Kinesiology in West Kelowna

Kinesiology is the study of human movement and physical function.

In a clinical and rehabilitation setting, kinesiology uses exercise, movement assessment and education to help people work toward goals involving strength, mobility, endurance, balance, movement confidence and return to activity.

Rather than simply giving everyone the same exercise routine, kinesiology starts with understanding:

• Your current abilities
• Your injury or health history
• Activities that are difficult
• Your exercise experience
• Your work and recreational demands
• Your short- and long-term goals

From there, your kinesiologist can develop an individualized plan and progress it as your abilities change.

Kinesiology may be used independently or alongside services such as chiropractic care, Registered Massage Therapy or acupuncture when a multidisciplinary approach is appropriate.

Who Can Benefit From Kinesiology?

People book kinesiology for many different reasons.

Kinesiology may be appropriate for people looking to:

• Rebuild strength after an injury
• Return to regular exercise
• Improve mobility and flexibility
• Increase physical confidence
• Restore function after a motor vehicle accident
• Learn proper exercise technique
• Improve balance and stability
• Build general strength and conditioning
• Prepare for recreational or competitive sport
• Return to running, hiking, skiing or other activities
• Improve endurance
• Develop an individualized home exercise program
• Progress from passive treatment into active rehabilitation
• Stay active as they age
• Safely resume exercise after a period of inactivity

Your first appointment is used to understand where you are starting and what you would like to work toward.

Active Rehabilitation After Injury

Moving From Recovery Back to Activity

Recovering from an injury often involves more than reducing discomfort.

At some point, many people need to rebuild the strength, mobility, control and confidence required for work, exercise, recreation and everyday activities.

Kinesiology provides an active rehabilitation approach focused on gradually restoring physical capacity.

Depending on your situation, rehabilitation may include:

• Mobility exercises
• Strength training
• Stability exercises
• Balance and coordination
• Movement retraining
• Progressive loading
• Functional exercises
• Cardiovascular conditioning
• Home exercise programming

Exercises can be modified based on your current ability and progressed as you improve.

The goal is not simply to perform exercises in the clinic. It is to help you develop the skills and capacity needed to return to the things that matter to you.

Movement Assessment

Understanding how you currently move can help guide an exercise program.

Your kinesiology assessment may look at areas such as:

• Mobility
• Strength
• Balance
• Movement control
• Functional movements
• Exercise technique
• Activity tolerance
• Areas of physical limitation

Assessment findings help Kathy determine an appropriate starting point and identify areas that may benefit from additional mobility, strength or movement work.

Movement assessment is not about finding a "perfect" way to move. Human movement varies considerably from person to person.

Instead, the goal is to understand your current abilities and create an exercise strategy that fits your body and your goals.

Functional Movement Screens

Functional movement screening may be incorporated into kinesiology sessions when appropriate.

A movement screen looks at how you perform selected movements and can provide useful information about mobility, stability and movement strategies.

The findings can help guide exercise selection and identify areas where additional attention may be useful.

A movement screen is only one part of an overall assessment and is interpreted alongside your health history, goals, activity demands and other findings.

Exercise Rehabilitation for Back, Neck & Joint Concerns

Exercise can play an important role in improving physical capacity for people experiencing recurring musculoskeletal concerns.

Kinesiology may incorporate individualized movement and strengthening for areas such as:

• Lower back
• Neck and upper back
• Shoulders
• Hips
• Knees
• Ankles
• Core and trunk
• General mobility and conditioning

Your program is based on your current abilities rather than simply the location of your symptoms.

For example, someone looking to return to hiking after a knee injury may require a different program from someone trying to become more comfortable sitting and working at a desk.

Kinesiology may also complement treatment from one of our West Kelowna chiropractors or Registered Massage Therapists when appropriate.

 

ICBC Kinesiology & Active Rehabilitation

Kinesiology can be particularly valuable following a motor vehicle accident, where restoring function and returning to normal activity are often important parts of recovery.

ICBC recognizes kinesiology as an active rehabilitation service.

