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Krsmanović Veličković, S,. (2024). The analysis of furnishing and designing of diag-
nostic centers within sports objects, Sport media and business, 10(1), 61-74.
www.smb.edu.rs
61
Review Article UDK: 725.85.012.8
Received: 02.2.2024 DOI: https://doi.org/10.58984/smb2401061k
Accepted: 20.4.2024
Coresponding author: sanja.krsmanovic@fzs.edu.rs
THE ANALYSIS OF FURNISHING AND DESIGNING
OF DIAGNOSTIC CENTERS WITHIN SPORTS OBJECTS1
Sanja Krsmanović Veličković2
Abstract: The increasing development of mankind can be seen in the progress in the
design of sports facilities which must satisfy certain high standards of construction
and equipment and which need to offer a maximum number of services in their envi-
ronment in order to meet the needs of customers. One of the major positive influ-
ences on users includes opening diagnostic centers within sports objects which must
be furnished properly and functionally. When furnishing and designing the interior, it
is necessary to pay attention to the choice of colours, floor materials, lighting, and
most importantly – the equipment that will be used in the premises of the center.
They can be separated into zones: medical rooms, laboratory, and diagnostics and
training area. Each of these zones has different requirements for equipment with
special attention to the privacy of the patients being tested, their safety and keeping
the space clean.
Key words: sports objects, diagnostic centers, interior design, furnishing the interior
1 This work is part of a scientific research within the project “Defining and Verification of the
Laws of Complex Movement under Conditions of Maximum Muscle Stress”, number 160/22
from 06/21/2022 at the Faculty of Sports, University "Union - Nikola Tesla", Belgrade. Project
duration: from July 2022 to the end of 2026.
2 Docent, Vice Dean for Education, Faculty of Sport, University Union – Nikola Tesla, Narodnih
heroja street 30/I, New Belgrade, Serbia, phone: +381659882109, ORCID – ID: https://
orcid.org/0000-0001-7035-4590, e-mail: sanja.krsmanovic@fzs.edu.rs
Krsmanović Veličković, S,. (2024). The analysis of furnishing and designing of diag-
nostic centers within sports objects, Sport media and business, 10(1), 61-74.
www.smb.edu.rs
62
Introduction
One of the most fundamental preconditions for implementing sports activities and
their professional monitoring is the existence of the appropriate sports facility. It is
impossible to organize any individual or group activities without the adequate sports
facilities and additional facilities as an essential resource. All of the above enables
fulfilling the sports potential, that is, achieving sports results as the main goal in
sports. It is not enough only to have the appropriate number of the facilities, but
also to have the objects which meet the prescribed conditions (in terms of dimen-
sions and safety, sanitary-hygienic conditions, fire protection conditions, installation
and technical conditions, etc.) in order to conduct sports activities in them (Krsma-
nović Veličković, 2021).
Kaminsky (2013) states that physical fitness is a set of characteristics of an individual,
the level of which is directly related to taking part in some kind of physical activity
and that quality training process is of utmost importance for physical fitness. In-
struments and certain equipment can be used to determine abilities, but these kinds
of monitoring and measuring must be conducted extremely precisely. In order to
declare a training process successful, it is necessary to include diagnosis, prognosis,
training program and control, so it is vital to use methods and measuring instru-
ments used to measure and control the dominant anthropological characteristics,
according to Ćopić (2020). In the modern era, it is required to systematically monitor
the relevant indicators of body composition several times a year, in some cases even
up to two times a week, whereas it used to be done once to twice a year.
Besides employing qualified staff which will deal with the training process and exa-
minations, there is also the staff that will do some other tasks, such as maintaining
the diagnostic center. The potentially increased flow of people through the space
calls for zoning the space very well and determining functional units properly. The
medical section where consultations and examinations will take place must be a
separate unit, then there is the section for therapies, the section for measuring ins-
truments and exercise, changing rooms with toilets, and waiting rooms as needed,
etc. If there is need for a waiting room, its dimensions are determined according to
the number and frequency of the surrounding rooms, as well as the professional
orientation of the engaged doctor. There should certainly be a reception area at the
entrance to the center, as well as toilets and changing rooms for storing personal
belongings.
Krsmanović Veličković, S,. (2024). The analysis of furnishing and designing of diag-
nostic centers within sports objects, Sport media and business, 10(1), 61-74.
www.smb.edu.rs
63
Interior Furnishing and Design
Functional diagnostics has advanced and with each day it brings more precise and
better results, consequently it requires new technologies and adapting the space to
its needs, too. Functionality plays a great role in furnishing and designing the interior
spaces that serve the purpose of these centers.
