The project titled Kinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System: From Assessment to Targeted Intervention (NFP403401DXF4), launched in February 2025 within the Interreg Slovakia – Czech Republic 2021–2027 cross-border cooperation programme under the call INTERREG SK-CZ/2023/4_Education and co-financed by the European Regional Development Fund, is already the third project obtained by the Department of Natural Sciences in Kinanthropology at the Faculty of Physical Culture of Palacký University in Olomouc since 2020. The lead partner of the project is the University of St. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava, while Palacký University in Olomouc acts as the main cross-border partner. The project is administratively supported by the Project Service Office of Palacký University.
According to data from renowned agencies, more than 1.71 billion people worldwide suffer from musculoskeletal disorders, and this number continues to rise. Statistics on the health status of the population in Czechia and Slovakia for the years 2021 and 2022 show a growing number of hospitalizations, visits to specialized outpatient facilities, cases of sick leave, and disability pensions due to musculoskeletal conditions. In the Czech Republic alone, 96,373 patients (919.2 per 100,000 inhabitants) were hospitalized for these reasons during this period, and the number of sick leave cases was 8,082 per 100,000 inhabitants. While the quality of care for these patients is generally high, the increasing number of cases calls for more efficient healthcare services. A significant contribution to this improvement can be made through enhanced theoretical knowledge in the field of musculoskeletal kinesiology.
The project was initiated based on findings that, compared to long-term experience in the prevention and rehabilitation of musculoskeletal disorders, there is still a significant lack of integration between information gathered through objective diagnostics and biomechanical movement analysis and the subsequent physiotherapeutic interventions. Therefore, it is essential to improve access to high-quality education in the field of musculoskeletal kinesiology, including the innovation of study materials for both students and professionals interested in this area.
The goal of the project is to develop a system of joint professional training that will include biomechanics of the musculoskeletal system, movement diagnostics, and physiotherapeutic procedures focused on the prevention of musculoskeletal disorders.
The educational part of the program will consist of online lectures and in-person practical workshops. These will focus on diagnostics of the musculoskeletal system, biomechanical movement analysis, and the development of physiotherapeutic procedures aimed at reducing and/or preventing musculoskeletal disorders. The outputs will be intended for professionals, students, and members of the public interested in the fields of physiotherapy, occupational therapy, orthopedics, orthotics, prosthetics, diagnostics, and related technologies. The theoretical content will be supplemented by e-learning materials in the form of expert texts, videos, and animations. These resources will be made available to the wider professional community through the platforms of the participating institutions. They will complement materials developed during a previous project, which are currently available [HERE]. During the workshops, participants will gain practical experience working with modern diagnostic technologies through problem-solving of selected case studies.
As part of the project, a partnership network will be established to enhance cooperation between universities and professional institutions in the cross-border regions of the Czech Republic and Slovakia. On the Czech side, in addition to the lead institution, partners will include the Faculty of Education and Faculty of Medicine at the University of Ostrava, the Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science at VSB – Technical University of Ostrava, the Faculty of Sports Studies at Masaryk University in Brno, the Centre of Sports Activities at Brno University of Technology, Orthopedic Prosthetics Frýdek-Místek s.r.o., and Mediekos Ambulance s.r.o. in Zlín.
The involvement of academic staff and professionals from fields such as physiotherapy, rehabilitation, biomechanics, and functional diagnostics will allow for a comprehensive approach to the addressed issues. The participation of institutions within the partnership network will support the dissemination of project outcomes throughout the regions involved. It will also enable the inclusion of current topics being addressed by specialized academic and commercial institutions dealing with practical challenges. University students and other individuals interested in musculoskeletal kinesiology will thus gain access to materials developed in line with the latest scientific knowledge and using modern technologies.
