Laboratory of Adapted Physical Education

Director: Christina Evaggelinou, Professor

The laboratory of Adapted Physical Education was founded in 2003 in the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres. The laboratory aims to investigate the individual differences that people experience during the whole lifespan. The aim of laboratory is to develop education programs and to conduct basic and applied research and to evaluate the level of physical conditioning of athletes with disabilities. This is accomplished by studying the effects of physical education programs, high level sport participation as well as therapeutic and rehabilitation intervenations. Our research is accomplished in special education schools and foundations, sports halls, gyms, hospitals and typical schools.

Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry

Director: Ioannis S. Vrabas, Professor of Exercise Physiology

The Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry was founded in year 2000 at the School of Physical Education and Sports Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece.

The Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry constitutes an interdisciplinary entity involving researchers from the Department of Physical Education and Sports Science at Serres, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. The lab aspires for the advancement of research in physiology and biochemistry of exercise to understand the function of the human body and the way that physical activity promotes health and well-being. We adopt an integrative approach, thus our research builds on expertise in exercise physiology, biochemistry, nutrition and medicine applied to both humans and animals. We believe in big-picture thinking and cross-functional biological knowledge to create and implement integrative solutions to complex biological problems such as obesity, diabetes, metabolic syndrome, muscle weakness and aging. Over the years, researchers from the laboratory have used a range of tools in an effort to understand these health-related issues. Physiological, pharmacological, nutritional, biochemical and molecular tools have been applied combining reductionist and whole-body approaches to physiological problems. This has led to the development of knowledge spanning from biochemical interactions to epidemiology and population health. An example includes how antioxidant supplementation affects redox homeostasis at cellular level and how this may be translated to modified muscle function and whole body performance, and even up to policy making. It is in this dialectics between molecular and physiological sciences that biological progress is achieved.

For more information regarding the research that has been conducting at the Laboratory of Exercise Physiology and Biochemistry, please visit laboratory's website.

Laboratory of Neuromechanics

Director: Eleftherios Kellis, Professor

The Laboratory of Neuromechanics of Exercise and Sport covers the education and research needs in the thematic areas of Sport Biomechanics, general strength and conditioning, neuro-mechanics and individual and team sports training and conditioning, the sport kinesiology, movement analysis, musculoskeletal injuries prevention via exercise, exercise of rehabilitation, neuromuscular adaptations to exercise.

The aim of the laboratory are: to promote basic research on the neuromechanical mechanisms that underlie human movement, to develop new techniques of assessment and improvement of human performance and prevention of injury and, through that, to contribute to a better quality of life.

The thematic areas of the laboratory of neuromechanics are:

1. Kinesiology and Muscle mechanics
2. Neuromuscular control
3. Training and Conditioning and Neuromuscular adaptations to exercise
4. Training before and after musculoskeletal injury
5. Scientific support of elite athletes
6. Movement Biomechanics in Sports and Exercise

For more information, please visit laboratory's website.

Laboratory of Social Research on Physical Activity

Director: Symeon P. Vlachopoulos, Associate Professor

The Laboratory of Social Research on Physical Activity was founded in 2008 in the School of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres of the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, Greece. The research mission of the laboratory is to conduct basic and applied research to promote an understanding of the factors and mechanisms related (a) to the enhancement and maintenance of regular physical activity participation in the population while achieving the promotion of physical and psychological health and well-being, (b) to the facilitation and maximization of sports performance and (c) to issues of sport and recreation management.

The research goals of the laboratory are to be achieved via:

• The study of factors and mechanisms affecting decision making in terms of participating in regular exercise and leading a physically active lifestyle
• The study of the mechanisms via which regular exercise participation affects a number of psychological and psycho-physiological parameters as well as dimensions of quality of life
• Examining the effects of exercise participation programmes on parameters and dimensions of quality of life in the typical population as well as populations with chronic diseases
• The study of psychological factors related to enhanced sports performance

Laboratory of Sport Entrepreneurship and Innovation Lab

"The Sport Entrepreneurship and Innovation Lab of the Department of Physical Education and Sport Science at Serres was established in 2019, aiming to foster applied research on entrepreneurship within the context of sports, recreation and sport tourism. Specifically, it supports students and staff to acquire the necessary mindset and skills so to start and develop sustainable business projects. At the end, its main focus is the development of innovative methods and tools that help sport entrepreneurs further develop their business models."