It is necessary to fulfill a whole range of factors in order to give any space a feeling of
warmth and comfort, and certainly one of these factors are the colours that will be
used in the space in project. We could call colours the “forces” that affect a man in a
certain psychological way and they can cause feelings of pleasure or discomfort, i.e.
they can trigger more active or passive feelings. The impact of colours on human
psyche can be indirect (physiological impact, they visually narrow or widen the spa-
ce) or direct (manifested in impulses coming from so-called warm (yellow, red,
green) or cold (blue, purple) colours), and the size of the space is very important for
the choice of colours.
A good choice of floor covering affects the overall impression about the space, main-
tenance costs and the value of the space itself. The floor is a constructional part of
the building which bears the greatest load and at the beginning of the construction it
is always necessary to determine how insulation and sealing will be done, and all
that in accordance with the general purpose of the space.
Lighting is very important in a space, it can be a sort of decoration and it can be cate-
gorized as: narrow beam, medium beam and wide beam lighting, but also as sy-
mmetrical and asymmetrical lighting. For interior lighting, incandescent light bulbs
(warm white light, no flickering) or discharge lamps (requiring two devices – a ballast
and a starter, with high light efficiency) are most commonly used. Direct symmetrical
lighting, as well as indirect lighting is most commonly used in diagnostic centers.
Medical Section within a Diagnostic Center
When designing an interior, it is most popular to arrange separate offices, such as
those for general practitioners and certain specialists. The main problems that
interior designers encounter when arranging such spaces are: insufficient waiting
room space in front of the office, simple and minimalist design, inadequate space for
setting up an office (e.g. on the first floor of someone’s house, etc.)… That is why a
structural change is crucial to carefully design every corner and to give purpose to
each piece of furniture and equipment.
Krsmanović Veličković, S,. (2024). The analysis of furnishing and designing of diag-
nostic centers within sports objects, Sport media and business, 10(1), 61-74.
www.smb.edu.rs
64
The examination area should have at least six square meters, it should be optically
and acoustically closed, and its purpose is to have anamneses, counseling, result
analysis, therapy plans and protocols conducted in it. These spaces are designed
differently depending on whether the patients can stand or need lying down, beca-
use the minimum equipment in them is a rotating chair or a patient bed, an instru-
ment table and a desk, and a chair for the doctor, too. The bigger the spaces are, the
more their design is determined by the necessary professionally specific instru-
ments, equipment, the necessary radius of movement for the staff, but also the
need for a screen behind which the patients can change clothes.
Figure 2 shows the appearance of the examination space for lying patients which
should have at least six square meters, an examination table and a chair, and if
possible, a side table for placing certain instruments. It is always advised that these
spaces have a screen behind which patients can change clothes.
Figure 2: The appearance of the examination area for lying patients
Source: Nojfert, E. (2004). Architectural Design, 37th revised and expanded edition.
Belgrade: Građevinska knjiga, Stylos, pg. 558.
Laboratory within the Diagnostic Center
The spaces designated for laboratories mainly serve for the analysis of blood, urine
and stool samples of athletes. In modern diagnostic centers today, they are man-
datory, whereas earlier it was not the case. In order to diagnose certain conditions
more easily and maintain practicality in work with athletes, they have become a
Krsmanović Veličković, S,. (2024). The analysis of furnishing and designing of diag-
nostic centers within sports objects, Sport media and business, 10(1), 61-74.
www.smb.edu.rs
65
necessary condition for the operation of diagnostic centers. These spaces are usually
big with working surfaces flexibly distributed and they include standing workstations
for employees. Special rooms alongside laboratories may include: staffrooms, was-
hing and drainage areas, disinfection rooms, cold rooms, etc. All spaces serving the-
se needs need to have certain ceiling height (the minimum of three meters), natural
and artificial light, ventilation, but they also need to form zones with different
purposes and technical qualities. Typically, the buildings that will have a laboratory
in them must be built with attention to horizontal water installations, and installa-
tion floors for technical facilities are located in the basement or attic. Obviously,
reinforced concrete skeleton is something necessary when building such objects, as
well as the floor covering which must be waterproof and chemical-resistant, it must
not have joints and great care must be taken with electrical conductors which need
to be installed according to the safest standards.
