Kinesiologist

Description

Kinesiologists study and research the movement of the body; its muscles and parts. They analyse and use scientific data and methods to improve body motion, generally in humans, through an understanding of such areas as physiology, kinetics, neurology, and biology. They recognise the effects that some factors, such as body condition, have on motion and develop solutions to improve overall mechanics and mobility.

Other titles

The following job titles also refer to kinesiologist:

kinesiology science researcher
exercise scientist
psychomotor kinesiologist
exercise science researcher
exercise kinesiologist
exercise research scientist
biomechanical kinesiologist
kinesiology scientist
exercise researcher
kinesiology researcher
kinesiologists
kinesiology research scientist

Minimum qualifications

Associate’s degree is generally required to work as kinesiologist. However, this requirement may differ in some countries.

ISCO skill level

ISCO skill level is defined as a function of the complexity and range of tasks and duties to be performed in an occupation. It is measured on a scale from 1 to 4, with 1 the lowest level and 4 the highest, by considering:

  • the nature of the work performed in an occupation in relation to the characteristic tasks and duties
  • the level of formal education required for competent performance of the tasks and duties involved and
  • the amount of informal on-the-job training and/or previous experience in a related occupation required for competent performance of these tasks and duties.

Kinesiologist is a Skill level 4 occupation.

Kinesiologist career path

Similar occupations

These occupations, although different, require a lot of knowledge and skills similar to kinesiologist.

physiologist
immunologist
toxicologist
biochemist
astronomer

Long term prospects

These occupations require some skills and knowledge of kinesiologist. They also require other skills and knowledge, but at a higher ISCO skill level, meaning these occupations are accessible from a position of kinesiologist with a significant experience and/or extensive training.

Essential knowledge and skills

Essential knowledge

This knowledge should be acquired through learning to fulfill the role of kinesiologist.

Nutrition: The science that investigates the various substances and nutrients (proteins, carbohydrates, tannins, anthocyanins, vitamins, and minerals) and their interaction in food products.
Human physiology: The science that studies the human organs and its interactions and mechanisms.
Kinetics: The study of movement and its causes.
Neurology: Neurology is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
Biomechanics: The use of mechanical means to understand the function and structure of biological organisms.
Biology: Tissues, cells, and functions of plant and animal organisms and their interdependencies and interactions with each other and the environment.
Human anatomy: The dynamic relationship of human structure and function and the muscosceletal, cardiovascular, respiratory, digestive, endocrine, urinary, reproductive, integumentary and nervous systems; normal and altered anatomy and physiology throughout the human lifespan.
Scientific modelling: Scientific activity consisting in selecting the relevant aspects of a situation and aiming to represent physical processes, empirical objects and phenomena to allow a better understanding, visualisation or quantification, and to enable simulation that shows how this particular subject would behave under given circumstances.
Kinesiology: The study of human movement, performance and function, the sciences of biomechanics, anatomy, physiology and neuroscience.
Scientific research methodology: The theoretical methodology used in scientific research involving doing background research, constructing an hypothesis, testing it, analysing data and concluding the results.
Kinanthropometry: The study that links human anatomy to movement by investigating factors that include body size, shape, and composition. It is this application of biological data that shows how movement is influenced.

Essential skills and competences

These skills are necessary for the role of kinesiologist.

Perform laboratory tests: Carry out tests in a laboratory to produce reliable and precise data to support scientific research and product testing.
Maintain laboratory equipment: Clean laboratory glassware and other equipment after use and inspect it for damage or corrosion in order to ensure its proper functioning.
Perform scientific research: Gain, correct or improve knowledge about phenomena by using scientific methods and techniques, based on empirical or measurable observations.
Apply safety procedures in laboratory: Make sure that laboratory equipment is used in a safe manner and the handling of samples and specimens is correct. Work to ensure the validity of results obtained in research.
Apply scientific methods: Apply scientific methods and techniques to investigate phenomena, by acquiring new knowledge or correcting and integrating previous knowledge.
Calibrate laboratory equipment: Calibrate laboratory equipment by comparing between measurements: one of known magnitude or correctness, made with a trusted device and a second measurement from another piece of laboratory equipment. Make the measurements in as similar a way as possible.
Gather experimental data: Collect data resulting from the application of scientific methods such as test methods, experimental design or measurements.

