What is Biokinetics?

Bio∙kinetics literally means life-movement. It is a scientifically/medically based discipline focused on improving a person’s physical status and quality of life through the prescription of therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises. Biokinetics is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa (HPCSA ) alongside Physiotherapy and Podiatry.

What does a Biokineticist do?

A biokineticist assesses each patient extensively, in an attempt to holistically integrate all factors contributing to their condition. Specific exercises are prescribed and patients are guided and monitored through the duration of their rehabilitative program. Often biokineticist’s work together with other health professionals, including GP’s, physiotherapists, podiatrist's, orthopedic surgeons and other specialist physicians.

What is a Biokineticist’s scope of practice?

Biokinetics can be divided into four major fields of expertise.

• High performance Conditioning:

A Biokineticist performs a detailed analyses of the specific requirements of the sport that the athlete is involved in, its physiological and bio mechanical requirements as well as the individual and position specific requirements to the sport. Athletes at all levels that want to improve their performance, will greatly benefit from the skills and expertise that Biokinetics offer. Any person from the social golfer to the elite athlete, have the capacity to significantly improve their skills and conditioning, meaning more success.

• Orthopedic Rehabilitation:

Biokineticists rehabilitate a variety of injuries/disorders/painful conditions pertaining to muscles, tendons, ligaments and bones. Conditions may originate from traumatic injury, disease or disability.

Orthopedic rehabilitation also includes correction of bio mechanics (mechanics of movement, the way we move, and the incorrect movement patterns that may contribute to injury or pain) as well as postural problems and low muscle tone. Conditions may be acute or chronic in nature – in other words, conditions that have recently developed or conditions that have been present for a long period of time.

Basically, orthopedic rehabilitation includes anything and everything involving the musculo-skeletal system.

• Physical wellness:

Any person deserves to be well, feel good and a Biokineticist is the ideal professional to help someone attain a state of physical wellness. Wellness is a concept that is taking off within the corporate environment, with many companies adopting Corporate Wellness programs, facilitating health and wellness amongst their employees. Beyond the corporate environment, wellness assessments and program prescriptions are for anyone interested in beginning an exercise regimen that is tailored to their individual needs. Wellness screening includes tests for diabetes (blood glucose screening), cholesterol, body composition (i.e. fat percentage vs.. lean body mass), ECG tests to pick up any heart irregularities, blood pressure as well as general fitness, strength and flexibility evaluations. With this information, the biokineticist will design an exercise program to best suit you, your needs and goals.

• Rehabilitation of Chronic Disease & Disabilities:

Under this umbrella term several conditions are found.

These include:

   1. Metabolic diseases
          * Obesity
          * Diabetes
          * Hyperlipidemia  (High blood fat)
          * Frailty
          * End stage metabolic disease – liver and kidney failure
   2. Cardio-vascular conditions
          * High Blood Pressure
          * Post heart attack rehabilitation
          * Post stroke rehabilitation
          * Post heart surgery rehabilitation
          * Angina and Silent Ischemia
          * Clients with Pacemaker's
          * Chronic heart failure rehabilitation
          * Cardiac transplant rehabilitation
          * Post aneurysm rehabilitation 
          * Peripheral Arterial Disease
   3. Orthopaedic disease and disability
          * Arthritis
          * Lower back pain
          * Osteoporosis
          * Lower limb amputations
   4. Lung disease
          * Asthma
          * Cyctic Fibrosis
          * Emphysema
   5. Immunological/Hematological disease
          * Cancer
          * HIV /AIDS
          * Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
          * Fibromyalgia
          * Anemia
          * Bleeding and clotting disorders
          * Organ transplants
   6. Neuromuscular disorders
          * Stroke and Brain injury
          * Spinal cord disabilities
          * Paraplegia
          * Muscular dystrophy
          * Epilepsy
          * Multiple Sclerosis
          * Polio and post polio syndrome
          * Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis
          * Cerebral Palsy
          * Parkinson’s disease