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Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Kinesiology Consultant Assistant

💰 $45,000 - $65,000

Health & RehabilitationKinesiologyClinical ResearchExercise Science

🎯 Role Definition

The Kinesiology Consultant Assistant provides technical and clinical support to Kinesiology Consultants, rehabilitation teams, and research investigators. This role performs standardized musculoskeletal and movement assessments, operates motion capture and electromyography (EMG) systems, prepares detailed analysis and clinical recommendations, and facilitates implementation of therapeutic or ergonomics interventions. The assistant is responsible for accurate data capture, documentation, patient education, and contributing to program evaluation and continuous improvement initiatives.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Biomechanics, or a closely related field
  • Exercise Physiologist, Athletic Trainer, or Physical Therapy Assistant transitioning into research/consulting
  • Undergraduate internship or technician role in a biomechanics or gait laboratory

Advancement To:

  • Kinesiology Consultant / Clinical Kinesiologist
  • Senior Kinesiology Analyst or Biomechanics Specialist
  • Rehabilitation Services Coordinator or Program Manager
  • Clinical Research Associate or Study Coordinator

Lateral Moves:

  • Exercise Physiologist
  • Ergonomist / Occupational Health Specialist
  • Rehabilitation Technician
  • Clinical Trial Technician

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

  • Conduct comprehensive musculoskeletal and functional movement assessments using standardized clinical tests (ROM, strength testing, proprioception, balance assessments) and synthesize findings into actionable clinical notes and recommendations for consultants and care teams.
  • Operate and maintain motion capture systems (optical marker-based systems, inertial measurement units), 2D/3D video analysis, force plates, and portable gait analysis tools to collect high-quality biomechanical data for clinical and research use.
  • Set up and run surface and intramuscular electromyography (EMG) recordings in accordance with protocols, including electrode placement, signal acquisition, troubleshooting noise/artifacts, and basic preprocessing for analysis.
  • Design, modify, and deliver individualized evidence-based exercise programs and therapeutic interventions under the direction of a Kinesiology Consultant, including progressive strength, balance, mobility, and motor control exercises.
  • Use data analysis tools (MATLAB, Python, R, or SPSS) to clean, process, and analyze kinematic, kinetic, and EMG datasets; prepare visualizations (plots, gait graphs) and summarize statistical outcomes for consultants and investigators.
  • Assist in patient/client intake, including histories, informed consent processes (for clinical and research contexts), baseline data collection, and accurate entry of clinical and assessment data into electronic health record (EHR) systems or research databases.
  • Prepare comprehensive clinical and research reports, including interpretation of biomechanical findings, intervention rationale, expected outcomes, and clear next-step recommendations for referring clinicians, patients, or research teams.
  • Support supervised clinical trials and research studies by recruiting participants, scheduling assessments, ensuring adherence to study protocols, documenting deviations, and contributing to high-quality source documentation.
  • Coordinate multidisciplinary care by communicating assessment results and recommendations to physical therapists, occupational therapists, physicians, ergonomists, and employers; facilitate interdisciplinary meetings when requested.
  • Provide patient and caregiver education on movement strategies, injury prevention, safe exercise progression, activity modification, and ergonomic adjustments; develop and deliver readable handouts and digital content.
  • Implement standardized outcome measures (e.g., 6-minute walk test, Timed Up and Go, WOMAC, Oswestry) and reliably score, track, and graph progress across episodes of care or study timepoints.
  • Administer and score cognitive-motor dual-task assessments and functional performance tasks relevant to fall-risk screening and return-to-work evaluations.
  • Troubleshoot equipment and software issues in the lab or clinic, coordinate service and calibration with vendors, and maintain complete equipment logs to ensure measurement reliability and safety.
  • Manage scheduling and logistics for assessments, follow-up sessions, community outreach clinics, and on-site ergonomics visits; communicate clearly with clients and referring parties and maintain timely appointment reminders.
  • Contribute to grant writing, IRB applications, and study protocol development by drafting methods sections, feasibility notes, and personnel/operations descriptions under senior investigator supervision.
  • Train and supervise undergraduate and graduate research assistants, student interns, or volunteer staff in lab safety, data acquisition protocols, and basic data processing, fostering a culture of quality and reproducibility.
  • Participate in quality improvement and program evaluation activities, analyzing process measures and patient outcomes to recommend workflow or protocol refinements that improve efficiency and clinical impact.
  • Maintain confidential patient and participant records, ensuring compliance with HIPAA and institutional privacy policies and assisting in audit preparation and response.
  • Assist with billing and coding documentation for clinical services when applicable, ensuring accurate capture of billable assessments and therapy sessions in accordance with payer guidelines.
  • Create and update clinical pathways, assessment templates, and standard operating procedures (SOPs) to support consistent, evidence-based delivery of kinesiology services across the team.
  • Deliver telehealth appointments and remote assessments, adapting standard assessments for virtual delivery, documenting sessions appropriately, and providing digital exercise prescriptions and follow-up plans.
  • Participate in community education programs, workplace ergonomics consultations, and professional outreach to increase awareness of movement health services and referral networks.
  • Compile and present findings at team meetings, clinical rounds, or research seminars; prepare presentation slides and posters for internal stakeholders or external conferences.