Laboratories can be divided according to their use into educational laboratories
which are very simply equipped, and research laboratories which are smaller in
dimensions, but have special equipment (measuring instruments, etc.). When we
take their field of work into consideration, laboratories can be divided into: chemical
and biological laboratories with built-in equipment (such as desks) and physical
laboratories. The former have a high level of air exchange, while the latter have a
lower level of it.
On Figure 3 we can see the minimum space required for an electrocardiogram,
which would be around 6.5 square meters because the room must contain a bed for
the examinee, as well as a chair and a table with the instrument for the doctor per-
forming the examination. Figure 4 depicts the minimum space of the room in which
blood samples are taken and which should be around six square meters. In that
room, there must be tables for equipment and samples, a rotating chair for the labo-
ratory assistant and a separate armchair for the examinee to sit while their blood is
being drawn. Such armchairs usually have the option to expand the leg rest and to
recline to a lying position, too.
Krsmanović Veličković, S,. (2024). The analysis of furnishing and designing of diag-
nostic centers within sports objects, Sport media and business, 10(1), 61-74.
www.smb.edu.rs
66
Figure 3: Room for ECG Figure 4: Room for taking blood samples
Source: Nojfert, E. (2004). Architectural Design, 37th revised and expanded edition.
Belgrade: Građevinska knjiga, Stylos, pg. 558.
If the plan and purpose of a diagnostic center includes an adaptable multi-purpose
laboratory, it needs to be constructed according to certain standards which are le-
gally and architecturally prescribed. In Figure 5 we can see an example of a typical
layout of such an adaptable multi-purpose laboratory, the area of which should be
over 20 square meters.
Figure 5: Multi-pupose laboratory
Source: Nojfert, E. (2004). Architectural Design, 37th revised and expanded edition.
Belgrade: Građevinska knjiga, Stylos, pg. 336.
Krsmanović Veličković, S,. (2024). The analysis of furnishing and designing of diag-
nostic centers within sports objects, Sport media and business, 10(1), 61-74.
www.smb.edu.rs
67
Figure 6 illustrates the minimum width of the passages beside workstations in labo-
ratory conditions and it is 140 centimeters for two people (if each person works at
their own table) and 355 centimeters for three people (if two people work at the
table and the third one passes between them).
Figure 6: Passage between workstations
Source: Nojfert, E. (2004). Architectural Design, 37th revised and expanded edition.
Belgrade: Građevinska knjiga, Stylos, pg. 333.
Figure 7 shows the so-called cross-section of the laboratory with an appropriately
positioned corridor where we can see the ground floor, basement and utility corri-
dor for specific needs.
Figure 7: Cross-section of the laboratory with a representation of the ground floor
and basement
Source: Nojfert, E. (2004). Architectural Design, 37th revised and expanded edition.
Belgrade: Građevinska knjiga, Stylos, pg. 336.
Krsmanović Veličković, S,. (2024). The analysis of furnishing and designing of diag-
nostic centers within sports objects, Sport media and business, 10(1), 61-74.
www.smb.edu.rs
68
Diagnostics and Training Area of the Diagnostic Center
The essence of sports diagnostics is the use of special procedures and tools nece-
ssary for the proper control of an athletes training process. This refers to the assess-
ment of an athlete’s body’s reaction to training stimuli, i.e. measuring training
effects (the current effect (acute responses)), and the accumulation of multiple tra-
inings, e.g. the long-term effect (chronic responses). Comprehensive measurements
require a combination of methods that will ensure an assessment of the level of
individual motor abilities and it is all performed without disrupting motor structures
(Travis S.K., 2020). To sum up, comprehensive measurements can reliably diagnose
the body’s metabolic, motor and technical potential.
Scientists dealing with computer sciences and engineers working with biomechanics,
physiologists, engineers, sports psychologists and coaches, are involved in interdis-
ciplinary development systems, so coaches and athletes are offered innovative and
most efficient support when identifying and analyzing a patient’s results (an exa-
minee or an athlete). A different set of sensors and devices used in diagnostic cen-
ters can be integrated into sports equipment or even attached to athletes. Compu-
ters collect and present the recorded data and other systems use telemetry methods
for transmitting the gathered data to reception stations which, then, process them
and present them adequately. Portable devices not restricted to laboratory condi-
tions are especially useful in sports like rowing, table tennis and biathlon, concludes
Vasa (2006). All the programs have so far given good results and the conclusion is
that they function well when used. The users are able to understand the presented
information, and measuring devices do not limit movement in any way. Real-time
feedback is obtained fast and at the same time biomechanic data specific to certain
sports are collected and analyzed. Special attention is paid to the design of the pre-
sentation component of the system, with the greatest focus on its modernization.