During the initial recovery period, kinesiology sessions may focus on gradually rebuilding areas such as:

• Strength
• Mobility
• Physical tolerance
• Balance
• Functional movement
• Exercise confidence
• Capacity for work and daily activities

Programs are individualized according to your injuries, current abilities and recovery goals.

If you have an eligible ICBC claim, kinesiology may be available as part of your treatment plan and Okanagan Integrative Health can direct bill ICBC for eligible kinesiology services.

Have your ICBC claim number and Personal Health Number available when arranging your first appointment.

 

Sports Performance & Return to Sport

Kinesiology isn't only for injury rehabilitation.

Active individuals and athletes may also use kinesiology to improve physical preparation and work toward specific performance goals.

Depending on your sport and training history, sessions may focus on:

• Strength
• Power
• Endurance
• Mobility
• Balance
• Movement control
• Exercise technique
• Conditioning
• Return-to-sport preparation

Your program can be adapted to the physical demands of your activity.

Kathy has a personal background in track and field, cross-country running and strength training, giving her a natural interest in working with people who want to remain active and improve their physical performance.

Whether your goal is returning to the gym, preparing for a race, getting back on the ski hill or simply keeping up with an active Okanagan lifestyle, training can be progressed according to your ability.

Running, Hiking & Outdoor Activity

West Kelowna and the surrounding Okanagan provide plenty of opportunities to stay active.

Kinesiology can help people prepare for or return to activities such as:

• Running
• Hiking
• Trail running
• Cycling
• Skiing
• Snowboarding
• Golf
• Strength training
• Recreational sports

Programs may combine strength, mobility and conditioning based on the requirements of the activity you're working toward.

For someone returning from injury, the program can also provide a gradual bridge between basic rehabilitation exercises and the more demanding movements required for sport and recreation.

Pregnancy & Postpartum Exercise

Pregnancy and the postpartum period can change physical demands, exercise tolerance and movement.

Kinesiology may provide individualized exercise guidance for people looking to remain active during pregnancy or gradually return to exercise postpartum.

Depending on the individual, sessions may focus on:

• General strength
• Mobility
• Exercise modifications
• Postural demands
• Gradual progression of activity
• Returning to previous exercise routines
• Building confidence with movement

Exercise recommendations should reflect the individual's health history, pregnancy or postpartum stage and guidance from their medical care team where appropriate.

The goal is to create a program that is realistic and appropriate for the person rather than applying a standard exercise plan to everyone.

Kinesiology Taping

Kinesiology tape may sometimes be incorporated into a rehabilitation plan.

Elastic therapeutic tape can be applied to different areas of the body depending on the reason for use and the practitioner's assessment.

Taping may be used as a temporary adjunct to an exercise or rehabilitation program rather than as a replacement for active rehabilitation.

Your kinesiologist can discuss whether taping is appropriate for your individual situation.

Exercise Programming

Not everyone needs ongoing supervised exercise sessions.

For some people, the most useful option is learning what exercises to do, how to perform them properly and how to progress them independently.

Okanagan Integrative Health offers individualized exercise programming based on your:

• Current fitness level
• Previous injuries
• Exercise experience
• Available equipment
• Schedule
• Goals
• Preferred activities

Kathy can help establish an appropriate starting point, teach exercise technique and progress your program as you become stronger and more confident.

Kinesiology vs Personal Training

Kinesiology and personal training can overlap, but the starting point and goals are often different.

Kinesiology

Kinesiology is commonly used when the focus involves:

• Injury rehabilitation
• Returning to activity
• Functional limitations
• Movement assessment
• Active rehabilitation
• ICBC recovery
• Strength and mobility following injury

Personal Training

Personal training generally focuses more heavily on broader fitness and performance goals such as:

• Strength
• Muscle development
• Endurance
• General fitness
• Exercise technique
• Conditioning
• Building a consistent exercise routine

Because Kathy provides both kinesiology and personal training, the approach can evolve as your goals change.

Someone may begin with rehabilitation after an injury and later transition toward general strength, fitness or performance training.