What is Biokinetics? Everything You Need to Know
By Caitlin Beckett | Biokineticist | 3 September 2026
9/3/20266 min read
If you've ever wondered “what is biokinetics?”, you're not alone.
Biokinetics is a specialised form of exercise therapy that uses scientifically prescribed exercise to help people improve their physical health, recover from injury and achieve their performance goals.
A biokineticist can work with people of all ages — from children and athletes to adults, older adults and those managing chronic conditions.
But what exactly does a biokineticist do, and is biokinetics right for you? In this guide, I'll explain everything you need to know.
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What is Biokinetics?
Biokinetics is a healthcare profession that uses exercise and movement as a form of therapy.
The word "biokinetics" essentially refers to the study and application of human movement. Biokineticists use their knowledge of exercise science, biomechanics, and human movement to develop individualised treatment plans based on a person's individual needs.
Unlike a general exercise programme, biokinetics is focused on using exercise for a specific purpose.
This may include:
Recovering from an injury
Improving strength and mobility
Managing pain
Improving physical function
Returning to sport
Preventing future injuries
Improving fitness and conditioning
Managing chronic health conditions
Improving athletic performance
The goal isn't simply to make you stronger or fitter. It is to help you move better, function better, and feel more confident in your body.
What does a Biokineticist do?
A biokineticist assesses how your body moves and functions before developing an exercise programme tailored to you.
Your programme may change as you progress, meaning that your exercises, resistance, repetitions and overall training load can be adjusted throughout your rehabilitation or training journey.
A Biokineticist may help you:
Assess strength and muscle imbalances
Improve joint mobility and flexibility
Develop strength and endurance
Improve balance and coordination
Rebuild capacity after an injury
The exercise prescribed will depend on your assessment, goals, health history, current abilities, and stage of rehabilitation
Progress towards returning to sport.
Improve running or movement mechanics
Develop sport-specific conditioning
Improve general physical fitness
Build confidence with movement.
What does a Biokineticist treat?
One of the most common questions people ask is: "What does a biokineticist treat?"
Bio's can work with a wide range of musculoskeletal and health- related conditions. Their role may also overlap with other healthcare professionals, which is why collaboration between practitioners can be particularly valuable.
Examples of conditions and goals that may benefit from biokinetics include:
Sports Injuries
Biokinetics can form an important part of the rehabilitation process for people recovering from sports injuries.
This may include:
Knee injuries
Ankle injuries
Hamstring injuries
Muscle strains
Tendon injuries
Shoulder injuries
Lower back pain
Overuse injuries
The focus is often on progressively rebuilding strength, movement quality and physical capacity so that you can safely return to the activities you enjoy.
Back and Neck Pain
Exercise can play an important role in managing many types of neck and back pain.
A biokineticist can help develop a progressive exercise programme aimed at improving strength, mobiity and tolerance to everyday activities.
Post-Surgery Rehabilitation
After surgery, your body needs time and appropriate loading to regain strength and function.
A biokineticist can work alongside your medical team to progressively rebuild your physical capacity once you have been cleared for exercise.
Injury Prevention
Biokinetics isn't only about recovering from something goes wrong.
Assessing strength, mobility, movement and physical capacity can help identify areas that may benefit from targeted training.
Who Can Benefit From Biokinetics?
People from many different ages and fitness levels can benefit from individualised exercise therapy.
Biokinetics may be appropriate for:
Athletes wanting to improve performance.
People recovering from an injury.
Individuals returning to exercise after surgery
People experiencing recurring aches and pains.
Individuals wanting to improve their strength
Older adults wanting to maintain independence
Children and teenagers involved in sport
People wanting to improve their general fitness
Individuals managing certain chronic conditions.
You don't need to be fit to see a Biokineticist. In fact, one of the benefits of individualised exercise therapy is that the programme can start at your current level and gradually progress from there.
What Happens During a Biokinetics Session?
Your first session will generally be different from a regular gym workout.
The biokineticist will first want to understand you - your history, goals, symptoms, activity levels and what you want to achieve.
The assessment allows your biokineticist to understand where you are starting from and create a plan to help you reach your goals.
