Kinesiology vs. Biomechanics vs. Exercise Science – Degree Comparisons, Differences, and More

If you’re interested in a career in wellness, athletic training or fitness, then you may be wondering about which educational path to follow. In your research you’ve probably come across the fields of exercise science, biomechanics and kinesiology.

If so, the good news is you’re on the right track. While they are related, each provides a different area of focus and offers an exciting range of career possibilities.

Read on for an explanation of these fields, their differences and how you can select a career path that matches your goals and interests.

What Is Kinesiology?

Kinesiology is the scientific study of movement and the human body. It’s a generally broad field that encompasses various disciplines related to how humans move and how the body functions, including anatomy, physiology, nutrition, biomechanics, exercise science and even sports psychology.

Kinesiology is an older field that developed out of the study of physical education, physical therapy and gym class programs. Essentially, it’s an attempt to understand how we move, why we move and how we can improve health, fitness and performance.

Because of the all-encompassing nature of this field, studying kinesiology can lead to a diverse range of careers. Students can become kinesiologists and use their knowledge in a wide array of different industries, from athletics and physical therapy to research and education. However, the study of movement can also branch out to specialized areas of biomechanics and exercise science.

What Is Biomechanics?

Biomechanics is the scientific analysis of the mechanical aspects of human movement, focusing on how ligaments, muscles, tendons, bones and other bodily structures work together to enable activities such as running, walking or throwing.

By emphasizing the physics of motion, biomechanics explores how external forces interact with the body’s structure and impact anatomy. This field combines knowledge from anatomy, physiology, kinesiology and physics to better understand the mechanical dynamics of joints, muscles and bones during various activities.

Those who study biomechanics can use their knowledge to enhance physical performance, improve training, rehabilitate injuries and reduce injury risk. Careers in biomechanics can include postgraduate healthcare, physical therapy, occupational therapy, sports medicine or orthopedic medicine.

What Is Exercise Science?

Exercise science studies the active human body through the lenses of anatomy, physiology, metabolism and kinetics. It can be considered a subfield of kinesiology that focuses on improving health and wellness through movement.

Exercise science aims to understand the effects of therapeutic exercise on health outcomes for individuals with chronic diseases and conditions, optimize fitness programming across the lifespan and enhance sports performance for athletes. This broad area of study covers topics such as strength training, sports nutrition and physical education, offering a comprehensive understanding of how exercise impacts the human body.

Exercise science career opportunities are diverse. While many graduates enter healthcare fields such as medical fitness and rehabilitation, others pursue careers as fitness or personal trainers, strength and conditioning coaches or healthcare consultants, helping individuals achieve their fitness goals and maintain healthy lifestyles.

Biomechanics vs. Kinesiology vs. Exercise Science

What are the differences between these areas of study?

Though biomechanics and exercise science can both be considered subfields of kinesiology that include some of the same concepts, there are important differences.

• Kinesiology encompasses a larger, more comprehensive study of human movement, and can include the integration of other disciplines such as exercise physiology, sports psychology, motor development, sports medicine and physical education.
• Biomechanics focuses on the mechanical intricacies of movement, such as the forces, torques and the mechanical properties of tissues. It drills down to examine how the musculoskeletal system operates from a force development and physics standpoint.
• Exercise science is a more specialized understanding of the human body, focused on the study of what happens to the body during exercise. It has a similar approach to examining human movement as biomechanics but more from a physiological output standpoint.

How are these areas of study related to each other?

Where kinesiology, as a much larger field, examines the physiological, psychological and sociocultural aspects of movement, biomechanics provides the mechanical foundation to understanding human movement while exercise science applies these concepts to what happens to the body during exercise.

Between these areas of study, there are overlapping general education requirements, including classes in mathematics and science, human anatomy, fitness testing, biomechanics, nutrition and sports physiology.

Biomechanics and exercise science in particular share many commonalities across concepts and areas of study — such as force and how it affects movement — though there are unique areas of study.

For example, biomechanics programs may include specialized classes in biomechanical engineering, musculoskeletal bioengineering, sports biomechanics, biomaterials and tissue mechanics. In contrast, exercise science programs may include courses in health program planning and evaluation, applied nutrition and tactical strength and conditioning.

While some professionals or programs may consider biomechanics to be a subdiscipline of exercise science, the Marshall School of Kinesiology considers these fields to be distinct areas of study that work well together.

For example, there are separate biomechanics and exercise approaches to a study of sprinting. Where biomechanics researchers may closely examine how a sprinter physically moves out of the block to start a race, and research different ways to hone the technique to improve efficiency, the exercise scientists would apply those findings to more focused research on how to improve the physiological aspects of the sprinters’s output and performance.

Career Paths in Kinesiology

Why would someone study kinesiology?

Kinesiology offers a broad spectrum of opportunities, providing graduates a wide variety of career options. With this type of degree, individuals can pursue careers in physical therapy, exercise prescription, ergonomics and sports coaching, as well as work in areas of corporate health and wellness, occupational safety and even as dietitians or physician assistants. It’s also possible to apply knowledge of kinesiology to careers in sales support or different administrative roles.

A review of different job aggregation and salary sites such as the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Glassdoor and Salary.com found salary ranges for the following kinesiology careers:

• Occupational Therapist — $96,370
• Occupational Safety Specialist — $97,092
• Physician Assistant — $130,530
• Physical Therapist — $130,870

Kinesiology professionals are able to find employment in diverse settings, including government agencies, private companies and nonprofit organizations. This field also provides ample opportunities to carve out smaller niche areas, where graduates can choose to work directly with clients to improve their health and performance or support larger organizations in promoting wellness.

