What is Kinesiology?

Kinesiology is the scientific study of human movement, performance and function. It draws on principles from anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, neuroscience and psychology to understand how the body moves and how movement affects health, well-being and athletic performance.

Kinesiology is applied practically as an intervention in general health care, rehabilitation, fitness and elite sports performance. This non-invasive muscle-testing tool listens to your body’s biofeedback, revealing imbalances in nutrition, emotions and structure.

At its core, kinesiology explores the mechanics and anatomy of the musculoskeletal system —bones, muscles, joints and connective tissues — to understand how these systems work together to produce movement. This includes everything from daily activities like walking or lifting as well as more complex motions such as required in physical sports, dance etc.

Kinesiology has its roots in ancient civilisations with Traditional Chinese Medicine and Ayurveda promoting energy flow and body balance through practices like qigong and yoga. This evolved to more systematic study of human movement and anatomy and the emergence of biomechanics, a key component of kinesiology. The term kinesiology to describe the scientific study of human movement became commonplace on North America in the 1960s and 1970s.

What does a kinesiologist do?

The role of the kinesiologist is to analyse things like posture, gait, strength, flexibility, coordination and motor control to assess how efficiently and safely the body functions. Through assessment, kinesiologists can identify imbalances or dysfunctions in movement and prescribe corrective exercises to restore strength, flexibility and coordination. For athletes, kinesiologists help individuals optimise their training while minimising risk of injury.

With increasing awareness of the importance of movement for overall health, kinesiology plays a critical role in helping people move better, live healthier and perform at their physical best. This is especially true in modern public health as sedentary lifestyles become more common.

Kinesiology is used proactively to promote physical activity, help with managing chronic conditions (e.g. diabetes / obesity) and improve general quality of life. Workplace wellness programs and community/school physical education systems are turning more towards kinesiology to improve employee and student wellness.

To enquire about a individual kinesiology consultation or a tailored workplace wellness program for your business, please get in touch.