Prof. Nikolaj Popov, D.Sc.

Day and place of birth: 06.07.1967 - Sofia

Work Experience

  • From 2024 Dean of the Faculty of Public Health, Health Care and Tourism, National Sports Academy "Vassil Levski" (NSA)
  • 2020 - 2024 Head of the Department "Theory and Methodology of Kinesitherapy", NSA "Vassil Levski"
  • 2010 - 2020 Head of the Program Council of the Master's Program "Physical Therapy and Rehabilitation" at NSA
  • 2004 - 2020 Deputy Head in charge of educational work at the Department "Theory and Methodology of Kinesitherapy", NSA
  • 2012 - Professor
  • 2005 - Associate professor
  • 2002 - Chief assistant
  • 2000 - Senior assistant
  • From 1996 - Lecturer in the Department "Theory and Methodology of Kinesitherapy", NSA
  • 1994 - 1995 Kinesitherapist - Center for Prosthetics and Restorative Surgery - Sofia
  • 1990 - 1994 Physical Education Teacher – 105th Secondary School, Sofia

Teaching Activities

Lecturer in Kinesiology, Pathokinesiology, Manual Therapy, Kinesitherapy for Musculoskeletal Dysfunctions, Kinesitherapy in Orthopedics and Traumatology, Functional Examination and Analysis of the Musculoskeletal System, Sports Kinesitherapy, Specialized Means of Orthopedic Kinesitherapy, Theoretical Foundations and Means of Kinesitherapy

Research Activities

Author of over 100 publications in specialized scientific journals.

Author of 10 monographs and textbooks in the field of kinesitherapy.

  1. Popov N. Clinical Pathokinesiological Diagnosis in Musculoskeletal Kinesitherapy, Sofia, NSA-PRESS, 2002
  2. Popov N, Spinal Column - Functional Diagnosis and Kinesitherapy, Sofia, NSA-PRESS, 2003
  3. Popov N, Dimitrova E, Kinesitherapy for Orthopedic Diseases and Traumas of the Upper Limb, NSA-PRESS, 2006
  4. Popov N et al., Kinesitherapy in Sports Practice, NSA-PRESS, 2009
  5. Kraev T, Popov N, Manual Mobilization of Peripheral Joints, NSA-PRESS, 2009
  6. Popov N, Kinesiology and Pathokinesiology of the Musculoskeletal System - NSA-PRESS, 2009
  7. Popov N et al., Introduction to Kinesitherapy - Basic Means and Methods - NSA-PRESS, 2009
  8. Popov N., Popova D., Grueva T. Physiotherapy for Musculoskeletal Dysfunctions of the Lower Limbs, Sofia, NSA-PRESS, 2010
  9. Popov N., Popova D., Grueva T. Functional Examination and Analysis in Musculoskeletal Physiotherapy, Sofia, NSA-PRESS, 2012
  10. Popov N, Manual Mobilization of Peripheral Joints and the Spinal Column, Sofia, NSA-PRESS, 2018

Education and Training

  • 2009 - earned the scientific degree "DOCTOR OF SCIENCES" in Theory and Methodology of Physical Education and Sports Training (incl. kinesitherapy) with a dissertation on "Kinesitherapeutic Methods for Restoring Kinematics in Peripheral Joints"
  • 2002 - earned the degree "DOCTOR" in Theory and Methodology of Physical Education and Sports Training (incl. kinesitherapy) with a dissertation on "Kinesitherapy after Resection of the Radial Head"
  • 2020 - earned the degree "bachelor" in kinesitherapy
  • 1992 - 1994 Postgraduate qualification in kinesitherapy - NSA "Vasil Levski"
  • 1986 - 1990 - Higher education - teacher of physical education, instructor of physical training in the army -NSA "Vasil Levski"
  • 1986 - completed secondary education

Expert, Public and Voluntary Activities

  • From 2020 - Member of the Academic Council of NSA "Vasil Levski"
  • From 2004 - Member of the Faculty Council of the Faculty "Public Health, Health Care and Tourism" - NSA "Vasil Levski"
  • 2016 - 2020 Member of the Expert Council for Education at NSA "Vasil Levski"
  • Member of the Management Board of the Association of Physiotherapists in Bulgaria
  • Member of the Management Board of the Bulgarian Rowing Federation
  • Chairman of the Management Board of the HEBROS Rowing Sports Club

Other Skills and Competences

  • Participant in two certified postgraduate courses at the International McKenzie Institute for training in Mechanical Diagnosis and Therapy according to the McKenzie Method - cervical, thoracic, and lumbar section
  • Participant in a certified postgraduate course at the Danish Association of Physiotherapists for the treatment of hemiplegia according to the Bobath approach
  • Participant in a certified postgraduate course at the Danish Association of Physiotherapists in Manual Therapy - levels A and B