Kinesiology in the 21st century
Kinesiology, as the scientific study of human movement, has undergone substantial conceptual and structural changes over the past decades. According to Mraković, kinesiology is defined as an empirical, experimentally based science that studies the laws, principles, and patterns of controlled and purposeful physical activity and its effects on the human organism. This definition highlights the scientific and systematic nature of the discipline. The aim of this review paper is to examine the development of kinesiology in the 21st century, with particular emphasis on its paradigm shift from a practice-oriented field toward an interdisciplinary scientific discipline. The analysis is based on foundational and contemporary literature, including empirical and systematic studies . The findings suggest that kinesiology has evolved into a comprehensive field integrating biological, social, and behavioural sciences. Modern kinesiology focuses on health, performance, and human development, addressing global challenges such as physical inactivity and chronic disease. The discipline is increasingly recognised as a central scientific framework for understanding human movement in the 21st century. The review further demonstrates that the future development of kinesiology will depend on interdisciplinary collaboration, methodological standardization, international scientific cooperation, and the integration of emerging technologies such as wearable sensors, artificial intelligence, motion analysis systems, and precision exercise medicine. These developments position kinesiology as a central scientific discipline for addressing contemporary challenges in health, human performance, and physical activity across the lifespan.