PROFESSIONAL EXERCISE PHYSIOLOGY
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All About Kinesiology
and Exercise Physiology
Kinesiology
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Kinesiology is the study of movement of the human body. In Canada, kinesiologists are educated at post-secondary levels for a minimum of 4 years, and then are registered through provincial regulatory bodies - such as the British Columbia Kinesiology Association.
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Kinesiologists have the scope of practice to take health histories, assess injuries or other conditions, and advise on exercise prescription. This field of exercise is similar to physiotherapy, but with more of a focus on exercise as the main modality for treatment. Kinesiologists are trained to do similar assessments of injuries or movements to physiotherapists, but are not able to full diagnose injuries or conditions.
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Working with a kinesiologist can help you rehabilitate injuries, improve your exercise routines, enhance athletic performance, manage chronic conditions, and improve overall function and quality of life!
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Some kinesiology services are funded by extended health benefits, or through government funded organizations such as ICBC. It is recommended to check with your insurance company to see if kinesiology is funded, and if not, then request that is it so we can improve access to this great form of health care!
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To learn more about kinesiology, or keep up to date with what is happening with this young and dynamic profession, visit our Client Education page.
Exercise Physiology
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Exercise physiology, also known as clinical exercise physiology, is a stream of kinesiology and exercise science that focuses on providing advice and exercise prescription for more clinical populations, such as those with chronic health conditions.
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Clinical exercise physiologists are certified through regulatory bodies around the world, and have a larger scope of practice and more experience for who they can work with. Most clinical exercise physiologists have further studying beyond a kinesiology degree to give them the knowledge and expertise to work with these specialized populations. In Canada and the US, exercise physiologists are certified through the Canadian Society of Exercise Physiology (CSEP), and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM).
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Common populations that exercise physiologists work with include (but not limited to) those with heart conditions (previous heart attacked, angina, high blood pressure, arrhythmias), neurological conditions (spinal cord injuries, stroke, multiple sclerosis, brain injuries, cerebral palsy), metabolic conditions (diabetes, cancer, metabolic syndrome), mental health conditions (depression, anxiety, PTSD, concussions), and musculoskeletal conditions (joint and muscle injuries, arthritis).
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Exercise physiology session include a health history assessment, assessment of body strength and endurance, and creation of exercise based therapies to help reach the goals of each client!
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Sessions may be funded under extended health benefits (sometimes labelled as active rehabilitation). It is recommended to check with your insurance company to see if exercise physiology is funded, and if not, then request that is it so we can improve access to this great form of health care! You do not need a referral to see an exercise physiologist either!
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To learn more about exercise physiology and how this profession is growing in Canada, keep up with our Client Education page!