from Oura Health Oy, Principal Lecturer Marja Äijö from Savonia University of Applied Sciences, Professor Timo Lakka and Research Director Toni Rikkonen from the University of Eastern Finland, and Specialist Physician/Fellow Researcher Milla-Maria Tauriainen from the The North Savo wellbeing services county.

With the support of the dedicated members of the Organizing Committee and the Scientific Program Committee, we are confident that the symposium will offer a strong and timely program.

For more information about the symposium or any questions, please visit our website at www.puijosymposium.org, email puijosymposium@kultu.fi, or contact the symposium coordinator directly at saila.hiltunen@kultu.fi.

Over the coming year, we will share more details about the program, speakers, and registration. Stay tuned for what promises to be an inspiring and high-quality symposium!

20/11/2025

We are truly happy to share this warm video greeting from Professor Martin Halle, who has been a cherished part of the Puijo Symposium community for many years — as a long-time participant, respected lecturer, and even as a former President of the Symposium.

In his message, he beautifully captures why Kuopio and the Puijo Symposium feel so special: the welcoming atmosphere, the meaningful scientific discussions, and the sense of belonging that brings friends and colleagues together year after year.
The Puijo Symposium organising team at the Kuopio Research Institute of Exercise Medicine extends its heartfelt thanks to Professor Halle for this thoughtful greeting — and for the important role he has played in shaping the spirit and quality of the Symposium over the years!

Hope to see you all in Kuopio 2027!

10/11/2025

✨ Experience Puijo Symposium 2027 your way!

The best way to feel the warmth, community, and inspiration of Puijo Symposium is to join us in Kuopio — but for the first time ever, you can also take part online.

Wherever you are, you can follow four days of thought-provoking lectures and award ceremonies live.

For more information www.puijosymposium.org

07/11/2025

The Intl' Puijo Symposium - Celebrating Over 50 Years of Scientific Collaboration in Exercise Medicine

Since 1976, Puijo Symposium has served as a meeting point for leading scientists, clinicians, and health professionals from around the world — uniting under a shared goal: advancing research and practice in exercise medicine and clinical care.
In 2027, we'll celebrate the 24th Puijo Symposium, marking over five decades of this unique scientific tradition. This milestone is not only a testament to the continuity of collaboration but also a tribute to the evolution of ideas, disciplines, and discoveries that have shaped the field.
Held in Kuopio, Finland — surrounded by the magic of the Finnish midsummer — Puijo Symposium has always been more than a scientific meeting. It is a community and an experience that blends rigorous science with the warmth of human connection.

Looking back, the history of the Puijo Symposium reflects the development of exercise medicine itself. Each meeting has focused on the cutting-edge questions of its time, from muscle metabolism and cardiovascular health to translational science and clinical applications.
Some highlights from our journey:
1976: Physical Performance and Muscle Metabolism – setting the foundation for decades to come.
1981: Exercise Medicine – The New Frontier – defining a new medical field.
1989: Physical Activity and Hypertension – connecting exercise with cardiovascular health.
1998: Exercise and Obesity – pioneering metabolic research.
2003: Gender Differences Across the Lifespan – promoting inclusion in science.
2009: Exercise and Metabolic Syndrome – uniting prevention and care.
2014: Exercise in Clinical Medicine – advancing evidence-based practice.
2022: Translating Research to Everyday Practice – tackling modern implementation.

A Platform for Science and Collaboration
The Puijo Symposium has grown into an internationally recognized platform that fosters interdisciplinary dialogue between medicine, physiology, public health, and behavioral science and collaboration between emerging and established researchers.

In the coming year, we will honor the journey and share highlights and memories from past decades. We will feature themes and stories that have shaped this journey and the international community that continues to grow around it.

As we prepare for the 24th International Puijo Symposium in 2027, we also celebrate more than 50 years of legacy — a story of science, collaboration, and shared commitment to better health through movement.
We warmly invite you to join us in Kuopio to celebrate this journey and to look forward to the future of exercise medicine together.

22/10/2025

🏃‍♀️ Puijo Symposium 2027: Individualized Exercise Medicine 🧬

At the 2027 Puijo Symposium, the spotlight will be on Individualized Exercise Medicine — exploring how data, physiology, and technology converge to redefine health and performance.

One of the key sessions, Digital Biomarkers of Cardiovascular Adaptation: Toward Personalized Exercise Medicine, will dive into the latest advances in precision monitoring and individualized training optimization.

Among the thought-provoking topics, we’ll explore how arterial stiffness and organ-specific aging can serve as novel digital biomarkers for cardiovascular health and adaptation.

🌍 Join us as leading international experts share cutting-edge insights shaping the future of personalized exercise medicine.

11/08/2025

Puijo Symposium 2027 – Exploring Individualized Exercise Medicine

The next Puijo Symposium will take place in 2027, and preparations for this internationally recognized event have now begun. The symposium will examine the many dimensions of personalized physical activity — from controlled trials and translational research to clinical practice — across different conditions, contexts, and populations.

In the coming months, the scientific program will be developed to reflect Puijo’s long tradition of combining high-quality research with practical applications. The event will bring together leading experts from around the world to present and discuss the latest evidence in the field.

Further details, including the program and key dates, will be announced as the planning progresses.
Stay tuned — the spotlight is about to return to Puijo!

The International Puijo Symposium