Prof. Dr. Erika ZEMKOVÁ (Chair)
Department of Biological and Medical Sciences
Faculty of Physical Education and Sport
Comenius University in Bratislava
Slovakia
Prof. Dr. Erika Zemková is a professor in the Department of Biological and Medical Sciences, Faculty of Physical Education and Sport, Comenius University in Bratislava. She also works as a researcher at the Technological Institute of Sport, Faculty of Electrical Engineering and Information Technology, Slovak University of Technology and Faculty of Health Sciences, University of Ss. Cyril and Methodius in Trnava. She completed her Masters Degree in Professional Coaching in 1994, and Doctoral Degree in Sports Kinanthropology in 1999. In 2004, Slovak Academy of Sciences awarded her the Scientific Qualification Degree IIa – Independent Scientist. In 2007, she became Associate Professor and in 2013 Full Professor of Sports Kinanthropology. In 2008, she graduated at the Institute of International Relations and Law Approximation, Faculty of Law, Comenius University in Bratislava. She has received fellowships for conducting research at foreign universities, including the Ronald and Eileen Weiser Professional Development Award (University of Michigan, 2009), Fulbright Award (NeuroMuscular Research Center at Boston University, 2005–2006), Aktion Österreich–Slowakei Stipendium (University of Vienna, 2005), NATO Expert Visit Award (University of Aberdeen, 2005), CIMO Fellowship (Research Institute for Olympic Sports in Jyväskylä, 2003), and for teaching activities through the Erasmus Program and bilateral agreements between Universities (2004–2013). She was awarded by Coventry University Research Committee to be a Visiting Professor in Physical Education and Sport at the Faculty of Health and Life Sciences, Coventry University (2012–2015). Her scientific and academic work was noted for merit by her home Faculty of Physical Education and Sport in 2011, 2012 (Associate Professor of the Year) and 2019 (Professor of the Year), and also by Comenius University in Bratislava in 2018 for her outstanding work in the field of functional diagnostics of athletic performance.
Contemporary Perspectives of Sport-specific and Fitness-oriented Core Performance Testing
Core stabilization and core strengthening exercises have grown in popularity over the last 30 years, mainly for rehabilitation and prevention of back problems. Recently, core exercises have become a mode of training for sport, fitness and health. However, there is conflicting and limiting evidence to suppot their effectiveness. This may be due to a lack of specificy and sensitivity of methods used for assessment of core stability and core strength. Additionally, most commonly used tests do not reflect functional nature of the core musculature. To avoid these shortcomings, one can use newly developed methods enabling practitioners to assess muscle strength and power during functional movements, such as lifting tasks or trunk rotational movements. The movement pattern of these exercises is closer to the demands of many sports and activities of everyday life. For general population they may represent a more appropriate alternative than the measure of maximal strength of the back muscles. These tests are sensitive in discriminating individuals with different performance level and revealing the efficiency of core training programs. They can be easily implemented in practice for assessing core performance in both physically active and sedentary people. Contemporary perspectives and our approach to sport-specific and fitness-oriented core performance testing will complement the presentation.
Acknowledgments: This work was supported by the Scientific Grant Agency of the Ministry of Education, Science, Research and Sport of the Slovak Republic and the Slovak Academy of Sciences (No. 1/0725/23).