PED 191
The Field and Subdisciplines of
Kinesiology
Kinesiology as a field
Most general description of an area of
study
 Includes the content matter of the field
 Includes the various associated
professions

Kinesiology as a field
An academic discipline
 The body of knowledge - the “stuff” that
is unique to that particular area
 Must have a “social service”

 Law
 Medicine
 Religion
 Education
Kinesiology as a field

1. A discipline that uses intellectual
techniques
 Henry (1964): “...an organized body of
knowledge collectively embraced in a formal
course of learning. The acquisition of such
knowledge is assumed to be an adequate
and worthy objective as such, without any
demonstration or requirement of practical
application. The content is theoretical and
scholarly, as distinguished from technical and
professional.”
Kinesiology as a field
2. Disciplinarians: the scholars (usually
professors) who add to the body of
knowledge of the discipline
 Long period of training (usually two
post-graduate degrees - masters and
doctorate)
 Scholarly

Kinesiology as a field
Unique subject matter
 If not “unique” then it is not a separate
field
 Question - does “kinesiology” own
physical activity?

Kinesiology as a field
Professionals who have a long period of
training in the disciplinary and
professional subject matter.
 Professionals access the subject matter
through their journals, other media
 Note connection between professionals
and disciplinarians
 Practical: professionals “do” the field

Kinesiology as a field
Clarified code of ethics
 Ethics: right behavior

 Teachers
dating students?
 Lawyers revealing client secrets?
 Priests revealing sins?
 Doctors valuing money or health?

Organizations enforce the code
Kinesiology as a field

Agencies dedicated to preparing
disciplinarians and professionals
 Universities
 Professional
programs
credentialing/licensing
Kinesiology as a field
Doctors?
 Lawyers?
 Educators?
 Physical activity professionals?
 Coaches?
 Athletes?

Kinesiology Subdisciplines
Sport pedagogy - “PETE”
 Body of knowledge: efficacy of teaching
techniques
 Difficult achieving a recognized body of
knowledge
 Judgment based human science?
 Or empirically validated body of
knowledge?

Kinesiology Subdisciplines

The sciences
 Exercise
physiology
 Biomechanics
 Motor behavior
Empirically validated body of knowledge
 Positivist - belief in “certain” knowledge
 Modern
 Culturally accepted

Kinesiology Subdisciplines

Exercise physiology
 Metabolism: (from Greek μεταβολισμος
"metabolismos")
 Biochemical modification of chemical
compounds in living organisms and cells.
 Includes the biosynthesis of complex organic
molecules (anabolism) and their breakdown
(catabolism).
Kinesiology Subdisciplines

Academic divisions
 Cardiovascular
and metabolic
 Biochemistry
 Cardiac

rehabilitation
Professional foundations
 Athletic
training, strength training, adult
fitness/wellness, corporate fitness,
personal fitness training
Kinesiology Subdisciplines
Biomechanics - the first “kinesiology”
 Study of the human body in motion
 Anatomy and mechanics
 Mechanics: (Greek Μηχανική) branch
of physics concerned with the behavior
of physical bodies when subjected to
forces or displacements, and the
subsequent effect of the bodies on their
environment.

Kinesiology Subdisciplines

Anatomy
 Origin
 Insertion
 Action
Geometry - use of mathematical
expression to describe movements
 Newton’s Laws of Motion

Kinesiology Subdisciplines
Motor behavior - “motor” means the
human body as an “engine”
 Processes that lead to physical activity
 Related to psychology, biomechanics,
and PETE
 Movement control, how it changes over
time, for people of all ages

Kinesiology Subdisciplines

Social Sciences
 Sport
psychology
 Sport sociology
Kinesiology Subdisciplines

Humanities
 Sport
philosophy
 Sport history
 Sport literature