10 Different Types of Jobs in Kinesiology (Career Opportunities)

If you have a love for sports, fitness, and the mechanics of the human body, you may want to consider studying kinesiology. This field is perfect for extroverts who get their kick from the adrenaline rush of a good sports match. While most of the positions require hands-on involvement in physical sports games, a few focus on the medicinal aspect of this area of expertise.

Types of jobs in kinesiology include personal trainer, fitness consultant, exercise physiologist, community health worker, athletic trainer, head coach, kinesiologist, Strength and Conditioning Coach, Public Health Educator, and Physical Therapist.

If the sound of kinesiology interests you or you want to know more about this fascinating area of study, you’re in the right place. Here, you will find out what each type of job in kinesiology involves and what kind of personality would suit each one. Let’s dive right in!

What is Kinesiology?

The term kinesiology was derived from the Greek word “kinesis,” meaning “movement.” Kinesiology is the study of the mechanics of the human body. In other words, the way that the human body moves.

This branch of study was developed and started by Dr. George Goodheart, who was originally a chiropractor. Later, traditional Chinese medicine, such as acupuncture, was also accepted into the subject.

Rather than viewing the body as one physical entity, the body is viewed as a being with a constant flow of energy. Where there is a problem, there will be a disruption in the flow of energy in the body.

Kinesiologists try to base their work on the life forces of a person’s body. They draw support from Chinese traditional medicine and chiropractic practices.

Personal Trainer

Average annual income: $40, 510

A personal trainer, often known as a fitness trainer, helps people improve their fitness, physique, and general health. They are responsible for assessing a client’s requirements and objectives, modeling routines, and creating a training program for them.

They should also use their reputation and outcomes to acquire new clients.

The responsibilities of a personal trainer include:

• Assisting customers in setting short- and long-term objectives
• Observing and analyzing the client’s behavior and skills
• Existing clients are being helped with their fitness objectives and contests.
• Giving nutritional, health, and lifestyle guidance
• Leading group fitness courses
• Assisting customers with their exercises
• Providing crucial safety advice

Being a personal trainer necessitates the development of a unique set of personality traits. Personal trainers should demonstrate a love for the fitness training business and a commitment to it.

While there are no formally required characteristics, the following qualities will undoubtedly aid your success as a personal trainer:

• Friendly and outgoing personality
• Effective communication abilities
• Charisma
• Willingness to acquire new skills
• Excellent organizational skills
• Adaptability
• Enjoy being with a variety of individuals

Personal trainers are usually extroverted people who enjoy interacting with other people and have a passion for sport and fitness.

Fitness Consultant

Average annual income: $41, 808

Fitness and health consultants assess clients’ physical health and fitness levels and recommend lifestyle modifications to enhance fitness, general health, and well-being.

Through customized programs or classes, they assist people in improving their general fitness or preparing for specific activities.

Gyms, recreation centers, and fitness centers employ fitness instructors.

The responsibilities of a fitness consultant include:

• Analyzing client fitness levels
• Providing nutrition recommendations
• Designing individualized exercise regimens
• Food planning
• Educating clients about how to avoid injuries

This job is exceptionally gratifying. However, it is also physically demanding and requires a lot of dedication.

There are a few characteristics that any competent fitness consultant should possess. These include:

• Being fit and healthy
• Passion for helping others
• Working early-morning and after-work hours
• Problem-solving abilities
• Willing to travel
• Able to manage complex, contentious, or poorly managed situations.

Fitness consultants should be physically fit and have a friendly, approachable attitude.

Exercise Physiologist

Average annual income: $49, 169

Exercise physiologists provide fitness and exercise regimens to aid in the recovery of wounded or sick individuals. Approximately half of all exercise physiologists work for themselves. The others work for hospitals and other healthcare organizations.

The majority of exercise physiologists are full-time employees.

There are specific tasks and responsibilities that exercise physiologists should be able to fulfill. These include:

• Analyzing a patient’s medical history to determine whether exercise poses any hazards.
• Measuring and monitoring vital indicators, such as heart rate, blood pressure, cardiac rhythms, and oxygen levels
• Providing information to patients about their injuries and health issues, such as lung disease and diabetes, and how to keep healthy.
• Educating patients on how to safely and successfully do workouts

Exercise physiologists must also have the following characteristics:

• Compassion.
  Exercise physiologists must be empathetic while dealing with patients since they may be in a great deal of pain or suffering.
  
