By Arman Forough, Student Kinesiologist
As a student kinesiologist I was initially overwhelmed by the variety and number of available co-op positions. I currently plan to apply myself as a kinesiologist in the context of helping senior citizens regain and more importantly retain their mobility as they transition into the later years of their lives. In my opinion, Movéo Sport and Rehabilitation Center gives great exposure and experience for work in the field of Kinesiology. Below I have compiled a list of my top 10 reasons why working for Movéo is a great experience for any prospective student in the Biomedical Physiology and Kinesiology field!
Access to a plethora of professionals
When Movéo first opened in 2006, the team approach was not as common, and Movéo was a pioneer in the field of sport rehabilitation. Not only are there physiotherapists and chiropractors, but massage therapists, naturopathic physicians, acupuncturists, and registered kinesiologists at the disposal of the client! Movéo’s team of practitioners ensures you do not need to waste time travelling to multiple clinics across multiple locations to see the professionals that are able to assist you and you can be confident that all therapists involved in your care will communicate with each other and decide which treatment is appropriate and at which time to get you better faster!
A holistic approach to wellness
Practitioners at Movéo do not only address acute injury. They are able to look at the biomechanical factors that contribute to the issue and employ a grass roots approach to rehabilitating current injuries while also preventing future ones. However it cannot be overstated that Movéo works with many competitive and recreational athletes as-well for purposes of performance enhancement.
Practitioner-Client relationships
At Movéo, the patient is treated with warmth and kindness. Criticisms of the Canadian health care system are that patients sometimes feel dehumanized and do not feel any sort of relationship with their health care practitioner. Observing the way practitioners here interact with their patients defies the notions that health care needs to be impersonal and intimidating. In conjunction with the team focus, this is one aspect in which Movéo leads by example.
Variety of patients
Working at Movéo you will get experience working with NCAA athletes, recreational athletes, seniors, and workplace or MVA related injuries. The variety of individuals you will deal with guides your coaching and teaching style to be flexible, and not rigid. Modifying programs on the fly also enables you to quickly adapt to the client, which will help with the client feeling like their rehabilitation/treatment is unique to them and their situation. Patient specific exercise modifications will also build your confidence as a kinesiologist/coach/trainer and help develop the ability to recognize errors or compensation patterns and help correct them.
Location – Vancouver is very health conscious and Movéo is located at a crossroads of multiple gyms, and fitness centers
Employees, and patients alike have access to a plethora of fitness centres, supplement shops, and supermarkets containing food items that can contribute to a healthy lifestyle, all within walking distance of Movéo. Vancouver is a health conscious city, but the location of Movéo and its surrounding businesses and residents exemplify this community value. Potential kinesiologists need not worry about their training or nutritional regiment being interrupted due to logistics.
Offers both rehabilitation and sports performance assessment
Not every client is one returning from injury, practitioners also can employ biomechanical corrections to lifting technique, and offer training techniques to break previous plateaus. This also allows the practitioner to discuss and offer advice on how to prevent future injury and achieve your fitness goals.
Employing new techniques at the forefront of the rehabilitation and wellness industry alongside their treatment
Staying up to date with breakthroughs in treatment techniques is one of the reasons Movéo is at the spearhead of the team-focused approach to client treatment. For example: Graston involves application of forces through a patented tool to break up scar tissue and enhance recovery, whereas dry needling involves using a needle to release myofascial trigger points within the muscle that would usually be unreachable otherwise.
An opportunity to work with clients – involving ICBC active rehabilitation
As a kinesiologist you will notice that a lot of clients will be referred through ICBC for purposes of active rehabilitation into one of Movéo’s clinics. Understanding how to work with motor vehicles accident (MVA) clientele entails that you will not only be prescribing exercises, but you will be an active part in the client’s journey to regain function and health alongside the other practitioners you will assist.
Ability to learn on the job – Access to information on newer techniques
Being able to learn, observe, and inquire about a technique in conjunction with being exposed to its applications in a clinical setting is much more stimulating than learning it in a classroom setting. Practitioners will give you access to reading materials describing new training techniques such as blood-flow restriction. Furthermore, seeing exercises prescribed in a clinical setting as opposed to a fitness setting is also beneficial for kinesiology students due to the need to individualize your instructions to the client’s needs and can modify as complications arise.
Practitioners who are passionate about fitness
Unsurprisingly Movéo practitioners are very health conscious. However it is the goal of the practitioners at Movéo to influence those around them to live a lifestyle that is conductive to holistic health. Adult demographics also report the preference of exercise with own instruction as opposed to instructor led groups1, and Movéo practitioners educate their clients to be able to independently pursue health and wellness.
Reference
1) King, A. C., Castro, C., Wilcox, S., Eyler, A. A., Sallis, J. F., & Brownson, R. C. (2000).
Personal and environmental factors associated with physical inactivity among different racial-ethnic groups of U.S. middle-aged and older-aged women. Health Psychology, 19(4), 354-364.
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