Introduction to Kinesiology

Duane V. Knudson, PhD, is a Regents' Professor and University Distinguished Professor in the department of health and human performance at Texas State University, where he teaches biomechanics and statistics. He earned his PhD in biomechanics from the University of Wisconsin and has held tenured positions at three universities. His research focuses on the biomechanics of tennis, stretching, qualitative movement diagnosis, learning biomechanical concepts, and research quality.Knudson has published over 190 peer-reviewed articles, 29 chapters, and three books: Fundamentals of Biomechanics, Qualitative Diagnosis of Human Movement, and Biomechanical Principles of Tennis Technique. He has received numerous national and international scholarly awards and is a fellow of four scholarly societies, including the prestigious National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK) and the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports. Knudson was picked by Stanford University and Elsevier for the World's Top 2% Scientists list in the subfield of sport sciences by in 2023 and 2024. He was also named by ScholarGPS to the Highly Ranked Scholars list (top 0.5% over the last five years in kinesiology) for 2022 and 2024. He has served as department chair, associate dean, and president of both the American Kinesiology Association (AKA) and the International Society of Biomechanics in Sports, and he was secretary-treasurer for NAK from 2025 to 2026. He received the Jerry R. Thomas Distinguished Leadership Award from the AKA in 2017.Timothy A. Brusseau, PhD, is a professor and chair of the department of health and kinesiology at the University of Utah. Dr. Brusseau is a fellow in the National Academy of Kinesiology (NAK), Society of Health and Physical Educators (SHAPE America), American College of Sports Medicine, National Association for Kinesiology in Higher Education (NAKHE), and the International Association for Physical Education in Higher Education. Brusseau is a national expert on youth physical activity, physical activity measurement, and school-based multicomponent physical activity interventions.He has 171 peer-reviewed publications and has made more than 200 conference and invited presentations. He is a coauthor of Dynamic Physical Education for Secondary School Students, and he coedited the Routledge Handbook of Youth Physical Activity. He is the leadership institute director for NAKHE and is currently serving as president of the American Kinesiology Association (AKA).

• Part I. Kinesiology and Physical Activity ExperienceChapter 1. Introduction to KinesiologyDuane V. Knudson and Timothy A. BrusseauInterest in the Discipline of KinesiologyPhysical Activity: The Focus of KinesiologySome Focuses of Physical Activity in KinesiologyKinesiology and Evidence-Based PracticeWrap-UpChapter 2. Importance of the Physical Activity ExperienceTimothy A. Brusseau and Duane V. KnudsonSphere of Self-SufficiencySphere of Self-ExpressionSphere of WorkSphere of EducationSphere of LeisureSphere of HealthSphere of CompetitionFactors That Influence Kinds of Experience in Physical ActivityWays in Which Experience Can Affect Physical ActivityHeredity and ExperienceSubjective Experience of Physical ActivityWrap-UpPart II. Scholarly Study of Physical ActivityChapter 3. Philosophy of Physical ActivityCesar R. Torres and Scott KretchmarWhy Use Philosophical Thinking?What Do Philosophers Do?Research Methods Used in Studying Philosophy of Physical ActivityHistory and Future of Philosophy of Physical ActivityOverview of Knowledge in Philosophy of Physical ActivityWrap-UpChapter 4. History of Physical ActivityLindsay Parks PieperWhy Use History of Physical Activity?What Do Historians of Physical Activity Do?History of Kinesiology and Physical ActivityResearch Methods Used in Studying History of Physical ActivityOverview of Knowledge in History of Physical ActivityWrap-UpChapter 5. Sociology of Physical ActivityMichael D. GiardinaWhy Use Sociology of Physical Activity?What Do Sociologists of Physical Activity Do?History of Sociology of Physical Activity Research Methods Used in Studying Sociology of Physical ActivityOverview of Knowledge in Sociology of Physical ActivityWrap-UpChapter 6. Motor BehaviorXiangli Gu and Katherine T. ThomasWhy Use Motor Behavior?What Do Motor Behaviorists Do?History of Motor BehaviorResearch Methods Used in Studying Motor BehaviorOverview of Knowledge in Motor BehaviorWrap-UpChapter 7. Psychology of Physical ActivityLindsay E. KippWhy Use Psychology of Physical Activity?What Do Psychology of Physical Activity Professionals Do?History of Psychology of Physical ActivityResearch Methods Used in Studying Psychology of Physical ActivityOverview of Knowledge in Psychology of Physical ActivityWrap-UpChapter 8. Biomechanics of Physical ActivityBrad Bowser and Kathy SimpsonWhy Use Biomechanics of Physical Activity?What Do Biomechanists Do?History of BiomechanicsResearch Methods Used in Studying BiomechanicsOverview of Knowledge in Biomechanics in Physical ActivityWrap-UpChapter 9. Physiology of Physical ActivityJennifer L. CaputoWhy Use Physiology of Physical Activity?What Do Exercise Physiologists Do?History of Physiology of Physical ActivityResearch Methods Used in Studying Physiology of Physical ActivityOverview of Knowledge in Physiology of Physical ActivityWrap-UpPart III. Practicing a Profession in Physical ActivityChapter 10. Becoming a Physical Activity ProfessionalDuane V. Knudson and Timothy A. BrusseauWhat Is a Profession?How Do Our Values Shape Our Professional Conduct?How Are Physical Activity Professionals Educated for the Workforce?Becoming Well Suited for a Career in a Physical Activity ProfessionWrap-UpChapter 11. Careers in Health and FitnessWarren D. FrankeThe Need for Health and Fitness ProfessionalsSettings for Health and FitnessRoles for Health and Fitness ProfessionalsTrends and Opportunities in Health and FitnessAdvice for Health and Fitness StudentsWrap-UpChapter 12. Careers in Medicine and Allied HealthChad Starkey and Julie CavallarioThe Diagnostic ProcessIntegrating Exercise Into Medicine and Allied HealthMedical and Allied Health SettingsRoles for Medical and Allied Health ProfessionalsTrends and Opportunities in Medicine and Allied HealthAdvice for Students Interested in Medicine and Allied HealthWrap-UpChapter 13. Careers in Teaching Physical EducationMichael A. Hemphill, Kim C. Graber, and Thomas J. TemplinWhat Is the Teaching of Physical Education?Settings for Teaching Physical EducationRoles for Physical Education ProfessionalsTrends and Opportunities in Teaching Physical EducationAdvice for Physical Education StudentsWrap-UpChapter 14. Careers in Coaching, Sport Instruction, and High-Performance SportJoseph A. Luxbacher and Duane V. KnudsonWhat Are Coaching, Sport Instruction, and Sport Performance Teams?Settings for Coaching, Sport Instruction, and High-Performance SportRoles for Coaching, Sport Instruction, and High-Performance Sport ProfessionalsTrends and Opportunities in Coaching, Sport Instruction, and High-Performance SportAdvice for Students Interested in Coaching, Sport Instruction, and High-Performance SportWrap-UpChapter 15. Careers in Sport ManagementG. Clayton Stoldt and Mark C. VermillionWhat Is Sport Management?Settings for Sport ManagementRoles for Sport Management ProfessionalsTrends and Opportunities in Sport ManagementAdvice for Sport Management StudentsWrap-Up