A typical initial assessment may include:
Health and Injury History
Your bio will discuss your medical history, previous injuries, current symptoms, lifestyle and goals.
Movement assessment
You may be assessed through different movements to identify limitations or areas that require attention.
Strength assessment
Depending on your goals, your strength may be assessed using exercise or specific testing equipment.
Mobility assessment
Joint range of motion and flexibility may be assessed where appropriate
Exercise programme
Your results will be used to develop an exercise treatment plan/ programme specific to your needs.
Progressive rehabilitation or training
Your programme will be progressed as your strength, movement and physical capacity improve.
Biokinetics vs Physiotherapy: What's The Difference?
This is one of the most common questions when people first discover biokinetics.
Physiotherapists and Biokineticists both work in rehabilitation, but their roles and areas of expertise are different.
Physiotherapists commonly assess and treat injuries and conditions using a range of techniques, including manual therapy, movement, and exercise.
Biokineticists specialise in exercise-based therapy and human movement, with a strong focus on progressively improving physical function and capacity.
In many cases, the 2 professions work together.
For example, a physiotherapist initially assesses and manages an injury, while a biokineticist can help progressively rebuild strength, conditioning and movement capacity as the person returns to normal activities or sport
Biokineticist vs Physiotherapist
Biokineticist
Specialises in exercise-based therapy
Focuses on exercise prescription
Strength and conditioning
Functional rehabilitation
Return-to-sport conditioning
Exercise progression
Physiotherapist
Injury assessment
Pain and injury management
Initial stages of rehabilitation & movement restoration
Manual therapy and exercise where appropriate.
The professions can complement one another, and the right practitioner will depend on your condition and goals.
Biokineticist vs Personal Trainer
A biokineticist and personal trainer can both help you exercise, but their roles are not the same.
A personal trainer (PT) generally focuses on fitness, exercise, and helping clients achieve goals such as weight loss, improving fitness or body composition.
A biokineticist has specialised training in exercise therapy and human movement and can work within a healthcare and rehabilitation setting. A biokineticist may therefore work with someone who has an injury, movement limitation or specific rehabilitation needs and requires a carefully progressed treatment plan
If you have an injury or medical condition, it is important to work with an appropriately qualified healthcare professional.
Do You Need a Referral to See a Biokineticist?
In many cases, you can make an appointment with a biokineticist directly without first seeing another healthcare professional.
However, depending on your condition, your biokineticist may recommend working alongside another professional or obtaining medical clearance before starting treatment.
For complex injuries and conditions, a multidisciplinary approach can provide the most comprehensive care.
When Should You See a Biokineticist
You may want to consider biokinetics if:
You've finished the initial phase of injury rehabilitation but still feel weak.
You want to safely return to sport.
You experience recurring injuries
You want to improve your strength or conditioning
You have movement limitations affecting daily activities
You're unsure how to exercise safely after an injury
You want to improve your physical performance
If you're experiencing severe, unexplained, or worsening symptoms, you should seek appropriate medical treatment rather than attempting to self-manage the problem.
What Makes Biokinetics Different?
There isn't one size that fits all. One of the key principles of biokinetics is individualisation.
Two people can have the same diagnosis but completely different strength levels, movement patterns, training histories and goals. Their rehabilitation programmes should therefore reflect those differences.
Biokinetics also focuses on progressive overload and capacity building.
Rather than avoiding movement, appropriate exercise can gradually expose the body to increasing levels of demand as it becomes stronger and more capable.
What Can You Expect From Biokinetics?
Your plan should be designed around your goals.
Depending on your needs, a session may involve:
Strength training
Mobility exercises
balance & coordination
core strengthening
running drills
plyometric exercises (jumping)
sport-specific exercises
cardiovascular conditioning
functional movement
rehabilitation exercises
As you improve, exercise can become more challenging to match your increasing capacity. This progression is an important part of helping you move from rehabilitation towards normal daily activities, exercise or sport.
Ready to Move Better?
Biokinetics is about more than simply exercising.
It is about understanding how your body moves, identifying what you need to work on and progressively building the strength, mobility and physical capacity you need to reach your goals.
If you're looking for a biokineticist in the Fourways, Douglasdale or Randburg area, get in touch to find out how biokinetics could help you.
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