Last Updated on January 4, 2024

Every athlete–regardless of which sport they play–has been a student of kinesiology even if this term is completely foreign to them. The pursuit of greatness in sport naturally involves practicing and mastering techniques, becoming as efficient and smooth as possible to conserve energy and increase consistency in your athletic endeavors.

This is the intersection of kinesiology and sport and illustrates exactly why athletes and those who are passionate about sports who are looking for a career in a growing field should consider a future in kinesiology.

What do Kinesiotherapists Do?

Where do Kinesiotherapists work?

Kinesiology Salaries

Where to get a job in Kinesiology?

What is Kinesiology?

Kinesiology is the scientific study of human or non-human body movement, and as such it is an excellent career field for people who are passionate about sports since it is fundamentally quite intuitive. Kinesiology addresses physiological, biomechanical, and psychological dynamic principles and mechanisms of movement [source].  Its etymology is rooted in the Greek word ‘kinesis’ meaning ‘movement’, and ‘logia’ which roughly translates to ‘study.’

What is the Difference Between Kinesiology and a Kinesiotherapist?

While kinesiology refers to the study of physical activity, a kinesiotherapist applies the principles of the study to their work in order to help improve the physical performance of their patients by using specific exercises and techniques.

What is the Difference Between a Kinesiotherapist and a Physical Therapist?

A physical therapist would use some principles of Kinesiotherapy in their practice but would supplement it with using different medical devices like ultrasounds, and other practices like massages.  A kinesiotherapist would focus their treatment on different exercises that the patient can do to improve health and wellness while increasing strength, endurance, and stamina. Anyone familiar with sports will naturally understand how these practices could benefit athletes performance and their ability to recover from injury as quickly as possible.

Is Kinesiotherapy a New Field?

Relatively speaking, yes.  However, it has been around longer than you may expect.  It was first established after World War II and was known as “corrective therapy” at the time.  The famous quote “necessity is the mother of invention” rings true for kinesiotherapy. 

The field gained traction and practice as doctors and the original kinesiotherapists worked to rehabilitate injured soldiers to prepare them to return to active duty as quickly as possible.  The American Corrective Therapy Association (now known as the American Kinesiotherapist Association or AKTA) was established in 1953 to serve as an accrediting body, and is still the key Association in the world of kinesiotherapy.

What does a Kinesiotherapist do?

A kinesiotherapist will work with patients to study and examine how their body moves and works, and work together in order to help it function better. Sometimes kinesiotherapists will work with athletes after an injury to plan and execute their rehabilitation.  Also, they could be working with relatively healthy athletes to study their movements and analyze their performance and collaborate on a plan to increase their performance in their respective sport.

In terms of what a kinesiotherapist does day to day, it could include a combination of the following:

• Planning Exercise routines and activity plans for patients based on their specific injury, or goals.
• Meeting with patients and walking them through the exercise and plan
• Collaborating with patients to devise a wellness strategy– a strategy that focuses on prevention of future injuries and how to improve general health and well-being.  This would dive into exercise and diet routines.
• Tracking a patients’ progress with notes, charts, and software.

Where do Kinesiotherapists Work?

• Hospitals and Treatment Facilities.
  • Hospitals hire Kinesiotherapists in the cardiac rehab, stroke rehab, physical therapy, and occupational therapy units.
  • Depending on the size of the facility and number of patients, the workload and type of work can vary considerably. Some kinesiotherapists specialize in aqua therapy and work only in facilities with a swimming pool and a structured aqua therapy program. Some kinesiotherapists will work in multiple hospitals and facilities on a rotating schedule.
    
• Sports Teams.
  • Many major sports teams have kinesiotherapists either on contract or full time working with athletes to help recover from injury or to maximize their performance.
  • Also, many scouts and coaches have a background in kinesiology.
    
• Sports and Recreation Centers.
  • High end gyms and spas sometimes hire kinesiotherapists to work with their members either to lead fitness classes that help promote fitness and general well-being, or do personal training with some of their members.
    
• Schools.
  • A degree in Kinesiology coupled with an education certification can be a great way to become an exercise science teacher at a public or private high school.

What Classes Would I take to earn a Degree in Kinesiology?

