Key Responsibilities and Required Skills for Kinesiology Specialist Assistant

🎯 Role Definition

The Kinesiology Specialist Assistant supports clinicians, exercise physiologists, and researchers in the assessment, treatment, and performance optimization of patients and participants. This hands-on role delivers movement and functional assessments, assists in evidence-based exercise prescription and rehabilitation programs, manages data and equipment for biomechanics and gait analysis, and provides education and coaching to diverse populations (orthopedic, neurological, cardiopulmonary, and athletic). The ideal candidate combines strong technical competence in exercise testing and movement analysis with excellent patient communication, meticulous documentation, and a collaborative, safety-first mindset.

📈 Career Progression

Typical Career Path

Entry Point From:

Bachelor's graduate in Kinesiology, Exercise Science, or a related field
Physical Therapy Aide / Rehabilitation Technician
Athletic Trainer Assistant or Strength & Conditioning Intern

Advancement To:

Senior Kinesiology Specialist / Clinical Exercise Physiologist
Rehabilitation Coordinator or Clinical Supervisor
Research Associate / Study Coordinator in movement science
Physical Therapist or Occupational Therapist (with professional degrees)

Lateral Moves:

Strength & Conditioning Coach
Health Promotion or Wellness Program Specialist
Clinical Research Technician / Data Coordinator

Core Responsibilities

Primary Functions

Conduct comprehensive functional movement and clinical assessments (e.g., range of motion, joint integrity, postural screening, balance and proprioception tests) and synthesize findings into concise, actionable summaries for supervising clinicians.
Administer and interpret standardized exercise tests (submaximal/maximal exercise testing, 6MWT, timed up-and-go, VO2 protocols as delegated) according to established safety protocols and report abnormalities immediately.
Assist in the design, implementation, and progressive modification of individualized exercise prescriptions and rehabilitation programs based on clinician plans, patient goals, and measured performance data.
Perform gait analysis and biomechanical assessments using force plates, motion-capture systems, pressure mapping, and video analysis; prepare annotated summaries and quantitative reports for the clinical or research team.
Monitor patient response during exercise and therapy sessions (heart rate, blood pressure, perceived exertion, pain levels), recognize contraindications, and escalate clinical concerns to licensed providers in real time.
Provide patient and caregiver education on home exercise programs, injury prevention strategies, ergonomics, return-to-activity planning, and safe use of therapeutic equipment to maximize adherence and outcomes.
Document all assessments, treatments, exercise progressions, adverse events, and patient communications accurately and timely within the electronic medical record (EMR) or research database to ensure continuity of care and compliance.
Support pre- and post-operative rehabilitation protocols under clinical supervision, contributing to progressive strength, mobility, and functional milestones for orthopedic and musculoskeletal patients.
Assist licensed clinicians during hands-on manual therapy sessions by preparing the treatment area, positioning patients, and applying adjunct modalities as allowed by scope and facility protocols.
Lead supervised exercise sessions and group classes (rehabilitation-based or community health) with clear coaching cues, appropriate progressions, and attention to individual safety and inclusion.
Collect, clean, and code biomechanical and physiological data for clinical outcome tracking or research studies; ensure data integrity and consistency with study protocols or quality-improvement objectives.
Calibrate, maintain, and troubleshoot exercise testing equipment, motion-capture systems, and rehabilitation devices; coordinate preventive maintenance and equipment inventory to minimize downtime.
Facilitate participant recruitment, screening, informed consent processes, and scheduling for clinical research projects; maintain participant confidentiality and regulatory compliance (IRB/HIPAA).
Prepare patient- or study-specific materials such as protocols, educational handouts, exercise diagrams, and progress reports tailored to patient literacy and cultural considerations.
Collaborate with multidisciplinary teams (physiotherapists, physicians, occupational therapists, dietitians, psychologists, strength coaches) to coordinate comprehensive care plans and contribute movement-focused expertise to interdisciplinary meetings.
Implement infection control, safety, and emergency procedures including BLS/CPR readiness; complete safety checklists and incident reports as required by facility policies.
Support performance testing and sport-specific movement assessments for athletes, including agility, power, and strength testing; translate results into practical recommendations for coaches and athletes.
Contribute to continuous quality improvement initiatives by tracking clinical outcome metrics, identifying process gaps, and proposing workflow or protocol optimizations to improve patient outcomes.
Supervise and mentor student interns, clinical aides, and volunteers; provide structured feedback, model best practices in assessment and documentation, and support competency development.
Assist in grant and protocol preparation by compiling background materials, drafting methods sections related to movement assessments or exercise interventions, and preparing data summaries and appendices.
Provide telehealth support for remote assessments and exercise coaching, including setup of virtual sessions, remote monitoring techniques, and electronic delivery of home exercise programs.
Manage scheduling logistics, equipment reservations, and clinic flow to optimize patient throughput and minimize wait times while preserving high standards of individualized care.
Maintain professional development through participation in workshops, certifications, and literature reviews; incorporate evidence-based updates into clinical practice and educational materials.
Ensure compliance with institutional, state, and federal regulations governing clinical practice and research (HIPAA, OSHA, IRB policies) and proactively participate in audits or accreditation processes.

