University of Zagreb

Faculty of Kinesiology

CENTRE FOR SCIENTIFIC RESEARCH

The Centre for Scientific Research continuously implements basic, applied and developmental research, as well as establishes and consists of the following research laboratories:

LABORATORY FOR MOTOR CONTROL AND PERFORMANCE

Head of Laboratory: Prof. Goran Markovic, PhD

The Laboratory for Motor Control and Performance stretches over 85 m² of modern designed space which is modified for studying the neuromechanics of human movement. The Laboratory is equipped with contemporary
research systems for measuring human neuromuscular functions and motor control. Currently there are two lines of research conducted by the Laboratory: (1) acute and chronic efects of applying external load on human neuromuscular function and motor control, and (2) efects of aging and musculoskeletal disorders/pain syndromes on human neuromuscular function and motor control.

LABORATORY FOR WATER SPORTS

The Laboratory for Water Sports operates as part of the Chair of Water Sports at the Faculty of Kinesiology University of Zagreb. The facility and the equipment of the Laboratory are also used as part of regular classes in the course Swimming and Water Sports, as well as for the elective module – Swimming and elective course – Diving. In addition, the equipment of this Laboratory is also used for scientific research in the field of water sports. Part of the equipment is for testing in water, while the other part is used for testing outside the water.
The equipment which is used covers a large portion of basic and specific tests in the field of water sports and it includes the following: swim ergometer (Biokinetic), dynamometry, underwater cameras, software for training programmes and biomechanical analysis, determining the lactate curve (pace mat, lactate and pulse meters), equipment for training programmes.

LABORATORY FOR BIOMECHANICS
Biomechanical methodology is basically the study and understanding of human movement, in the manner in which it is approached within kinesiology and sport science. For that purpose, first of all we measure space (3D) kinematics, ground reaction and multi-channel surface electromyography (EMG). Apart from basic measuring instruments: we also have the 4-channel portable EMG machine MEGA, the pedobarograph ZEBRIS, the kinematic sensor KINECT, as well as some instruments of virtual reality technology (virtual reality-VR), such as the OCULUS RIFT helmet.

LABORATORY FOR SPORTS MEDICINCE AND EXERCISE: KINANTHROPOMETRY AND APPLIED PHYSIOLOGY

The research topics studied within this Laboratory are applied physiology of sports and physical exercise, the connection between physical activity and health, with emphasis on the nutritional status and on indicators of cardiovascular and metabolic health. The largest ongoing research of the Laboratory for Kinanthropometry is the “Croatian Physical Activity in Adolescence Longitudinal Study” (CRO-PALS), which is dealing with precisely the above-mentioned issue during the 4 years of high school education. Further, research is also conducted on the various methods of body composition assessment with emphasis on their accuracy and preciseness in the population of athletes.
Future research of this Laboratory shall also be directed towards studying the efects of various training programmes on health, cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, as well as on body weight control and the development and treatment of obesity. The focus of interest shall also be put on evaluating the efects of intervention programmes for increasing the level of physical activity and their role in primary and secondary prevention of chronic non-communicable diseases.
Part of the research is related to nutrition of athletes and there is also an ongoing scientific project on the polymorphisms of several genes responsible for adaptation to weight trainings and/or endurance trainings in top-level athletes and oxidative stress in football players.

LABORATORY FOR PSYCHODIAGNOSTICS

The activities of this Laboratory include a specified over of psychological services in the field of psychodiagnostic and psychoeducational assessments, specializing in the field of sports. In the previous work of the Laboratory for
Psychodiagnostics collaborations were established with athletes from diferent sports, as well as sports federations and coaches. 
Athletes of diferent age and level of quality used services of psychodiagnostical assessment both for private purposes or as part of a broader plan while preparing for competitions, starting with competitions of lower rank, international, European and World championship, and even for the Olympic Games.

LABORATORY FOR SPORTS GAMES
Head of Laboratory for sports games: Prof. Damir Knjaz, PhD,

Laboratory was founded in 2016. The Laboratory is equipped with top-level diagnostical equipment, such as the OPTO JUMP SYSTEM, GYKO devices, WITTY (SEM) systems, and also heart rate monitors for monitoring and determining the level of loading intensity. In addition, for determining the concentration of lactic acid in the blood the Laboratory is also equipped with the SCOUT+ lactate analyser.
The Laboratory has diferent video cameras that enable video analysis of specific motor movements during the process of acquisition and development, however also used for determining various kinematic parameters by way of applying programme applications during the performance of a certain motor skill. Besides the previously mentioned equipment, the Laboratory
has diferent diagnostic instruments at its disposal enabling quite detailed and specified scientific research in basketball (SMART SENSOR BASKETBALL, DR DISH Shooting Machine).

LABORATORY FOR MOTOR DEVELOPMENT
The Laboratory for Motor Development was established in 2015 as part of the scientific project by the Croatian Science Foundation called “Motor skills of preschool children”. The Laboratory is equipped with measurement instruments for the assessment of motor skills of children and youngsters.

SPORTS DIAGNOSTIC CENTRE
Our modern Sports Diagnostic Centre provides various services of diagnostic measurements of all elements and conditions that are part of the anthropological status (morphological, motor, functional and psychological), while its main objective is to provide information on the level of physical preparation. Namely, selection and monitoring, as well as planning, programming, evaluating and testing are the essential managing processes in sports training, sports recreation and other activities that require physical conditioning (such as the armed forces, the police, firemen, etc.), whereas each of the mentioned activities are based to a certain degree on diagnosing the condition of all elements of the
anthropological status.