Before we answer the above question, you may be wondering, “What is a kinesiologist?” A kinesiologist is a physical healthcare practitioner who focuses on improving the efficiency and performance of the body’s natural movements. One of the main philosophies of kinesiology is to augment and assist the body’s natural healing processes, but it’s not just for people who are experiencing injuries or other health conditions. Kinesiology can also be used to improve your general health, reduce the odds of future injuries, and improve strength and flexibility.
If you’re starting out with this form of injury recovery for the first time, it’s natural to feel unsure about what to expect. Although you might have experience with other physical therapy modalities, kinesiology can be quite different depending on your specific situation. With this in mind, here’s a few things you can expect from working with a kinesiologist!
1. The Assessment
Each kinesiologist structures their sessions a little differently, but one thing they all share in common is an initial assessment before treatment begins. During sessions, your kinesiologist dedicates the first meeting to assessing every aspect of your physical health. We get to know your lifestyle, your needs, and your physical challenges through conversation, and then take the time to perform a physical assessment. In this part of the assessment, we have our clients perform tests that demonstrate their range of motion, such as touching toes and reaching above the head.
Combined, the two elements of the assessment give your kinesiologist valuable insight into where your physical health is at, which provides the information needed to move us to the next step.
2. The Plan
When the assessment is complete, it’s time to take what we’ve discovered and create a treatment plan that’s unique to you. All treatment plans come with the basic goals of reducing pain and increasing strength and mobility. Beyond that, we’ll develop goals specific to your situation for us to work towards, meaning that there’s always another milestone on the horizon.
3. The Process
Depending on the treatment plan, each patient’s average kinesiology session can vary drastically. If you’re working to recover from an injury, such as from a car crash, we’ll focus on restoring mobility and alleviating pain so you can get back to your usual self. If you’re coming to kinesiology for more general health reasons, we may take a more fitness-focused approach.
As educated professionals in the field of human kinetics kinesiologists are experts of anatomy, movement, and physiology, which makes them excellent fitness trainers. Kinesiologists’ expertise allows them to see the long-term effects of certain exercises, which means they can help clients develop goals for the near and distant future, and ensure you’re constantly working towards them.
Whether you’re working with a kinesiologist for rehabilitation from an injury, such as those sustained during athletics, car crashes, or other accidents, or if you’re simply looking to keep your body in the best possible condition, kinesiologists will help you achieve your goals as efficiently and effectively as possible.
You can expect regular one-on-one sessions running about fifty minutes each with your kinesiologist—and don’t be surprised if the program changes and evolves over time. One of the main benefits of working with a professional is that they’ll know when it’s safe to advance, meaning you’ll make much faster progress than if you were trying to recover on your own.
4. The results
No matter which kinesiologist you work with, the end goal remains the same: tangible, observable results in your physical health. If you’ve come in with an injury that’s causing ongoing pain or limiting your flexibility, our goal will be to eliminate the problem completely. If you’re looking to improve your general fitness, we won’t rest until the goals set in your treatment plan are completely met.
In short, kinesiology operates on goals, and you will learn skills you can use for the rest of your life. When you work with a quality kinesiologist, you can expect real and lasting results that allow you to get back to doing the things you love.
Choosing a kinesiologist
It can be overwhelming when trying to decide on the best route to take for improving your physical health. Not only is there a wealth of treatment options available, but there are countless professionals for each service. For people who have suffered an injury, it’s common to get a referral for kinesiology from a doctor or other healthcare professional. However, it’s also not unusual for people to seek out the help of a kinesiologist on their own. So when you’re choosing your kinesiologist, there are a few things you should be on the lookout for. The best kinesiologists are:
- Open-minded and non-judgmental
- Deeply passionate about helping people
- Flexible and accommodating when developing treatment plans
- Able to see each client and their needs as unique
- Calm, positive, and empathetic
- Able to create safe spaces to facilitate rehabilitation
- Invested in your recovery
If you’ve been searching for the right kinesiologist for you in the Lower Mainland, look no further than the experts at Nova Active Rehab. Our team is highly trained, educated, and has decades of collective experience—but that’s not the only thing that sets us apart from the rest. Above all, we are passionate about helping people. Each member of our team is deeply invested in the well-being of our clients, and we’re ready to do whatever’s necessary in order to get them back to doing the things they love.
If you have more questions about what to expect from sessions with a kinesiologist, or if you’d like to book your initial assessment and get started, please contact us today!
