1.1 Kinesiology
The word Kinesiology comes from:
- Kine = Movement
- -ology = The study of
It refers to the systematic, scientific study of human movement, focusing on physiological (i.e. how the body works), psychological (i.e. how the mind affects movement), and sociological (i.e. how society and culture influence activity) factors that influence how and why we move. It also explores how movement can be optimized to improve health, performance, and quality of life.
In other words, kinesiology is about understanding the body in motion and using that knowledge to help people move better, whether for daily life, sports, work, or recovery from injury.
Kinesiology is a broad discipline often divided into four key areas:
1. Exercise Physiology & Anatomy
How the body’s systems (muscles, bones, heart, lungs, etc.) respond to and adapt during physical activity. Understanding body function (i.e., what it does) and structure (i.e., what it consists of) helps improve fitness, prevent disease, and maximize physical performance.
Examples:
- How your heart rate changes during exercise
- What your muscles look like during rest and exercise
- How muscles grow (hypertrophy) with strength training
- How oxygen is delivered to your muscles during a run
2. Biomechanics, Motor Learning, & Skill Acquisition
Biomechanics applies physics to the human body to better understand movement, forces, and mechanics. Motor learning and skill acquisition focus on how people learn, refine, and master movement skills. This area is vital for athletes, injury prevention, rehabilitation, and improving everyday movement.
Examples:
- Improving a golf swing or jump shot
- Reducing injury risk through better technique
- Analyzing how forces act on joints during exercise
3. Social, Psychological, & Historical Aspects of Sport
This area helps us understand how sport and movement connect to bigger societal issues, such as history and mental health.
Examples:
- The role of sport in building community
- Gender equity and inclusion in sports
- How mental health impacts physical performance
- The history of physical activity across cultures
4. Fitness Training, Recreation, & Leisure
Movement isn’t just for athletes. It’s essential for everyone, from kids to seniors, for health, enjoyment, and quality of life. This area focuses on staying active through everyday life, recreation, and personal fitness.
Examples:
- Designing personal training programs
- Promoting physical activity for older adults
- Encouraging active lifestyles through parks, programs, or workplace initiatives
Depending on where you study or work, Kinesiology may also be called:
- Exercise Science
- Human Kinetics
- Physical Education
- Sport Science
Although terms such as these are often used interchangeably, they each have slightly different areas of focus. See the table below:
| Term | What It Means | Common Focus Areas | Where You’ll See It |
|---|---|---|---|
| Kinesiology | A broad study of human movement, health, and performance | Movement Science, fitness, rehab, sport, health promotion | Universities, health fields, and fitness industries |
| Exercise Science | Scientific study of exercise and how it affects the body | Exercise testing, training programs, health outcomes, and performance | Research labs, sports teams, and personal training |
| Human Kinetics | Another term for Kinesiology, often with more emphasis on health | Physical activity, health, wellness, rehabilitation | Canadian universities, wellness programs |
| Physical Education | Teaching movement skills and promoting active lifestyles | Education, motor skills, youth development, and health promotion | Schools, community programs, and teacher training |
| Sport Science | Study of athletic performance, often at a high level | Elite sport, performance analysis, biomechanics, injury prevention | Pro sports, high-performance coaching, and research |
Regardless of the title, they all use scientific principles to better understand and improve human movement.
