International comparability of health professions: Bridging the gap between Biokinetics and Kinesiotherapy

Abstract

Unlike kinesiotherapist discipline, limited national and international career opportunities for biokineticists exist. This study reviews the scope of the profession, the education and the training of kinesiotherapists, so as to ascertain the feasibility of a possible association with Biokinetics. Following PRIMSA benchmark, a literature search of peer-reviewed, professional and statutory records published from 1998 to 2017 was conducted on a number of databases using the Google scholar search engine: Pubmed, Medline, Science Direct, Ebscohost, Biomed, CINAHL, and Sabinet. Key search words were “biokinetics,” “exercise therapy” and “kinesiotherapy.” Records were appraised using the modified Downs and Black Scale. While the search identified 20 records, only eight were included. Kinesiotherapy and Biokinetics share similarities in their philosophy of “exercise is medicine,” academic curriculum, clinical training and scope of profession. Biokinetics can learn from Kinesiotherapy, drawing on the experience of Kinesiotherapy regarding the further evolution of the profession, hopefully establishing mutually enriching opportunities for global exchange. An association with the American Kinesiotherapy Association may lend itself to collaborative research, student exchanges and enhanced career opportunities.

Keywords: Biokinetics, exercise therapy, kinesiotherapy