Secondary Functions

Support ad-hoc data requests, perform exploratory data analysis on movement or outcome datasets, and produce visuals or tables for clinician or research use.
Contribute to departmental data strategy by recommending measurement standards, outcome metrics, and data-capture workflows that improve reproducibility and analysis.
Collaborate with business units and research teams to translate clinical and operational needs into requirements for digital tools, exercise programs, and patient-facing resources.
Participate actively in sprint planning, project meetings, and agile ceremonies when working on interdisciplinary projects (e.g., digital health tools, motion-analysis software).
Assist with community outreach initiatives (screening events, educational seminars) to raise awareness of preventive exercise and rehabilitation services.
Coordinate with IT and data teams to ensure secure integration of wearable device outputs and motion-capture data into clinical or research systems.
Provide input into procurement decisions for rehabilitation and testing equipment by evaluating vendor proposals and trialing devices for clinical suitability.
Support billing and coding accuracy by documenting therapy sessions with sufficient specificity to meet payer requirements and facilitate reimbursement.
Help develop patient satisfaction surveys and analyze feedback to inform service improvements and patient experience strategies.
Participate in pilot programs for new assessment technologies or exercise interventions and document feasibility, safety, and initial outcomes.

Required Skills & Competencies

Hard Skills (Technical)

Clinical assessment techniques: functional movement screening, ROM measurement, manual muscle testing, balance and proprioception assessments.
Exercise testing and prescription: submaximal/maximal testing protocols, graded exercise testing, 6MWT, Borg RPE scaling, exercise progression principles.
Biomechanics and movement analysis: experience with motion capture (e.g., Vicon, Qualisys), force plates, pressure mapping, and video-based kinematic analysis.
Electronic health record (EHR/EMR) documentation proficiency and familiarity with clinical coding basics relevant to rehabilitation services.
Data collection and basic analysis: experience with Excel, SPSS, R, or Python for cleaning datasets and producing summary statistics and visuals.
Familiarity with wearable sensors, heart-rate monitors, metabolic carts, and calibration/maintenance procedures for lab equipment.
Infection control and clinical safety protocols, including BLS/CPR certification and emergency response procedures.
Knowledge of anatomy, physiology, neuropathophysiology, and exercise physiology as applied to clinical rehabilitation and performance care.
Patient education and instructional material development: creating clear home-exercise sheets, progression plans, and ergonomic recommendations.
Research methods and regulatory compliance: experience supporting IRB protocols, informed consent, and standardized outcome measurement.
Telehealth platforms and remote coaching technologies, including video-conferencing best practices and remote monitoring workflows.
Basic project management skills: scheduling, resource coordination, and documentation to support multi-site or multidisciplinary initiatives.

Soft Skills

Strong verbal and written communication tailored to patients, clinicians, and research teams; ability to translate technical findings into lay-friendly language.
Compassionate patient-centered approach with cultural sensitivity and the capacity to motivate diverse populations toward behavioral change.
Critical thinking and problem-solving to adapt assessment or exercise plans when faced with contraindications, comorbidities, or equipment limitations.
Attention to detail and high standards for documentation, data integrity, and protocol adherence.
Time management and organizational ability to balance clinical duties, data tasks, and administrative responsibilities in a busy setting.
Team collaboration and interdisciplinary coordination skills; comfortable working under clinical supervision while exercising initiative.
Instructional and leadership capability to mentor students and junior staff and lead small-group exercise sessions.
Resilience and stress management skills for handling fast-paced clinical scenarios and emotionally challenging patient situations.
Continuous learner mindset with the ability to incorporate new research findings and technologies into routine practice.
Ethical judgment and professional accountability, including respect for patient privacy and informed consent principles.

Education & Experience

Educational Background

Minimum Education:

Bachelor's degree in Kinesiology, Exercise Science, Exercise Physiology, Biomechanics, or a closely related field.

Preferred Education:

Master's degree in Kinesiology, Clinical Exercise Physiology, Rehabilitation Science, or related graduate degree.
Postgraduate certifications (e.g., ACSM-CEP, NSCA-CSCS, Clinical Exercise Physiologist credentials) or progress toward relevant clinical degrees (DPT, PT) are a strong plus.

Relevant Fields of Study:

Kinesiology
Exercise Physiology
Biomechanics
Sports Science
Physical Therapy / Rehabilitation Science
Human Movement Science

Experience Requirements

Typical Experience Range:

1–3 years of hands-on experience in a clinical rehabilitation, sports performance, or movement science research environment.

Preferred:

3–5+ years experience supporting clinical or research programs with demonstrated competence in exercise testing, movement analysis, EMR documentation, and patient coaching; experience with orthopedic, neurological, or cardiopulmonary populations is highly desirable.
Prior involvement in research protocols, participant recruitment, or quality improvement projects is preferred.