Nav:
Home
|
Inst.
|
Burs.
|
Careers
Biokineticist
Biokineticists are human-movement and exercise specialists. They assist in improving people's physical condition and quality of life by means of physical assessment and the prescription of healthy exercise habits.
Biokineticists prescribe exercise routines either as preventative health measures or to correct health problems, such as sport injuries or recovery from diseases or illnesses. They work closely with doctors and other medical practitioners.
Firstly, evaluation of a person's physical condition is necessary. Biokineticists then prescribe safe physical activity or compile rehabilitation exercise programmes, as appropriate.
Scientific methods and instruments such as the treadmill, bicycle ergometer, pulse frequency monitor, etc. are used in the evaluation of a person's condition. Biokineticists identify exercise risks in a person and assess the different basic components of fitness, namely the heart and respiratory systems, muscle strength, muscle and joint flexibility, speed of movement, skill, coordination and posture.
Injured athletes consult biokineticists to find out whether a sports injury has healed. This is determined by examining the factors most related to fitness, such as the heart, muscle strength, flexibility, speed, posture and coordination.
They usually work indoors, in offices and gymnasia and sometimes they work irregular hours since people often attend gymnasia before or after work.
Satisfying Aspects
- helping people improve their health and life-style
- working in a relatively stress-free environment
- meeting new people
Demanding aspects
- working long, irregular hours
- disappointment when a programme fails to help
Requirements
A biokineticist should:
- have an interest in sport and physical activity;
- have knowledge of the body, muscles and movement;
- enjoy working with people;
- be able to motivate people;
- work as part of a team;
- be willing to work irregular hours.
School Subjects
National Senior Certificate meeting degree requirements for a degree course
Each institution will have its own minimum entry requirements.
Compulsory Subjects: Mathematics, Physical Sciences
Recommended Subjects: Life Sciences
Training
Degree: Biokinetics degrees are offered at Wits and UFS. Alternately, after students have obtained a BA or BSc degree in Human Movement Science - NMMU, UP, UFH, NWU, they can enrol for the Honours degree in Human Movement Science and specialise in Biokinetics. This is a full-time one-year course, offered by most universities.
Postgraduate Training: After the honours degree has been obtained, biokineticists must do a one-year internship at an accredited centre, before they may register as biokineticists with the Interim National Medical and Dental Council of South Africa.
Employer
- Centre of sports medicine
- Large corporations and institutions
- SA National Defence Force
- SA Police Service
- SA Correctional Services
- Large municipalities
- Universities
- Self-employment, own biokinetic centre
Contact
Biokinetics Association of SA
P O Box 39051
Garsfontein East, 0060
Tel: (079) 509-9556 Fax: 086 519 8090
Exercise Teachers’ Academy
Bloemfontein
Tel: (051) 436-9262 Fax: 072 283-8466
Cape Town
Tel: (021) 671-1060 Fax: (021) 671-4813
Distance Learning
Tel: (021) 674-7512 Fax: (021) 674-7513
Durban
Tel: (031) 701-8921 Fax: (031) 261-9019
Johannesburg
Tel: (011) 791-6565 Fax: (011) 791-0401
Pretoria
Tel: (012) 665-0475 Fax: (012) 665-0485
Stellenbosch
Tel: (021) 886-7513 Fax: (021) 886-7519
www.exerciseacademy.co.za
www.biokinetics.org.za