“Biokineticist” is one of those professions most South Africans have heard of but few can describe. If your doctor, physio or gym buddy has told you to see one, here is exactly what that means – and what actually happens when you do.
The one-line answer
A biokineticist is an HPCSA-registered health professional who uses individually prescribed exercise to rehabilitate injuries, manage chronic conditions and improve physical function. Think of it as exercise, prescribed with the same precision a doctor applies to medication.
What a biokineticist treats
At our Randburg practice, the most common cases we see are:
- Post-operative rehab – knee, shoulder, hip and back surgeries, including ACL reconstruction
- Sports injuries – from runners and cyclists to CrossFitters and weekend warriors
- Chronic pain – recurring lower back pain, neck stiffness, knee pain that keeps coming back
- Strength and conditioning – building a resilient body that does not break down
- Health and fitness testing – including Discovery Vitality Fitness Assessments
What happens in a session
Your first visit is a 60-minute assessment: injury history, movement screening, range of motion, strength testing and goal setting. You leave with a clear plan – what we will do in the clinic, what you will do at home, and a realistic timeline.
Follow-up sessions are 45 minutes, one-on-one, on the gym floor. No machines-in-a-row circuit, no generic programme printed off the internet. Every exercise is chosen for your body and progressed as you improve, with regular re-testing so progress is measured, not guessed.
How is that different from a personal trainer?
A biokineticist holds a four-year honours degree in clinical exercise science and is registered with the Health Professions Council of South Africa. That registration is what allows us to work with injuries, post-surgical clients and chronic conditions – and what makes sessions claimable from most medical aids. A personal trainer makes healthy people fitter. A biokineticist rebuilds bodies that have something to fix first.
And different from a physiotherapist?
Physiotherapy handles the acute phase of injury with hands-on treatment. Biokinetics takes over once you are ready to rebuild through exercise. We wrote a full comparison here: physiotherapist vs biokineticist.
Do you need a referral?
No. You can book directly. Some medical aid plans ask for a doctor’s or physio’s referral before they will pay the claim – we will tell you if that applies to your scheme.
Curious whether biokinetics is right for your situation? Book an initial assessment – most clients leave their first session with a clear plan and the first signs of progress.
Related reading: Physiotherapist vs Biokineticist | Why Every CrossFitter Should See a Biokineticist