• Ability to make decisions.
  Exercise physiologists must make well-informed clinical judgments since their decisions may impact a patient’s health or well-being.
  
• Detail-orientated.
  Exercise physiologists must keep meticulous records of their patient’s medical problems and any improvements they make.

This field is relatively small, and job competition is expected to remain high. You will have to work hard and commit to your career if you want to be an exercise physiologist.

Community Health Worker

Average annual income: $40, 360

A Community Health Worker is a trusted community member who educates and connects their peers to health and social services. Since they have a thorough grasp of the cultural norms of the people they serve, they have effectively improved health outcomes for their communities.

Community health workers need to perform the following duties:

• Make links between vulnerable people and healthcare professionals.
• Assist patients in navigating the healthcare and social services systems.
• Manage vulnerable populations’ care and transitions.
• Determine eligibility for health insurance coverage and enroll persons in it.
• Ensure that healthcare practitioners serving vulnerable communities are culturally competent.
• Educate healthcare practitioners and stakeholders about the health needs of the community, as well as chronic disease prevention, physical exercise, and nutrition in a culturally acceptable manner.

Additionally, they should possess some of the following qualities:

• A strong relationship with the community being served
• Willingness to assist the community
• Empathy
• Persistence
• Creativity
• Resourcefulness
• Personal strength and bravery

Their knowledge of cultural preferences, language and local resources enables them to effectively handle growing health issues in any geographic area, with any cultural makeup, and within all age groups.

Certified Athletic Trainer

Average annual income: $41, 500

Athletic trainers are well-versed in preventing, diagnosing, and treating injuries and diseases to the muscles and bones.

Athletic trainers work in various educational contexts, including colleges, universities, primary schools, and secondary schools. Others work for professional sports teams, hospitals, fitness facilities, or physicians’ offices.

Athletic trainer responsibilities include:

• Evaluating the player’s condition in collaboration with coaches, athletes, and medical experts
• Developing workout and diet regimens
• Setting health and fitness objectives with coaches, family members, and athletes
• Assisting and monitoring wounded athletes as they recuperate and make their way back to total health
• Keeping track of an athlete’s condition, training, food, and treatment plans
• Assisting with clerical chores, such as inventory management

Athletic trainers need to be fully prepared for every situation, and there are a few personality traits that may assist them in their daily tasks. These include:

• Detail-oriented
• Analytical
• Attentive
• Excellent interpersonal skills
• Problem-solving
• Decision making
• Communication skills

To be a successful Athletic Trainer, you must be dedicated to helping athletes achieve their health and fitness objectives while also providing proper training and treatment.

Head Coach

Average annual income:  $80, 809

A head coach teaches student players the fundamentals of a sport. They set up and calls offensive and defensive plays during games and supervises subordinate coaches.

The responsibilities of a head coach include:

• Coordinating sports tryouts and assigning persons to appropriate roles are among the responsibilities of the head coach.
• Obtaining all necessary sporting equipment.
• Organizing and communicating regular training.
• Developing competitive sporting tactics in collaboration with vested parties
• Boosting commitment, levels of participation, and team spirit.
• Taking the lead on logistical tasks that make it easier for people to participate in athletic events.
• Refereeing sporting contests that have been agreed upon.
• Insisting on the proper use of training techniques.

Important traits or skills for head coaches to possess:

• Persuasiveness
• Careful planners
• Decision-making ability
• Practical, hands-on approach to work
• Able to work well in a team

Before choosing to work as a head coach, it is important to understand exactly what the job entails.

Kinesiologist

Average annual income: $42, 437

Kinesiologists assist patients in recovering from physical injuries as well as managing, rehabilitating, and preventing movement disorders. They demonstrate good muscular movements to rule out any more aches, sprains, or injuries.

Responsibilities of a kinesiologist include

• Researching the effects of exercise on the body’s functioning
• Tracking patients’ muscular movements
• Aiding patients with physical impairments.
• Suggesting and showing correct body postures and muscle motions
• Creating rehabilitation programs to help individuals with movement problems increase their range of motion.
• Collaborating with athletes

A good kinesiologist will possess the following skills or personality traits:

• A thorough understanding of the anatomy, physiology, and basic movements of the human body.
• Excellent communication and interpersonal skills.
• Good analytical thinking
• Problem-solving skills.

