Olavi Airaksinen
Professor
Professor of Physical and Rehabilitation Medicine in UEF (Physiatrics). MD PhD, Chairman and Clinical Director of Rehabilitation Services at Kuopio University Hospital (KUH). Clinical and Scientific work at KUH since 1980 at the Department of PRM.
School of Medicine, Institute of Clinical Medicine
olavi.airaksinen@kuh.fi | +358 44 711 3450
My main research areas are low back pain, electromyography, pain and sports medicine. On these fields I have supervised 25 PhD students and more will be coming.
I have published up to now 185 Original articles (published or accepted for publication) in peer reviewed indexed International Journals, over 50 other articles, two review articles in International Journals an eight review articles in Finnish Journals, over 30 chapters of books and 58 other publications and over 200 communications in International Medical Congresses concerning of the following topics: pain management, treatment of oedema, diagnostics and treatment of low back pain, diagnostics and treatment of sports injuries and the use of surface EMG as measurement of muscle fatigue and muscular activity.
One of my biggest research projects is collaboration with the WOMEN-UP – EU Horizon 2020 funded development and research project with Catalonian University (Barcelona) and Amsterdam Medical Center (2014-2019). Other productive projects was in the beginning of millennium (1999-2006) COST B 13 – Clinical Practice Guidelines for Low Back Pain. On the field of analysing the EMG signal I have been collaborating with project of “Parkinson EMG” funded several times by Finnish Technology foundation and Finnish Science Academy.
Research groups
Publications
14 items-
Protocol of identical exercise programs with and without specific breathing techniques for the treatment of chronic non-specific low back pain: randomized feasibility trial with two-month follow-up
Mikkonen, Jani; Luomajoki, Hannu; Airaksinen, Olavi; Goubert, Liesbet; Leinonen, Ville. 2023. Bmc musculoskeletal disorders. 24: . 354 -
Disability Pension Did Not Reduce Opioid Use Among Patients With Failed Back Surgery Syndrome Who Were Trialed and Implanted for Spinal Cord Stimulation
Kaijankoski, Hanna; Nissen, Mette; Pesonen, Janne; Ikäheimo, Tiina-Mari; von und zu Fraunberg, Mikael; Airaksinen, Olavi; Huttunen, Jukka. 2022. Pain physician. 25: E739-E748 -
Postural sway does not differentiate individuals with chronic low back pain, single and multisite chronic musculoskeletal pain, or pain-free controls: a cross-sectional study of 229 subjects
Mikkonen, Jani; Leinonen, Ville; Kaski, Diego; Hartvigsen, Jan; Luomajoki, Hannu; Selander, Tuomas; Airaksinen, Olavi. 2022. Spine journal. 22: 1523-1534 -
Retention of tissue texture change after cervical muscle energy and high velocity low amplitude intervention: Implications for treatment intervals
Barnes, Precious L; Casella, Frank J; Lai, Hilda; Airaksinen, Olavi; Kuchera, Michael L. 2022. Journal of osteopathic medicine. 122: 203-209 -
Treatment of Sciatica and Lumbar Radiculopathy with an Intervertebral Foramen Opening Protocol: Pilot Study in a Hospital Emergency and In-patient Setting
Shacklock, Michael; Rade, Marinko; Poznic, Siniša; Marčinko, Anita; Fredericson, Michael; Kröger, Heikki; Kankaanpää, Markku; Airaksinen, Olavi. 2022. Physiotherapy theory and practice. [Published online: 06 Mar 2022]: 1-11 -
Cross-Cultural Adaptation, Reliability, and Psychophysical Validation of the Pain and Sleep Questionnaire Three-Item Index in Finnish
Mikkonen, Jani; Leinonen, Ville; Luomajoki, Hannu; Kaski, Diego; Kupari, Saana; Tarvainen, Mika; Selander, Tuomas; Airaksinen, Olavi. 2021. Journal of clinical medicine. 10: 4887 -
Cross-cultural adaptation and validation of the Finnish version of the central sensitization inventory and its relationship with dizziness and postural control
Mikkonen, Jani; Luomajoki, Hannu; Airaksinen, Olavi; Neblett, Randy; Selander, Tuomas; Leinonen, Ville. 2021. Bmc neurology. 21: 141 -
Extending the straight leg raise test for improved clinical evaluation of sciatica: reliability of hip internal rotation or ankle dorsiflexion
Pesonen, Janne; Shacklock, Michael; Rantanen, Pekka; Mäki, Jussi; Karttunen, Lauri; Kankaanpää, Markku; Airaksinen, Olavi; Rade, Marinko. 2021. Bmc musculoskeletal disorders. 22: 303 -
Extending the straight leg raise test for improved clinical evaluation of sciatica: validity and diagnostic performance with reference to the magnetic resonance imaging
Pesonen, Janne; Shacklock, Michael; Suomalainen, Juha-Sampo; Karttunen, Lauri; Mäki, Jussi; Airaksinen, Olavi; Rade, Marinko. 2021. Bmc musculoskeletal disorders. 22: 808 -
Preoperative Predictors of Better Long-Term Functional Ability and Decreased Pain Following LSS Surgery: A Prospective Observational Study with a 10-year Follow-Up Period
Tuomainen, I; Pesonen, J; Rade, M; Pakarinen, M; Leinonen, V; Kröger, H; Airaksinen, O; Aalto, T. 2020. Spine. 45: 776-783