Scientific kinesiology (generally referred to just as ‘kinesiology’), is the study of body movement. Kinesiology focuses on the analysis of body physiology, anatomy and mechanics, with special attention paid to the motion of joints. It is distinct from applied kinesiology, which is held by the practitioners of scientific kinesiology to be a less academically rigorous discipline.
Definition
The American Kinesiology Association defines kinesiology as an academic discipline that is concerned with the impact of body movement on the health and well being of every day people. Their work incorporates physics, psychology, physiology and even social sciences as they strive to understand exactly what governs body motion.
This form of academic kinesiology is used in several areas of science – from advancing the development of artificial limbs, to developing the perfect sports shoe, to helping athletes and other physical professionals to better their body achievements.
Although it shares its name with the alternative therapy of applied kinesiology, scientists and medical researchers involved in the study of kinesiology on an academic level strive to separate themselves from the alternative form.