Sports Medicine Laboratory History
The Sports Medicine Laboratory was founded in 1988, in the Department of Physical Education & Sport Science (TEFAA) of Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, but it has been officially recognized at the end of 1992 (Government Gazette 182/93/432).
Since 2008, the Laboratory of Sports Medicine operates in the current modern facilities of TEFAA institution, in Thermi of Thessaloniki.
From its foundation until 2018, the Director of the Laboratory was the Professor of Sports Medicine Mr. Asterios Deligiannis and from 2018 until now, the Director is the Professor of Sports Medicine Mrs. Evangelia Kouidi.
Since 2010, the laboratory is certified from ISO 2007 for the services provided.
In 1990 the members of the Laboratory starred in the establishment of the Sports Medicine Society of Northern Greece, which in 1999, by the actions of the previous Director Mr. A. Deligiannis, was recognized as the official representative of Greece in the International Federation of Sports Medicine / Fédération Internationale de Médécine du Sport (FIMS) and at the same time was transformed into the Hellenic Society of Sports Medicine.
Since its establishment, the Sports Medicine Laboratory participates either as a co-organizer or as the mainly organizer in numerous Hellenic and International Scientific Conferences, in the field of Sports Medicine. Furthermore, the current Laboratory participates in numerous European Programs. It is worth noting that in 2008 the Laboratory established in participation with other Clinics and Laboratories of Medical School, the POIOZEIN Laboratories network, which was approved by the Research Committee of Auth.
In 2002, the members of the Laboratory starred in establishment of the European Association of Rehabilitation in Chronic Kidney Disease, in Thessaloniki, which is an affiliate member of European Renal Association.
From 2004 to 2010, the members of the Laboratory were also selected as nuclear members of the Sports Cardiology and Exercise
Physiology Study Groups of the European Society of Cardiology and participated in the instructions writing for safe and effective exercise in different population groups.
Important facts in the educational offer of the Laboratory were the establishment of the annual seminars in Sports Medicine, that are conducted, since 2007, simultaneously in Thessaloniki and Nicosia, with the pioneering system of distance education, as well as the Laboratory’s participation in erection and operation (2015) of the Interuniversity Graduate Program, «Human Performance and Health», with two directions " Sports Medicine " and " Exercise and Physical Health " between TEFAA and Medical School, of Auth.
In addition, essential stations in the field of research and social contribution, were the development and operation of a consulting room for the pre-competition health control of athletes’, since 1993, as well as, the establishment and operation of therapeutic exercise programs for patients with chronic diseases, since 1995.
In the current consulting room, more than 30,000 athletes have been examined until now, while in the rehabilitation program, which operates with the support of the Municipality of Thessaloniki, more than 100 patients participate each year.
Members of the Laboratory have participated or are still participating in a sufficient number of competing European and Greek Research Programs, whereas 10 of their studies have been awarded at major International Conferences. Moreover, a large number of Doctoral and Postgraduate theses, have been conducted in Sports Medicine Laboratory.
More than 250 studies have been published by the members of the Laboratory, while many of them were with internationally renowned scientists.
The Laboratory of Sports Medicine is fully equipped with devices for the study of cardiovascular responses and adaptations to exercise, while recently a modern echocardiography device was donated by the "Stavros Niarchos" Foundation.
In the last 25 years, reactivation exercise programs have been implemented by the Sports Medicine Laboratory in patients with Chronic
Heart Diseases and with End-Stage Renal Disease undergoing hemodialysis treatment, in the Artificial Kidney Unit of the AHEPA Hospital. Head of the reactivation exercise programs is Professor Mrs. Kouidi.
The Laboratory staff has conducted numerous studies on the implementation of long-term innovative therapeutic exercise training programs and evaluation of anatomical and functional adaptations to exercise in patients. More than 200 patients have participated in those exercise programs for free, every year under a program contract with the Municipalities of Thessaloniki and Evosmos, in Municipal Gyms and at AHEPA Hospital.
Those programs are directed by specialized Physical Education teachers, under the medical supervision of members of the Laboratory and in scientific collaboration with Clinics and Laboratories of the Medical School.
Therapeutic exercise programs have been applied in children with neoplasms and fibrocystic fibrosis, in diabetic patients and in patients with motor disabilities and psychiatric disorders. Exercise can be prescribed based on the patient's medical problem, his functional adequacy and his goals.
After the initial training in the laboratory, the patients are trained into subgroups in municipal gyms. Each subgroup consists of 10 patients, and each exercise session includes various aerobic and static exercises, dance, Pilates, zumba, step-aerobic and aqua gymnastics.
For the patient’s safety, there are telecardiology applications, such as the inter-telephone transmission of the electrocardiogram, from the gyms to the Sports Medicine Laboratory. It is worth noting, that none of the patients have ever any complication from the implementation of the programs.