This is the field that most people with a degree in kinesiology will enter, as it most closely aligns with the coursework being studied.

Strength and Conditioning Coach

Average annual income: $46, 044 

A strength and conditioning coach is in charge of developing and managing a strength and conditioning program for all sports. The three main objectives are enhancing athletic performance, decreasing sporting injuries, and teaching lifetime fitness and mobility skills.

Many essential duties need to be completed by these professionals. Some of these tasks include:

• Being involved in the rehabilitation and strengthening of injured athletes in collaboration with the sports medical or athletic training personnel.
• Encouraging collaboration between sport coaches, sports medicine, and strength and conditioning personnel.
• Developing mechanisms for measuring athlete attendance and growth.
• Collaborating with the sports coach and the team’s athletic trainer to conduct an annual needs analysis for each sports team.
• Conducting and assessing a departmental risk management strategy once a year.

Ideal candidates for these positions should possess the following abilities:

• Constructive interactions with athletes, coworkers, and the general public.
• Good organizational abilities
• Good organizational abilities
• Ability to show the necessary skills and procedures for the athletes to employ.
• Standing for long hours
• Lifting and carrying (up to 50 pounds)
• Transporting equipment/boxes up to 50 pounds

While a doctorate degree is not necessary, it is frequently required to advance in this field.

According to the NSCA, advanced degrees are becoming increasingly popular in the sector, and many jobs include a master’s degree as a desired requirement for applicants.

Public Health Educator

Average annual income:  $45, 724

People learn about healthy practices from health educators. They create and implement plans to enhance people’s and community health.

The following are the seven major responsibilities that health educators are required to fulfill:

• Assessing health education within the community
• Developing thoughtful public health education programs
• Implementing health education programs in a deliberate and conscientious manner
• Evaluating and researching health education
• Managing health education program administration
• Being a helpful community resource, by using your power as a health education specialist
• Spreading awareness and education of health education

Public health educators should have well-developed skills such as:

• Analytical skills
• Instructional skills
• Interpersonal skills
• Problem-solving skills
• Writing skills

Public health educators are employed by healthcare facilities, colleges, public health departments, or nonprofits.

Physical Therapist

Average annual income:  $104, 210

Physical therapists are movement specialists who help individuals improve their quality of life by prescribing exercises, providing hands-on treatment, and educating patients.

The responsibilities and duties of a physical therapist are:

• Examining the medical history of patients
• Observing patients’ activities and listening to their concerns to diagnose them
• Creating treatment programs for individuals that are unique to them
• Defining explicit goals for patients and the plan’s expected outcomes
• Keeping track of patients’ development and, if necessary, making changes to the treatment plan

Skills that make an excellent physical therapist include:

• Communication skills
• Physical stamina
• Interpersonal skills
• Detail orientation
• Compassion
• Time management skills

Physical therapists can work in various places, including private practices, hospitals, schools, sports and fitness facilities, home health agencies, outpatient clinics, inpatient rehabilitation facilities.

Conclusion

Studying kinesiology opens the door to many different career options. While some of these jobs pay a significant amount more than others, you will need to study for a lot longer to qualify as one of those professionals.

Kinesiology is the perfect subject to study for extroverts who love sports or introverts who love sports medicine. There is no limit on where you can work with this degree, and traveling is a frequent practice.

You should consider one of these jobs if the description matches your interests and personality type. The amount of income you can earn will depend on your level of qualification, so don’t choose a job based solely on income.

References:

APTA: Becoming a PT

University of St. Augustine for Health Sciences: Physical Therapy Job Description: Duties & Responsibilities

Human Services Edu: Public Health Educator Career

Truity: HEALTH EDUCATOR OR COMMUNITY HEALTH WORKER

PublicHealth.org: PUBLIC HEALTH EDUCATION

Resume-Now: Kinesiologist Career

Betterteam: Head Coach Job Description

Systematic Reviews: The roles, responsibilities and perceptions of community health workers and ward-based primary health care outreach teams (WBPHCOTs) in South Africa: a scoping review protocol

Maryville University: What Is an Exercise Physiologist?