A multidisciplinary approach often has the best results when it comes to recovering from an injury. In such cases, one of the professionals you may meet is a kinesiologist. A question one may ask is, What is a kinesiologist, and how can they help in injury recovery? This blog post explains the role of kinesiologists and how their expertise can aid in your rehabilitation process here at North Shore Sports Medicine.

What is a Kinesiologist?

A kinesiologist is a health professional who focuses on studying human movement. They apply knowledge in biomechanics, anatomy, physiology, psychomotor behavior assessment, management, and rehabilitation of people having physical disorders. A kinesiologist does this by designing appropriate exercise programs focused on health promotion, performance enhancement, injury prevention, and rehabilitation.

Education and Certification
Kinesiologists have a degree in kinesiology and are currently registered with the British Columbia Association of Kinesiologists. Many continue to achieve further certifications in areas such as exercise therapy, ergonomics, or athletics.

How Kinesiologists Help with Injury Recovery

Kinesiologists are the ones who design and carry out individually tailored exercise packages to suit the requirements and goals of a patient. The following are ways kinesiologists can help in injury recovery:

1. Initial Assessment

First Assessment: Kinesiologists will first assess the extent and nature of your injury. This may include an assessment of your previous medical history, assessment of your posture, range of motion, strength, and functional movement patterns.

Functional Movement Screening: This may indicate biomechanical imbalances or weaknesses that predispose the athlete to injury or influence his recovery.

2. Individual Exercise Programs

Rehabilitation Exercises: Kinesiologists, based on assessment, design a rehabilitation program of exercises aimed at the restoration of strength, flexibility, and mobility. These exercises are rightly targeted to the injured area and associated compensatory patterns.

Progressive Overload: Ensures the exercise program follows a principle of progressive overload, increasing in intensity and complexity of exercises to ensure safe and effective recovery.

3. Pain Management

Modalities and Techniques: Kinesiologists apply various modalities and techniques that aim to manage pain and inflammation, such as heat/cold therapy, electrical stimulation, and manual therapy.

They educate the patient about how to manage the pain, apply ice or heat properly, and counsel the modification of activities that irritate the injury.

4. Movement Retraining

Corrective Exercises: Kinesiologists work on the movement patterns that brought about the dysfunction leading to the injury. It can include exercises that improve posture, balance, and coordination.

Gait Analysis: Gait analysis is used to assess and correct the mechanics of walking or running in lower body injuries.

5. Injury Prevention

Prevention techniques: Kinesiologists inform about ways of preventing further injury by teaching the patient correct and safe movement patterns for daily activities and sports. This may also include ergonomic advice, proper techniques to lift, and sports-specific training.

Strength and Conditioning: They design strength and conditioning programs to enhance general physical fitness. This is usually done to avoid injury in the near future since it enhances the body’s capacity for tolerance.

6. Return to Activity

Gradual Return: Kinesiologists help plan gradual returns to work, sports, or other normal activities. It involves gradual re-entry into activity, ensuring that the body can withstand the rigors of activity without cause for re-injury.

Performance Optimization: Kinesiologists fine-tune biomechanical inefficiencies in an athlete’s movement patterns to optimize performance.

Conclusion

The role of the kinesiologist in the rehabilitation process is very important because it focuses on human movement and exercise prescription, enabling those injured to recover from an injury and reduce the risk of having problems again. By the use of comprehensive assessment, individually designed exercise programs, pain management strategies, and preventive education, kinesiologists empower patients to achieve optimal recovery and maintain a healthy, active lifestyle.

If you have an injury, consider including a kinesiologist in your team for recovery. Their education and different approaches make big differences during a rehabilitation journey, reacquiring function, reducing pain, and improving the quality of life.

Call 604 973 0242 for our Brooksbank location or 604 929 8444 for our Deep Cove location and we will be happy to help support you and your goals.

Check out our most recent blog post about pickleball injuries here!