Sufficient physical activity through sports participation is necessary to reduce the burden of non-communicable diseases and to maintain economic viability, and as such is a fundament for public health.

Optimization of performance is key for recreational and elite sports, as well as talent development. Unfortunately, participation in physical activities and sports entails a risk for adverse health effects (injury and/or illness) that threaten sustainability.

Overall Aim

  1. Fundamental questions underpinning the aetiology and pathways by which physical (in)activity optimizes, benefits, or harms health and performance;
  2. Optimization of performance, health monitoring, diagnostics, and learning techniques and strategies;
  3. The development of multidisciplinary clinical treatment and training guidelines, and improvement of health care interventions including their short- and long-term outcomes; and
  4. The short and long term behavioural and objective effects of interventions (e.g. practice methods) targeted at physical activity promotion, injury / illness prevention, training and sports performance optimization, in various target groups within society, including the (cost-)effectiveness and implementation of such interventions.

    We actively pursue interdisciplinary collaboration among the named points, aiming to enhance our understanding of contemporary issues and optimize the impact of interventions in sports-related domains. The program works closely together with the Institute of Sport Science (AISS).

    Program Board

    • Professor dr. Evert Verhagen, Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc, (Co-program director);
    • Dr. Raôul Oudejans, Faculty of Behavioural and Movement Sciences, VU Amsterdam (Co-program director);
    • Professor dr. Mario Maas, Amsterdam UMC, location AMC;
    • Dr. Justine Benoit-Piau, ECR researcher, Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc;
    • Pablo Stegerhoek, PhD candidate, Amsterdam UMC, location VUmc;

    Program Members