Kinesiology is the study of human movement. It can be broken down into three main branches: neurology, kinesiology, and sports medicine. Kinesiology focuses on understanding how the body moves and how to correct movement disorders. Neurology focuses on understanding how the nervous system controls movement. Sports medicine focuses on understanding how physical activity affects the body and helps injured athletes return to competition as quickly as possible.
The main branches of kinesiology
- Neurology – studies the nervous system and how it controls human movement. Neurologists are experts in diagnosing and treating movement disorders such as Parkinson’s disease, essential tremor, and Huntington’s disease.
- Psychiatry – studies the mental health of individuals and groups, including psychopharmacology. Psychiatrists are medical doctors who specialize in mental health, they are also known as “psychologists with a license”.
- Biomechanics – studies the physics of movement, specifically how force is produced and transmitted through the body. This includes both musculoskeletal (how muscles and bones move) and neurological (how the nervous system controls movement).
Pre-med students are required to take a number of science, math, and English classes while they are in college. Most require a minimum of three years of good academic standing before they can apply for the pre-med program.