The curriculum will vary from program to program, however, there are some foundation-level classes that every accredited program will have. A student studying kinesiology should expect a heavy course load in biology and natural sciences. Also, human anatomy is a staple of the curriculum. Here is a general list of courses that a student of kinesiology could expect to take:

• Biomechanics
• General Biology
• General Chemistry
• Motor Behavior and Control
• Exercise Physiology
• Human Anatomy & Physiology
• Sports Physiology
• Exercise Behavioral Science

Kinesiology by the numbers…

Here is a table of occupations that one could do after obtaining a degree in kinesiology. Note that some professions, such as a physical therapist or occupational therapist, would require additional schooling and certification.

Job Title	Median Salary (2019)	Projected Job Growth	Estimate Total Number of Jobs
Kinesiotherapist / Kinesiotherapist [source]	$49,307/yr.	n/a	n/a
Occupational Therapist [source]	$84,950/yr.	18%	133,000
Exercise Physiologist [source]	$49,170/yr.	13%	15,800
Athletic Trainer [source]	$40,390/yr.	13%	356,900
Athletic Coaches [source]	$34,840/yr.	11%	290,100
Health Science Teacher [source]	$45,726/yr.	n/a	n/a

How Can I Land a Job in the Field of Kinesiology?

Within the massive sports industry, the demand for those with a background in kinesiology has been growing consistently for some time. Whether in the sports industry or elsewhere, the future job prospects in kinesiology look quite promising.

• There are several routes that one could take after obtaining a degree in Kinesiology.
  • With a degree, one could become a researcher or a professor of Kinesiology, or they could become a Kinesiotherapist. However, for the vast majority of graduates, becoming a Kinesiotherapist is the next logical step.
• To become a kinesiotherapist, a degree is a must. There are more quality university programs to choose from every year, and especially in the post COVID-19 world, careful consideration different pros and cons between online and in person programs – be sure to check out our kinesiology degree and kinesiology master’s degree pages
  
• With a degree in hand, it is now time to embark on the job search. Many programs will set their students up with an internship or work experience program. If that is the case, then you have your first network of potential employers. This is not the case for everyone, and is also not necessary. The first step for anyone (with or without work experience) should be fine-tuning your resumé.
  
  For each job you apply to, your resume and cover letter should be customized. Include language that is in the job description in your CV. If a company is using a recruiter or a service like ZipRecruiter to fill the role, their search algorithm will be looking for keywords in applicants resumes.
  
  Generally, those keywords are provided by the employers and will match words from the job description. Having that same language in your resume, LinkedIn Profile, and other online job board profiles will go a long way! Along with content, looks are important too! Make sure it is neat and easy to read!
  
  There are different tools online where you can create a more aesthetically pleasing resume. This may be more important in design fields, but it can also help your own resume stick out from the rest.
  
• Once you have your resume and cover letter specific to the job go ahead and submit the application. However, your work is not over! It is important to follow up with an email to the Hiring Manager, HR Director, or a manager who would be your potential employer.
  While these emails are not also easy to find, some snooping around their website can be fruitful. If you still come up empty, no worries– pick up the phone and call the phone number on their website. It cannot hurt to reach out!
  
• Stay organized! As the job search continues you may find yourself browsing job boards and starting a job application for a job you have already applied to. My advice is to keep a spreadsheet that includes the employer, the position, the phone number, and contact information, and then make a log of your own personal follow-ups. The best practice is to follow up once a week with every company or organization you have applied to.
  
• Constantly network!  If there are any events which a potential employer is sponsoring, attend it and be ready to shmooze and get some email addresses! If there are any conferences in your area, attend and prepare yourself to smile and shake lots of hands!
  
• Stay focused! This can be a longer and harder process than you expected, but if you have already done the hard work of gaining the relevant degree, then you can also do the sometimes equally hard work of gaining employment. Once you have the first job, it will set you on the path to build a successful career!

What are the Steps to Become Registered as a Kinesiotherapist?

• In the United States, the main registering body of kinesiotherapists is the AKTA (American Kinesiotherapist Association).
  
• The AKTA Registration requires candidates to have graduated from a CAAHEP (Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs) Kinesiotherapy Program. You can search for programs here.
  
• All graduates must also have a minimum Grade Point Average of 2.5 and a minimum of a “C” grade on ten core courses ( General Psychology, Human Anatomy, Human Physiology, Neurological & Pathologic Foundations of Rehabilitation, Exercise Physiology, Therapeutic Exercise, Kinesiology, Statistics, Organization and Administration of Kinesiotherapy, and Motor Learning).
  
• Applicants need to log 1,000 hours of Kinesiotherapy treatment under the direction of a registered Kinesiotherapist.
  
• Must complete and pass a written exam.

Careers in Kinesiology FAQs