Exercise & Health

Graduates of Greek universities and technical colleges and graduates of recognized equivalent institutions abroad (in accordance with paragraph 1, article 4 of Law 3685/2008) related to the subject of the postgraduate specialization. Exceptionally, and in small numbers, graduates of other university departments, such as Philosophy, Law, Management, Economics, etc., are accepted after a written examination in the following courses: Research Methodology, Exercise Physiology, and Anatomy.

The Program entitled “Exercise & Health” is supported by the Athens Medical School of the National and Kapodistrian University of Athens. The program leads to the award of a Master's Degree (MD) in “Exercise & Health” (MSc in Exercise & Health).
The aim of the program is to provide interdisciplinary postgraduate education and to promote knowledge and research in the field of “Exercise & Health.” It includes the design and development of a single-department postgraduate program aimed at educating and specializing young scientists in the broad and growing field of “Sciences that improve, maintain, and restore human health,” adequately covering the lack of Sports Medicine Specialization in our country's medical schools.
In addition, it is the only Program that is in direct contact with the Center for Sports Excellence, part of the First University Orthopedic Clinic, which has entered into a partnership with:
- The Hellenic Olympic Committee. It staffs its scientific team and provides sports medicine coverage to athletes of pre-Olympic teams of young people – boys and girls, men and women.
- Rutgers University, at the level of student exchanges, and the Australian Institute of Sport, to provide sports medicine services to Australian sports teams visiting our country for training and competitions.
- The National Teams of Swimming, Rowing, Fencing, and Table Tennis, where sports medicine coverage is provided to athletes aged 12-18.
The center also has a Performance Assessment Laboratory fully equipped with modern aerobic capacity assessment machines (two treadmill ergometers and two portable ergospirometry devices), an isokinetic dynamometer (Biotex), an electromyograph, a Velotron ergometer (for determining anaerobic capacity), a portable floor device for determining lower limb strength (Optojumb), stationary and portable device for recording training loads and determining kinetic parameters (Quantum – motion 1080), portable devices for recording times, movement, and reaction (Fitlight).
These resources enable postgraduate students to practice the theoretical and practical aspects of the program's subject matter and also to come into direct contact with:
A) Developmental sports
B) High-level sports, and
C) The corresponding structures and educational programs of universities and sports organizations in other countries.
The MSc program aims to:
- Understand exercise-induced biological adaptations and their importance for the health of athletes.
- Practical training in assessment and monitoring with the aim of improving health and athletic performance. Prevention and treatment of sports injuries, illnesses, and other limiting factors related to lifelong physical activity and health maintenance.
- Designing counseling interventions at the mass and amateur level with the aim of promoting health and quality of life.
- Conducting applied research and publishing scientific papers promoting the relationship between health and exercise.
Upon completion of the program, graduates will have acquired specialized knowledge and skills in the following areas:
- the promotion of health and well-being,
- the effect of exercise on health indicators for all age groups,
- systematic medical monitoring of individuals participating in sports activities,
- prevention and treatment of diseases and injuries in high-level athletes,
- recovery after training or competitive activity,
- safe medical coverage of sports activities,
- information on combating doping and the use of other performance-enhancing aids
- the establishment of an Athlete Health Card to protect the health of athletes.