Optional knowledge and skills

Optional knowledge

This knowledge is sometimes, but not always, required for the role of kinesiologist. However, mastering this knowledge allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Occupational physiology: The complex physiology of specific jobs and its relation to disorders and medical conditions and the way to optimize health, work ability, and productivity.
Biological chemistry: Biological chemistry is a medical specialty mentioned in the EU Directive 2005/36/EC.
Exercise physiology: The effect of exercise on pathology and how the exercise can mitigate or reverse disease progression.
Psychomotor therapy: Psychomotor observation and therapy in adults, children and persons with an intellectual disability meant to tackle the psychiatric problems of a person.
Rehabilitation: The methods and procedures used to help an ill or injured person restore lost skills and regain self-sufficiency and control.
Therapeutic massage: Massage techniques used to relieve pain and alleviate other symptoms associated with a number of different medical conditions.
Kinesitherapy: The use of therapeutic muscle movements in treating disease and illness.
Psychology: The human behaviour and performance with individual differences in ability, personality, interests, learning, and motivation.
Pathology: The components of a disease, the cause, mechanisms of development, morphologic changes, and the clinical consequences of those changes.
Osteopathy: The type of alternative medicine which manipulates the body`s muscle tissues, joints and bones.
Acupuncture methods: Techniques and methods used to normalise the flow of Qi energy in the body for relieving pain and related symptoms by applying various specific types of needles into different acupuncture points.
Ergonomics: The science of designing systems, processes and products that complement the strengths of people so that they can use them easily and safely.

Optional skills and competences

These skills and competences are sometimes, but not always, required for the role of kinesiologist. However, mastering these skills and competences allows you to have more opportunities for career development.

Write research proposals: Synthetise and write proposals aiming to solve research problems. Draft the proposal baseline and objectives, the estimated budget, risks and impact. Document the advances and new developments on the relevant subject and field of study.
Attend sports training: Attend scheduled practice or training sessions.
Prepare lesson content: Prepare content to be taught in class in accordance with curriculum objectives by drafting exercises, researching up-to-date examples etc.
Assist patients with rehabilitation: Assist to develop and restore patient`s body systems, their neuromuscular, musculoskeletal, cardiovascular and respiratory systems, helping them in the rehabilitation process.
Assist in performing physical exercises: Prescribe and assist physical exercises to help increase strength and dexterity.
Assist in clinical trials: Work with fellow scientists on clinical trials in order to improve medical methods for preventing, detecting, diagnosing, or treating diseases.
Perform lectures: Present lectures to various groups.
Contribute to the rehabilitation process: Contribute to the rehabilitation process to enhance activity, functioning and participation using a person-centered and evidence-based approach.
Develop scientific theories: Formulate scientific theories based on empirical observations, gathered data and theories of other scientists.
Develop scientific research protocols: Develop and record the procedural method used for a specific scientific experiment in order to enable its replication.
Archive scientific documentation: Store documents such as protocols, analysis results and scientific data using archiving systems to enable scientists and engineers to take methods and results from previous studies into account for their research.
Write scientific papers: Present the hypothesis, findings, and conclusions of your scientific research in your field of expertise in a professional publication.
Create a diet plan: Plan and implement a personalised diet plan to best improve an individual’s body movement.
Provide individual exercise programmes: Provide a range of exercise programmes in accordance with the needs of the clients by applying principles of exercise programming, and modifying and moderating as necessary to support effective and safe exercising.
Develop patient treatment strategies: Consult with fellow doctors and scientists in order to find the appropriate and most effective treatment for each individual patient.
Deal with challenging people: Work safely and communicate effectively with individuals and groups of people who are in challenging circumstances. This would include recognition of signs of aggression, distress, threatening and how to address them to promote personal safety and that of others.

ISCO group and title

2269 – Health professionals not elsewhere classified

 

 


 

 

References
  1. Kinesiologist – ESCO
Last updated on August 8, 2022