A comparative overview of exercise and health related professions: Athletic training, clinical exercise physiology and biokinetics

Abstract

The world has embraced the salutogenic effect of sport and physical activity in view of its role in promoting thewell-being of mankind. This international consensus has transformed this pastime into a multi-billion dollar/rand enterprise. The lucrative sport and physical activity enterprise provides substantial revenue to aspiring people interested in pursuing a career in the field. The numerous employment opportunities being advertised internationally in exercise and health related professions are actively being pursued by many South African biokineticists. Therefore, the overlap in the scope of practice among the professions of athletic training, clinical exercise physiology and biokinetics needs to be examined. This overview examines the similarities and differences among the most popular tertiary qualified exercise and health related practitioners in the United States of America, Canada, Australia and South Africa. A systemic review of literature following the PRIMSA guidelines from 1959-2016 was undertaken. In total, 931 records associated with athletic training, clinical exercise physiology and biokinetics were identified, but only 18 were included in this review. The National Health and Medical Research Council of Evidence Hierarchy and a modified Down and Black Appraisal Scale were employed to synthesise the literature. This review highlights the admiral position that biokineticists are placed with regards to final phase rehabilitation of patients across the spectrum of healthy (athletes) to diseased and/or disabled individuals. It is hoped that the review will encourage affiliation and international accreditation of the profession of biokinetics with those of Athletic Training and Clinical Exercise Physiology.

Keywords: Rehabilitation, athletic trainer, exercise physiologist, biokineticist.