(Mackala, Michalik, Makaruk, 2023).
Here are some approaches that can be used in testing: symmetry and functional
asymmetry, dynamic module of motor skills, measuring muscle strength, measuring
peak strength, peak power and lactate concentration, the kinematics of running, as
well as measuring muscle and tendon stiffness and flexibility (Roberts, 2016). Thanks
to more precise and faster sampling nowadays, it is becoming easier to collect data
during static measurements, dynamic monitoring, movement and performance.
These tests are a huge load on an examinee’s body, so several conditions must be
met in order to conduct such an examination in a laboratory. It is important that the
examinee is willing to participate in the examination, that they are as healthy as they
can be and that they wear light sportswear. Proper load tests provide the most
Krsmanović Veličković, S,. (2024). The analysis of furnishing and designing of diag-
nostic centers within sports objects, Sport media and business, 10(1), 61-74.
www.smb.edu.rs
69
accurate data on a person’s current condition. These tests are appropriate for pre-
cise demonstration of the examinee’s physiological parameters (heart rate, blood
pressure, ECG, etc.), together with measuring the aerobic or relative aerobic ca-
pacity and physical performances of an examinee. Load test really requires excellent
performances by an examinee and that can be achieved by activating at least 50% of
total muscle mass during exercise. The actions monitored are running, bicycle riding
and rowing. For that reason treadmill ergometers, cycling ergometers and rowing
ergometers are usually used (Balogh, 2016).
Nowadays there are multiple different methods and instruments for measurement,
that is, analysis of body composition (e.g. InBody720-Biospace Co.; Tanita-BC 545,
etc.) that can be used in diagnostic centers as quite useful machines. Such machines
work on the principle of passing low power current that goes through muscles with-
out any resistance and through fatty tissue with low resistance.
Figure 8: InBody720
Source: https://inbodyusa.com/products/inbody770/
It is vital to list some of the equipment that is obligatory in the training areas of
diagnostic centers, and these are free weights, props, as well as training machines.
Training machines are an especially important group because they are beneficial in
multiple ways, according to Petronijević, 2023. They can be grouped into:
• Cyclic machines – they serve for warm-up and increasing aerobic and anae-
robic endurance (bicycle: spin-bike, ergometer or recumbent bike; treadmill;
stepper; elliptical trainer and rowing simulator);
• Machines for arms, shoulders and chest include: biceps machine, triceps mac-
hine, forearm extension machine and forearm muscle strengthening machine.
Krsmanović Veličković, S,. (2024). The analysis of furnishing and designing of diag-
nostic centers within sports objects, Sport media and business, 10(1), 61-74.
www.smb.edu.rs
70
• Machines for shoulders and legs include: leg press, leg extension machine, hip
joint flexor, hip and leg muscle strengthening machine, gluteal region and
hack squat machine.
• Multifunctional machines (very large devices that are also called basic machi-
nes that cover all muscle regions).
In order to have enough room for 40 to 45 people to train in, the size of the space
needs to be at least 200 square meters, and ceiling height needs to be at least three
meters. In the following figure, we can see two-cell setups of equipment, and the
conditioning and preparation areas should not be less than six meters wide. When
considering the minimum space for training, it should have 40 square meters, allo-
wing 12 people to exercise simultaneously. In Figure 9 a room for conditioning exer-
cise is shown with the following necessary equipment for the purpose: hand roller,
biceps and triceps station, “pull/over” machines, machines for strengthening the
back muscles, chest, trunk, hips, bones, feet, as well as the multi-exercise center.
There are machines for pressing, knee bending, pulling and climbing, benches, vari-
ous racks, training benches, weight discs and weights, bars, rowing machines, tread-
mills, a boxing pear and cabinets for storing the equipment, too.
Figure 9: An example of furnishing the room for conditional training of the size of
around 200 square meters
Source: Nojfert, E. (2004). Architectural Design, 37th revised and expanded edition.
Belgrade: Građevinska knjiga, Stylos, pg. 515.
