What is Kinesiology?
Author: By Jake Watson CSEP – CEP, P. Kin, ESSAM/One Welnness
What is Kinesiology and who are Kinesiologists?
Kinesiology is the science of human movement, applying the latest evidence-based research to improve the function, health, and wellness of people in all settings and populations. Kinesiologists are university-trained human movement specialists, who work to apply the principles of biomechanics, anatomy, physiology and psychomotor behavior to improve function and performance.
Who are they and what do they do?
A Certified Exercise Physiologist (CEP) holds a four-year equivalent university degree and has extensive knowledge in human physiological function and management through exercise and movement. Exercise Physiologists possess extensive knowledge, skills, and experience in clinical exercise delivery and are able to provide health modification counselling for people with chronic neuromuscular, metabolic and cardiovascular disease and injury.
What does service mean for the client?
We are experts in movement and addressing, managing or preventing injury or disease, and, in turn, improving performance. With our extensive knowledge and experience, we are able to assess, rectify and improve poor or compensatory body biomechanics to help clients move better, perform better, live longer and maintain a healthier musculoskeletal structure/system.
Kinesiologists work with people of all ages and every level of function and physical ability to assess, track, manage and achieve a broad range of personal & sport-related goals. This range includes your classic couch potatoes to Olympic athletes.
How to identify a client for these services:
- cardiovascular disease
- diabetes
- Osteoporosis and arthritis
- mental health conditions
- cancer and cancer treatment recover
- chronic pain and fatigue
- stroke
- post-surgical rehabilitation (ACL reconstruction, hip/knee replacement)
- neuromuscular exercise therapy (muscular dystrophy’s, multiple sclerosis, cerebral palsy, Parkinson’s disease)
- pulmonary disease and more
In addition to apparently healthy clients and high-performance athletes.
HOW ARE Certified EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGISTS DIFFERENT FROM PHYSIOTHERAPISTS?
Certified Exercise Physiologists/Kinesiologists and Physiotherapists are both allied health professionals, however, Kins primary focus is to use exercise to prevent, manage and treat complex medical conditions. Kins typically work with conditions such as (but not limited to): heart disease, diabetes, mental illness, delaying cognitive decline, some cancers, lower back pain, osteoporosis, and osteoarthritis.
Kins will utilize their skills in exercise prescription, combined with their training in behavior change, to empower clients and assist them to manage their health or chronic conditions independently.
New Services
Physiotherapy Exercise Prescription
Collaboration between physiotherapy and strength & conditioning. This service is directed by the physiotherapist and administered by the Strength Coach. It is more likely that those who have access to larger physiotherapy funds through their health benefits will take this service or those clients who are actively engaged in correcting long term and sometimes ongoing health issues.
Functional Rehabilitation
We have created a new service called Functional Rehabilitation within the gym to ensure that we cover the hole we currently have in the gym when referring client across from Physio to Strength Training as there are a number of people whom would benefit from such training but do not have coverage for the for Exercise Prescription Physio.
During the 30 mins, a trainer is spending the majority of the time assessing the person and prescribing exercises for them to complete at home or within a gym setting. It also allows the trainer to monitor a number of sets of the exercises before sending the person off to ensure that they are performing the exercise appropriately before advancing the exercises.