Secondary Functions

  • Support ad-hoc data requests and exploratory data analysis.
  • Contribute to the organization's data strategy and roadmap.
  • Collaborate with business units to translate data needs into engineering requirements.
  • Participate in sprint planning and agile ceremonies within the data engineering team.
  • Assist with procurement and inventory of clinical supplies, electrodes, and calibration tools, ensuring timely re-stocking and budget-conscious purchasing.
  • Support marketing and patient outreach efforts by drafting service descriptions, patient success stories, and web-friendly content that highlights measurement-driven outcomes.
  • Provide coverage for other clinic or lab shifts when needed and support expansion of services into satellite locations or community partner sites.
  • Maintain continued professional development by attending workshops, webinars, and certification courses relevant to clinical biomechanics, exercise prescription, and data analysis.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

  • Proficient in gait and movement analysis techniques including optical motion capture, IMUs, video analysis, and force platform usage.
  • Practical experience with surface and/or fine-wire EMG acquisition and preprocessing.
  • Strong quantitative data skills: ability to process and visualize datasets using MATLAB, Python (NumPy/Pandas/Matplotlib), R, or SPSS.
  • Familiarity with clinical outcome measures and standardized functional tests (e.g., TUG, 6MWT, sit-to-stand).
  • Competence with electronic health records (EHR) and clinical documentation workflow; experience with REDCap or other research databases preferred.
  • Solid understanding of exercise prescription principles across rehabilitation and performance contexts (periodization, progression, load management).
  • Basic knowledge of human anatomy, physiology, biomechanics, and neuromuscular control relevant to clinical decision making.
  • Experience supporting clinical trials or IRB-approved human subjects research, including consent, source documentation, and protocol adherence.
  • Ability to calibrate and maintain lab equipment, perform preventive maintenance, and coordinate vendor service.
  • Skilled at preparing clinical and research reports, figure generation for publications/posters, and translating technical results into actionable clinical recommendations.
  • Competence in telehealth platforms and remote assessment adaptations (video-based movement screening, home exercise progression).

Soft Skills

  • Clear, empathetic patient-facing communication with the ability to explain complex biomechanical concepts in plain language.
  • Strong teamwork and interdisciplinary collaboration skills; comfortable coordinating with clinicians, researchers, and administrative staff.
  • High attention to detail and commitment to data quality, reproducibility, and documentation accuracy.
  • Time management and organizational skills to balance clinical caseloads, research activities, and administrative tasks.
  • Critical thinking and problem-solving mindset to adapt protocols, troubleshoot equipment, and interpret ambiguous or noisy data.
  • Professionalism and ethical judgment when working with sensitive patient information and research participants.
  • Coaching and motivational skills to encourage adherence to exercise programs and behavior change.
  • Adaptability and eagerness to learn new measurement tools, software, and clinical techniques as the field evolves.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

  • Bachelor’s degree in Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Biomechanics, Rehabilitation Science, Athletic Training, or closely related field.

Preferred Education:

  • Master’s degree in Kinesiology, Biomechanics, Exercise Physiology, Rehabilitation Science, or related discipline.
  • Additional certifications (e.g., CSCS, ACSM EP-C, Gait & Motion Analysis certificates) are advantageous.

Relevant Fields of Study:

  • Kinesiology
  • Exercise Science / Exercise Physiology
  • Biomechanics
  • Physical Therapy / Rehabilitation Science
  • Athletic Training
  • Movement Science

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

  • 1–4 years of applied clinical, laboratory, or research experience in biomechanics, movement analysis, exercise prescription, or related settings.

Preferred:

  • 3+ years supporting clinical services or human-subjects research with hands-on experience in motion capture, EMG, gait analysis, and data processing pipelines.
  • Prior experience supervising students or coordinating study visits, and demonstrated familiarity with IRB processes and clinical documentation standards.
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