Krsmanović Veličković, S,. (2024). The analysis of furnishing and designing of diag-
nostic centers within sports objects, Sport media and business, 10(1), 61-74.
www.smb.edu.rs
71
In Figure 10, we can see an example of an exercising room of 200 square meters in
dimensions. A large part equipment is doubled in number, there are hand rollers,
biceps and triceps stations, “pull/over” machines, machines for strengthening the
back muscles, chest, trunk, hips, bones, feet. Along with all this, there is a popular
multi-exercise center, a pulling machine, a training bench, storage racks for weights
of different sizes, various benches, a treadmill, an exercise machine, etc. This set of
exercising machines is standard in almost all centers.
Figure 10: An example of an exercising space of 200 square meters
Source: Nojfert, E. (2004). Architectural Design, 37th revised and expanded edition.
Belgrade: Građevinska knjiga, Stylos, pg. 514.
When it comes to making the arrangement for all of the above-mentioned equip-
ment, one should pay attention to the dimensions of each piece of equipment that
we want in a space, its weight, width, but also height. For example, a rowing machi-
ne and a stationary bike require a lot of space (Figure 10) and the spot where they
will be placed needs to be picked carefully. A rowing machine requires a minimum
space of 1.5 square meters, and a stationary bike requires a bit less – about half a
square meter.
In Figure 11, we can see an abdominal bench with an adjustable inclined board and
wall bars, which takes up around two square meters. A specific area which most
often occupies the most space is the so-called multi-exercise center (Figure 12), and
it takes over two square meters of space.
Krsmanović Veličković, S,. (2024). The analysis of furnishing and designing of diag-
nostic centers within sports objects, Sport media and business, 10(1), 61-74.
www.smb.edu.rs
72
Figure 10: A rowing machine Figure 11: Abdominal bench
and a stationary bike
Source of Figures 10 and 11: Nojfert, E. (2004). Architectural Design, 37th revised and
expanded edition. Belgrade: Građevinska knjiga, Stylos, pg. 514.
Figure 12: Space for the multi-exercise center
Source: Nojfert, E. (2004). Architectural Design, 37th revised and expanded edition.
Belgrade: Građevinska knjiga, Stylos, pg. 514.
Conclusion
In order to continue with the development of sports in the Republic of Serbia, a
complete revision and then a planned reconstruction and building of sports objects
is imperative. The strategic plan has always been to revitalize the existing sports ob-
jects and additional facilities wherever that is possible and appropriate, and then to
Krsmanović Veličković, S,. (2024). The analysis of furnishing and designing of diag-
nostic centers within sports objects, Sport media and business, 10(1), 61-74.
www.smb.edu.rs
73
build new objects. Modern and functionally organized infrastructure of sports ob-
jects is one of the key preconditions for achieving development and success in all
fields (Krsmanović Veličković, 2021).
Sports diagnostics is a comprehensive scientific concept that encompasses the as-
pect of training monitoring and/or sports medicine. In many cases, that is quite
challenging in the real world of sports especially in the professional sphere (Mercer
et al., 2022). This level of control allows for managing fatigue and protects athletes
from the excessive risk of injury during an intensive sports training (West S.W. et al.,
2021). One of the main goals of sports diagnostics is maintaining health because a
regular training process is possible thanks to it. The things that the training process
can least influence are the ability to engage in sports, but also the overall health
without injuries after the training is complete (Dijkstra H.P. et al., 2014). Maintaining
health enables us to break down physical barriers and perform more complex and
longer efforts.
Sports diagnostics is closely connected to training monitoring (external and internal
loads). Therefore, it can be an interesting addition and it can contribute to know-
ledge about athletes and their adaptations to training. Scientist should be able to
answer even the hardest questions of coaches, and, on the other hand, coaches sho-
uld rely on their experience and the latest knowledge.
Taking everything into consideration, it is extremely important how diagnostic cen-
ters will be equipped and designed so as to completely fit the measures of a properly
developed person, as well as the space required for different positions and move-
ments. Having in mind that a man is not only a being that needs space, special atten-
tion needs to be paid to experience of the space itself, that is, how a space is dimen-
sioned, divided, coloured, lit, what kind of furniture is in it, and these are just some
of the most important things influencing the behaviour and mood of people in a
space.
Acknowledgements
This work is part of a scientific research within the project “Defining and Verification
of the Laws of Complex Movement under Conditions of Maximum Muscle Stress”,
number 160/22 from June 21, 2022, at the Faculty of Sports, University “Union –
Nikola Tesla”, New Belgrade. duration: from July 2022 until the end of 2026.
Krsmanović Veličković, S,. (2024). The analysis of furnishing and designing of diag-
nostic centers within sports objects, Sport media and business, 10(1), 61-74.
www.smb.edu.rs
74
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