Kinesiology in the 21st century From a practice-oriented discipline to an interdisciplinary scientific framework: A critical review
Article Sidebar
Main Article Content
Abstract
Kinesiology, as the scientific study of human movement, has undergone substantial conceptual and structural changes over the past decades. According to Mraković, kinesiology is defined as an empirical, experimentally based science that studies the laws, principles, and patterns of controlled and purposeful physical activity and its effects on the human organism. This definition highlights the scientific and systematic nature of the discipline. The aim of this review paper is to examine the development of kinesiology in the 21st century, with particular emphasis on its paradigm shift from a practice-oriented field toward an interdisciplinary scientific discipline. The analysis is based on foundational and contemporary literature, including empirical and systematic studies . The findings suggest that kinesiology has evolved into a comprehensive field integrating biological, social, and behavioural sciences. Modern kinesiology focuses on health, performance, and human development, addressing global challenges such as physical inactivity and chronic disease. The discipline is increasingly recognised as a central scientific framework for understanding human movement in the 21st century. The review further demonstrates that the future development of kinesiology will depend on interdisciplinary collaboration, methodological standardization, international scientific cooperation, and the integration of emerging technologies such as wearable sensors, artificial intelligence, motion analysis systems, and precision exercise medicine. These developments position kinesiology as a central scientific discipline for addressing contemporary challenges in health, human performance, and physical activity across the lifespan.
Article Details
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.
References
American Kinesiology Association. (2021). About kinesiology. https://www.americankinesiology.org
Bartlett, R. (2022). Introduction to sports biomechanics. Routledge.
Blair, S. N. (2012). Physical inactivity: The biggest public health problem of the 21st century. British Journal of Sports Medicine, 46(1), 1–2.
Bompa, T., & Buzzichelli, C. (2019). Periodization: Theory and methodology of training. Human Kinetics. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781718225435 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5040/9781718225435
Bouchard, C., Blair, S. N., & Haskell, W. L. (2012). Physical activity and health. Human Kinetics. https://doi.org/10.5040/9781492595717 DOI: https://doi.org/10.5040/9781492595717
Corbin, C. B. (2014). Concepts of fitness and wellness. McGraw-Hill.
Čustonja, Z., Milanović, D., & Sporiš, G. (2009). Kinesiology in the names of higher education institutions in Europe and the United States of America. Kinesiology, 41(2), 136–146.
Davids, K., Button, C., & Bennett, S. (2008). Dynamics of skill acquisition. Human Kinetics.
Ekkekakis, P. (2013). The measurement of affect, mood, and emotion. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511820724 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9780511820724
European College of Sport Science. (2020). Position statements and scientific framework. https://www.ecss.eu
Faigenbaum, A. D., & Myer, G. D. (2020). Youth physical development. Human Kinetics.
Findak, V. (2001). Metodika tjelesne i zdravstvene kulture. Školska knjiga.
Findak, V. (2017). Kinesiology education of the future. Kinesiology, 49(1), 1–9.
Haskell, W. L., Lee, I.-M., Pate, R. R., Powell, K. E., Blair, S. N., Franklin, B. A., Macera, C. A., Heath, G. W., Thompson, P. D., & Bauman, A. (2007). Physical activity and public health. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 39(8), 1423–1434. https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0b013e3180616b27 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1249/mss.0b013e3180616b27
Issurin, V. (2021). Training theory: Scientific foundations. Routledge.
Kenney, W. L., Wilmore, J. H., & Costill, D. L. (2015). Physiology of sport and exercise. Human Kinetics.
Kohl, H. W., Craig, C. L., Lambert, E. V., Inoue, S., Alkandari, J. R., Leetongin, G., & Kahlmeier, S. (2012). The pandemic of physical inactivity. The Lancet, 380(9838), 294–305. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60898-8 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/S0140-6736(12)60898-8
Kuhn, T. S. (1962). The structure of scientific revolutions. University of Chicago Press.
Lakatos, I. (1970). Criticism and the growth of knowledge. Cambridge University Press. https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139171434 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1017/CBO9781139171434
Maguire, J. (1991). Human sciences and sport. International Review for the Sociology of Sport, 26(1), 65–86. https://doi.org/10.1177/101269029102600104 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1177/101269029102600104
Malina, R. M. (2017). Growth, maturation and physical activity. Human Kinetics. DOI: https://doi.org/10.1201/9781351260008-5
Milanović, D. (2013). Teorija treninga. Kineziološki fakultet.
Mills, J. P. (1992). The identity of kinesiology. Quest, 44(2), 141–148.
Momirović, K. (1969). Osnove teorije kretanja. Institute of Kinesiology, College of Physical Education.
Momirović, K. (1971). Teorijski aspekti kineziologije. Faculty of Physical Culture, University of Zagreb.
Mraković, M. (1992). Kineziologija. Fakultet za fizičku kulturu.
Müller, E. (2008). Development of sport science in Europe. European Journal of Sport Science, 8(1), 1–10.
Newell, K. M. (1986). Constraints on the development of coordination. In M. G. Wade & H. T. A. Whiting (Eds.), Motor development in children: Aspects of coordination and control (pp. 341–360). Martinus Nijhoff. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4460-2_19 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-009-4460-2_19
Newell, K. M. (1990). Physical activity, knowledge types, and degree programs. Quest, 42(3), 243–268. https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.1990.10483998 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/00336297.1990.10483998
Powers, S. K., & Howley, E. T. (2018). Exercise physiology. McGraw-Hill.
Prskalo, I. (2004). Kineziološka edukacija. Visoka učiteljska škola.
Ratey, J. J., & Loehr, J. E. (2011). The positive impact of physical activity. Harvard Business Review, 89(10), 62–70.
Renson, R. (2000). Kinesiology and its historical roots. Kinesiology, 32(1), 5–15.
Sporiš, G., Badrić, M., Prskalo, I., & Bonacin, D. (2013). Kinesiology: Systematic review. Sport Science, 6(1), 7–23.
Thomas, J. R., & Nelson, J. K. (1990). Research methods in physical activity. Human Kinetics.
Wade, M. G., & Baker, J. (1992). Terminology in kinesiology. Quest, 44(2), 200–210.
Warburton, D. E. R., & Bredin, S. S. D. (2017). Health benefits of physical activity. Current Opinion in Cardiology, 32(5), 541–556. https://doi.org/10.1097/HCO.0000000000000437 DOI: https://doi.org/10.1097/HCO.0000000000000437
World Health Organization. (2020). Guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour. World Health Organization.