The History of Kinesiology

by Emily Goltz

Hi everyone! This week, I will give you a brief history of kinesiology. I will include where it began, who "invented" it and other interesting facts to go along with it. Kinesiology has always been very interesting to me but I've never know where the origins of the study came from, so I am learning new information as well!

Kinesiology was founded in Sweden by a man named, Carl August Georgii. He was a professor at the "Royal Gymnastic Central Institute GCI". He created the new term "kinesiology" in 1854 and its meaning is "Movement-Study/Knowldge". It was the foundation of Medical Gymnastics which he taught and studied.

Although Carl Georgii created the term, kinesiology, manual muscle testing was established in 1813 by Herrik Kellgren. He published the first known documented manual muscle test. Georgii worked in Sweden, England and Germany and his practices spread quickly. By 1888, the practice of muscle testing was brought to America by many medical gymnasts. It started in Boston. There is was practiced and improved by physical therapists by 1912 and again by American chiropractors by 1964.
Overtime, the practice of kinesiology has grown into something far bigger than what Carl Georgii or Herrik Kellgren could have ever imagined.

Today, it is the basis on human function. It primarily deals with athletics and the moment of the body. You can go into athletic training, physical therapy, occupational therapy and a variety other practices if you study kinesiology. I t is becoming more and more popular and improved everyday.

References:

Kinesiology Organization-- http://kinesiology.org