Career Paths in Biomechanics

Why would someone study biomechanics?

Students interested in the science of movement can find many exciting career opportunities in biomechanics to advance the causes of injury prevention and athletic performance optimization. Biomechanics graduates work for private enterprises, government agencies or academic institutions as a part of athletic teams, research labs, sports performance centers or sports medicine clinics. They are also highly successful in pursuing careers as physical therapists, occupational therapists, orthotists/prosthetists and chiropractors.

A review of different job aggregation and salary sites found salary ranges for the following careers in biomechanics:

• Orthotist/Prosthetist — $78,100
• Biomechanics Researcher — $88,000
• Chiropractic — $89,760
• Physical Therapist — $130,870

Career opportunities in biomechanics are diverse and can include positions in research labs at major hospitals and clinics, roles with insurance companies for accident reconstruction, jobs in sales and technical support and work in motion capture and data collection. Because the biomechanics field can produce large datasets for analysis, the door is open to careers in data science, which can involve collaboration with — or knowledge of — AI coding and machine learning.

“One area of study in biomechanics that is increasingly popular is load management, which gathers and analyzes data to determine how to limit the risk of injury. [Load management] is not just applicable to careers in athletics, but also to job safety in the workplace — which includes highly physical industries such as construction as well as the importance of ergonomics and posture support for office jobs.” — Dr. Suzanne Konz | Associate Professor – Program Director Biomechanics – School of Kinesiology

Career Paths in Exercise Science

Why would someone study exercise science?

Anyone passionate about athletic performance and physical rehabilitation can find rewarding career opportunities in exercise science. Similar to biomechanics, exercise science careers focus on the physiology of movement, which includes research and practitioner positions at universities, pharmaceutical companies and government agencies. Graduates can work as conditioning and personal trainers, or enter the healthcare industry as diabetes educators, cardiac rehabilitators, nutritionists or sales and technical support staff. Consulting positions are also available.

A review of different job aggregation and salary sites found salary ranges for the following careers in exercise science:

• Personal Trainer — $67,734
• Dietitian / Nutritionist — $71,280
• Cardiac Rehabilitation Specialist — $79,879
• Physical Therapist — $130,870

Graduates can work for collegiate and professional sports teams, athletic performance centers, fitness and wellness centers and hospital fitness and clinical rehabilitation centers. They can also find roles in university and private industry research laboratories and weight control programs.

There are numerous career paths for each area of study. Here’s a quick recap:

Study and Career Comparison Chart

How to Get Started – Career Tips & Advice

If you’re interested in any of these areas, then obtaining a relevant undergraduate degree is a good place to start. You’ll want to prioritize undergraduate programs that offer a comprehensive, hands-on curriculum that allows you the chance to work directly with knowledgeable faculty. Also, any program that offers career support through networking and internship opportunities is a huge plus.

You’ll also want to think about whether you’ll continue your education with a master’s degree, which may be required for certain careers. Some positions may even require a doctorate degree, so make sure you know ahead of time what type of education is required for which fields and roles.

While earning certifications won’t guarantee a job, they can help enhance your qualifications and potentially raise your salary. Numerous certifications are available for professionals entering fields of biomechanics, exercise science or kinesiology, such as:

• Certified Strength and Conditioning Specialist (CSCS)
• Certified Exercise Physiologist
• Performance Enhancement Specialist

You can also join professional organizations or attend relevant conferences, both of which can increase your knowledge and skills and help you build your network. Look into what’s offered by organizations such as:

• The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA)
• National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF)
• International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA)
• The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
• American Society of Biomechanics (ASB)
• International Society of Biomechanics in Sports (ISBS)

One of the best things you can do for your career is to make connections with those who currently work in your preferred job field. Networking makes it more likely you’ll find opportunities or be considered for job openings. College and university programs, like Marshall University’s own School of Kinesiology, offer incredible opportunities to get involved with the faculty and your peers. Look for ways to to:

• Participate in research, data collection or athlete testing,
• Volunteer for hands-on experience through internships and
• Mentor and be mentored with other students in a program.

The more you demonstrate your abilities, passion and practical skills, the more likely you are to be recommended for job opportunities in healthcare, sports, or fitness settings.

Discover the Benefits of Marshall’s Biomechanics and Exercise Science Programs in the School of Kinesiology

If you’re interested in exercise science or biomechanics, consider exploring Marshall University’s Exercise Science or Biomechanics program within the School of Health and Kinesiology.

Both are a great choice for hands-on learners who are interested in the human body and how it produces movement, heals and adapts over time. Both our programs have internship and work experience opportunities, which are essential for getting that important hands-on experience.

Marshall is one of the very few universities with that has a true biomechanics program at the undergraduate level. Both our undergraduate and graduate Biomechanics programs are designed around providing students with hands-on experiences within our state-of-the-art facilities. Our curriculum is also routinely updated to ensure it meets all the current industry standards.

Both of our programs enable students to conduct original hands-on research at the undergraduate and graduate level with faculty who excel in their chosen field. Less of a theory-based degree, at Marshall you’ll be learning skills that help give you a different mindset, build your critical thinking skills and allow you to be independent when working on site — all of which can be directly applied to your future career.

“At Marshall, we’re directly connected to the industry and have colleagues who work directly in industry. We’re able to update our programs regularly to keep students on the cutting edge of practice, helping to transition our students directly to industry or research.”

— Dr. Suzanne Konz | Associate Professor – Program Director Biomechanics – School of Kinesiology

If you’d like to learn more about the programs offered by Marshall University School of Health and Kinesiology, reach out to request more information. Or start the application process today if you’re interested in applying.