Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics
University of Southern Denmark, Odense, Denmark
Tel: +45 6550 3876 - This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.

Per Aagaard is appointed Professor in Biomechanics at the Institute of Sports Science and Clinical Biomechanics, University of Southern Denmark, while previously affiliated to the Copenhagen Institute of Sports Medicine at Bispebjerg Hospital and Copenhagen Muscle Research Centre, University of Copenhagen. He has previously worked for the Danish Elite Sports Organisation (Team Danmark), providing physiological research, testing and supervision of Danish elite athletes within the fields of strength/power training and neuromuscular training adaptation. Research work have been conducted to examine the adaptive change in neuromuscular function, and muscle architecture & morphology induced by training and detraining/inactivity, including aging and immobilization. In addition, his research have focused on the role of antagonist muscle coactivation, spinal motor function during walking and running, and in vivo muscle-aponeurosis-tendon function, including ACL injury, tendon overuse injury, tendinopathy, and athletic performance. More than 160 peer-reviewed research articles and book chapters currently have been published in international scientific journals and text books.

 Olsen S, Aagaard P, Kadi F, Tufekovic G, Verney J, Olesen JL, Suetta C, Kjær M. Creatine supplementation augments the increase in satelitte cell and myonuclei number in human skeletal muscle induced by strength training. J. Physiol. 573.2, 525-534, 2006.

Aagaard P, Bangsbo J. The Muscular System: Design, Function and Performance Relationships. Chap. 6, ACSM's Advanced Exercise Physiology (Eds Tipton CM, Terjung RL), American College of Sports Medicine; Lippincot, Williams & Wilkins, pp. 144-160, 2005.

Andersen LL, Aagaard P. Influence of maximal muscle strength and intrinsic muscle contractile properties on contractile rate of force development. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 26, 1-7, 2005.

Kongsgaard M, Aagaard P, Roikjaer S, Olsen D, Jensen M, Langberg H, Magnusson SP. Decline eccentric squats increases patella tendon loading compared to standard eccentric squats. Clin. Biomech. 21, 748-754, 2006.

Haraldsson BT, Langberg H, Aagaard P, DeGroot J, Zuurmond AM, van El B, Kjaer M, Magnusson P. Corticosteroids reduce the tensile strength of isolated collagen fascicles. Am. J. Sports Med. 34(12), 1992-1997, 2006.

Kongsgaard M, Aagaard P, Kjaer M, Magnusson PS. Structural Achilles tendon properties in athletes subjected to different exercise modes and in Achilles tendon rupture patients. J. Appl. Physiol. 99, 1965-1971, 2005.

Bojsen-Moller J, Magnusson SP, Rasmussen L, Kjaer M, Aagaard P. Muscle performance during maximal isometric and dynamic contractions is influenced by the stiffness of the tendinous structures. J. Appl. Physiol. 99, 986-994, 2005.

Andersen LL, Andersen JL, Magnusson SP, Suetta C, Madsen JL, Christensen LR, Aagaard P. Changes in the human force-velocity relationship in response to resistance training and subsequent detraining. J. Appl. Physiol. 99, 87-94, 2005.

Aagaard P. Making muscles stronger: Exercise, Nutrition, Drugs. J. Musculoskel. Neuron. Interact. 4(2), 165-174, 2004.

Suetta C, Aagaard P, Rosted A, Jakobsen AK, Duus B, Kjaer M, Magnusson SP. Training-induced changes in muscle CSA, muscle strength, EMG and rate of force development in elderly subjects after long-term unilateral disuse. J. Appl. Physiol. 97, 1954-1961, 2004.

Aagaard P. Training-induced changes in neural function. Exerc. Sports Sci. Reviews 31(2), 61-67, 2003.

Magnusson SP, Aagaard P, Hansen P, Bojsen-Møller J, Dyhre-Poulsen P, Kjær M. Differential strain patterns of the human triceps surae aponeurosis and free tendon. Acta Physiol. Scand. 177, 185-195, 2003.

Aagaard P, Simonsen EB, Andersen JL, Magnusson P, Dyhre Poulsen P. Increased rate of force development and neural drive of human skeletal muscle following resistance training. J. Appl. Physiol. 93, 1318-1326, 2002.

Aagaard P, Simonsen EB, Andersen JL, Magnusson SP, Dyhre Poulsen P. Neural adaptation to resistance training: changes in evoked V-wave and H-reflex responses. J. Appl. Physiol. 92, 2309-2318, 2002.

Aagaard P, Andersen JL, Leffers AM, Wagner Å, Magnusson SP, Halkjær Kristensen J, Dyhre Poulsen P, Simonsen EB. A mechanism for increased contractile strength of human pennate muscle in response to strength training: changes in muscle architecture. J. Physiol. 534.2, 613-623, 2001.

Caserotti P, Aagaard P, Simonsen EB, Puggaard L. Contraction specific differences in maximal muscle power during SSC movements in elderly males and females. Eur. J. Appl. Physiol. 84, 206-212, 2001.

Aagaard P, Simonsen EB, Andersen JL, Magnusson P, Halkjær Kristensen J, Dyhre Poulsen P. Neural inhibition during maximal eccentric and concentric quadriceps contraction: Effects of resistance training. J. Appl. Physiol. 89, 2249-2257, 2000.

Andersen JL, Aagaard P. Myosin heavy chain IIX overshooting in human skeletal muscle. Muscle & Nerve 23(7), 1095-1104, 2000.

Aagaard P, Simonsen EB, Andersen JL, Magnusson P, Bojsen-Møller F, Dyhre-Poulsen P. Antagonist muscle coactivation during isokinetic knee extension. Scand. J. Med. Sci. Sports 10, 58-67, 2000.

Aagaard P, Andersen JL. Correlation between contractile strength and myosin heavy chain isoform composition in human skeletal muscle. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc. 30(8), 1217-1222, 1998.