Kinesiology

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Kinesiology is the scientific study of human movement. It should not be confused with the pseudoscience Applied kinesiology (AK). While an understanding of kinesiology is fundamental for the analysis and treatment of problems in the musculoskeletal system, it is not - unlike "applied kinesiology" (AK) - a stated method for the treatment or diagnosis of illness.

Academic and professional aspects

Kinesiology encompasses human anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, exercise psychology and sociology of sport. The relationship between the quality of movement and overall human health is also studied.

Kinesiological information is applied in such fields as physical therapy, occupational therapy, chiropractic, osteopathy, exercise physiology, kinesiotherapy, massage therapy, ergonomics, physical education and athletic coaching. The approach of these applications can be therapeutic, preventive, or high-performance. The application of kinesiology can also incorporate knowledge from other academic disciplines such as psychology, sociology, cultural studies, ecology, evolutionary biology, and anthropology. Related interdisciplinary fields in motor skills, skills research are graphonomics, i.e. the study of handwriting movement control and the study of motor control in speech.

The study of kinesiology is often part of the curriculum for some of the areas in which kinesiological information is used (akin to a medical study – see sports medicine).

There are some professional physical therapists who are also fully credentialed as "Registered Kinesiologists." The general difference between the job of a kinesiologist and a physical therapist is that a kinesiologist will assess movement, or problems in movement with regard to physiology, anatomy and biomechanics, while a physical therapist will actually apply therapeutic techniques to correct the identified problems.

Motions

Below is a (slightly simplified) table of the motions available at the different joints of the body:

region	flexion/extension	abduction/adduction	internal/external rotation	circumduction	other
Shoulder	yes	Serratus anterior/Rhomboid major, Rhomboid minor,Trapezius	Serratus anterior, Pectoralis minor,Levator scapulae,Trapezius	yes	elevation/depression Trapezius,Sternocleidomastoid,Levator scapulae/Subclavius,Trapezius
Elbow	Biceps brachii, Brachialis/Triceps brachii	no	no	no	pronation/supination Pronator quadratus and Pronator teres/Supinator
Wrist	Flexor carpi radialis/Extensor carpi radialis brevis, Extensor carpi radialis longus	yes	no	yes	no
Hip	Psoas, Iliacus, Quadriceps/Gluteus maximus, Hamstring	adductor longus, adductor brevis, adductor magnus, gracilis	Lateral rotator group/Gluteus minimus, Gluteus medius	no	no
Knee	Hamstring/Quadriceps	no	no	no	no
Ankle	(dorsiflexion/plantarflexion) Tibialis anterior/Fibularis longus, Fibularis brevis	no	no	no	inversion/eversion Tibialis anterior/Fibularis brevis
Torso	Rectus abdominis/Erector spinae	no	no	no	no

See also

• Athletic training
• Exercise physiology
• Personal training
• Sport psychology
• Kinesiotherapy

External links

• Canadian Kinesiology Alliance
• Kinesiology: University of Calgary
• Kinesiology: Simon Fraser University

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