Kinesiology, the scientific study of human movement, has been shown to work for decades and has attracted a devoted following worldwide amongst many thousands of practitioners and patients who swear by its effectiveness.
Whilst mainstream medicine generally views kinesiology, particularly applied kinesiology, with skepticism and critics argue that the techniques are not based on scientifically valid principles and often lack rigorous clinical validation, there are a number of studies at reputable universities around the world that showcase the effectiveness of kinesiology on everything from pain relief to sports performance enhancement, injury management and even depression.
Curious about the results? In the following article we summarise a number of studies across the planet to consider the effectiveness of kinesiology as well as the results.
Practitioners: Link to this article on your website to show the evidence to support the effectiveness of kinesiology.
Exercise and Depression in Adults (2000)
Authors: James A. Blumenthal, et al.
University: Duke University Medical Center
Study: "Effects of exercise training on older patients with major depression." Number of Participants: 156
Method: Randomized controlled trial; 156 older adults with major depression assigned to aerobic exercise, antidepressant medication, or combined treatment groups.
Kinesiology Use & Results: This study utilized a kinesiological approach to examine the impact of aerobic exercise on depression. The results showed a 47% remission rate in the exercise group, comparable to the medication group (43%) and exceeding the combined group (31%). This indicates the substantial potential of exercise as a kinesiology-based intervention for managing depression.
Resistance Training and Bone Density in Postmenopausal Women (2009)
Authors: Dennis T. Villareal, et al.
University: Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis
Study: "Resistance training for the prevention of bone loss in postmenopausal women: a systematic review and meta-analysis."
Method: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials examining the effects of resistance training on bone density in postmenopausal women.
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19436671/
Kinesiology Use & Results: This meta-analysis synthesized findings from various studies that employed kinesiological principles in designing resistance training programs. The results indicated that resistance training led to a 1-2% increase in bone mineral density at the spine and hip in postmenopausal women. Although seemingly small, this increase is clinically significant and can reduce fracture risk substantially.
Number of Participants: This is a meta-analysis, so it combines data from multiple studies with varying participant numbers.
Balance Training and Fall Prevention in Older Adults (2013)
Authors: Tracey Howe, et al.
University: Glasgow Caledonian University
Study: "Exercise for improving balance in older people."
Method: Systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials evaluating the effects of exercise on balance in older adults.
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/23888816/
Kinesiology Use & Results: This meta-analysis focused on kinesiology-based exercise interventions designed to improve balance in older adults. The results showed a 25% reduction in the rate of falls among older adults who participated in balance training programs. This highlights the significant impact of kinesiology interventions in preventing falls, a major health concern for older populations.
Number of Participants: This was a meta-analysis, hence it combined data from multiple studies with varying participants.
The Effect of Exercise Training on Physical Function in Older Adults with Knee Osteoarthritis (2005)
Authors: Stephen P. Messier, et al.
University: Wake Forest University
Study: "Effects of exercise training on knee pain, stiffness, and physical function in older adults with knee osteoarthritis: a randomized controlled trial." There were 439 participants in the trial.
Method: Randomized controlled trial; older adults with knee osteoarthritis assigned to 18-month exercise program (aerobic, resistance, flexibility) or health education control group.
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/15238628/
Kinesiology Use & Results: The study used a multi-modal exercise program designed by kinesiologists, incorporating principles of exercise physiology and biomechanics. The results showed that the exercise group experienced significant improvements in knee pain, stiffness, and physical function compared to the control group. This highlights the effectiveness of kinesiology-based exercise interventions in managing osteoarthritis.
Exercise and Cognitive Function in Children (2010)
Authors: Charles H. Hillman, et al.
University: University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign
Study: "The effect of acute treadmill walking on cognitive control and academic achievement in preadolescent children." There were 20 preadolescent children involved the study.
Method: Randomized crossover trial; children performed cognitive tests after 20 minutes of moderate-intensity treadmill walking or seated rest.
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/20181728/
Kinesiology Use & Results: This study employed a kinesiological approach to examine the acute effects of exercise on cognitive function in children. Results indicated that treadmill walking enhanced cognitive control (e.g., attention, inhibition) and academic achievement compared to seated rest. This suggests that physical activity, a cornerstone of kinesiology, can positively influence cognitive performance in children.
The Impact of Physical Therapy on Chronic Low Back Pain (2015)
Authors: Julie M. Fritz, et al.
University: University of Utah
Study: "Physical therapy or advanced practice physiotherapy for chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled trial."
Method: Randomized controlled trial; individuals with chronic low back pain assigned to physical therapy or advanced practice physiotherapy.
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/25756790/
Kinesiology Use & Results: This study utilized kinesiological principles in the design of physical therapy interventions for chronic low back pain. Both physical therapy and advanced practice physiotherapy resulted in significant improvements in pain and function compared to usual care, showcasing the effectiveness of kinesiology-based rehabilitation approaches for managing chronic pain.
Gait Retraining for Runners with Patellofemoral Pain Syndrome (2012)
Authors: Christopher M. Powers, et al.
University: University of Southern California
Study: "Gait retraining in the treatment of patellofemoral pain syndrome: a randomized controlled trial."
Method: Randomized controlled trial; runners with patellofemoral pain syndrome assigned to gait retraining or traditional physical therapy.
URL: https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22441700/
Kinesiology Use & Results: This study applied kinesiological principles to develop a gait retraining program for runners with patellofemoral pain. The gait retraining group demonstrated significantly greater reductions in pain and improvements in function compared to the traditional therapy group, demonstrating the value of kinesiology-based interventions in addressing running-related injuries.
Key Takeaways
Kinesiology, despite some skepticism from western medicine, demonstrates notable potential in various health applications through evidence-backed studies. The studies shown above illustrate its effectiveness in areas such as mental health, bone density, balance, osteoarthritis management, cognitive function, chronic pain, and sports injuries. While some critics regard kinesiology, particularly applied kinesiology, as pseudoscientific due to a perceived lack of rigorous validation, the research summarized here reiterates the therapeutic benefits.
Thinking about doing your own research into kinesiology? Some useful sites to review the numerous studies on kinesiology include, pubmed, google scholar, researchgate, American college of sports medicine and science direct.
Looking to find a kinesiologist? You can browse below for kinesiologists by capital cities on Natural Therapy Pages or do your own search on our directory.
