Monique Turner Biokineticist

22/05/2026

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04/05/2026

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It’s here: International Biokinetics Week! This year’s theme is “Movement is Medicine - This Is My Dose.”

Throughout the upcoming week, we’ll be showing how biokinetics uses movement as a clinical tool to improve health, support recovery and change lives. This is your dose of movement medicine, and it starts now!

👉 Follow the week, get involved and share the message:
https://biokineticssa.org.za/public-information/

27/03/2026

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High intensity isn’t always high value!

High intensity workouts performed with poor movement patterns can increase strain on joints, reinforce muscle imbalances and raise the risk of injury. Biokinetics focuses on assessing biomechanics and correcting faulty movement to improve alignment, muscle activation and joint stability.

By prioritising quality over quantity, individuals build a stronger foundation for long-term progress.

Smart, controlled movement doesn’t just enhance performance - it protects it.

Find out more about how we can help you here: https://biokineticssa.org.za/public-information/

25/03/2026

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The Role of Strength in Healthy Ageing

Muscle loss begins as early as our 30s and accelerates with age - but it is not unavoidable. Targeted resistance training:
• Preserves muscle mass
• Supports joint health
• Improves balance
• Reduces fall risk
• Enhances independence
Biokinetics uses safe, age-appropriate strength programmes to help individuals maintain quality of life for longer.

Ageing is inevitable. Frailty is not.

👉 Find a biokineticist near you: https://biokineticssa.org.za/public-information/

18/03/2026

Rehabilitation is Active, Not Passive!

Recovery is not about “waiting it out.”

Targeted exercise accelerates tissue healing, restores function and reduces re-injury risk.
The earlier guided movement begins (where medically appropriate), the better the outcome.

Movement is part of recovery - not separate from it.

👉 Find a biokineticist near you: https://biokineticssa.org.za/public-information/

11/03/2026

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Move to Improve: Chronic Conditions

Living with diabetes, hypertension or arthritis?

Structured exercise significantly improves blood sugar control, cardiovascular health, joint stability and overall energy levels.
Biokineticists design safe, supervised programmes tailored to individual medical history - helping patients move confidently while reducing disease progression risk.

Movement is medicine, especially for chronic disease!

👉 Learn more about biokinetics: https://biokineticssa.org.za/public-information/

02/03/2026

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Why Movement is Prescribed, Not Random.

Not all exercise is therapeutic.

Biokineticists assess posture, biomechanics, strength, endurance and medical history before prescribing movement.

Like medication, exercise must be:
✔ The right type
✔ The right dose
✔ The right progression

Precision matters

Find out more about how we can help you here: https://biokineticssa.org.za/public-information/

23/02/2026

Why Consistency Beats Intensity!

Pushing too hard too fast often leads to injury or burnout. Biokinetics focuses on progressive loading, ensuring the body adapts sustainably while reducing injury risk.
Small, consistent movement habits lead to long-term health gains.

💡 Sustainable movement = sustainable health.

20/02/2026

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Let's wrap up our Movement Misconception Series with this one...

#3: Stretching Before Exercise Prevents Injury - True or False?

Static stretching alone does not prevent injury.

Proper warm-ups should include dynamic movement, muscle activation and joint-specific preparation - all guided by your goals and health history. Biokineticists design evidence-based warm-ups that prepare your body for performance and protection.

🧠 Smart movement starts before the workout.

18/02/2026

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Next in our Movement Misconceptions Series...

#2: “You Can’t Undo Years of Damage” - Think Again!

Many people believe it’s “too late” to improve strength, mobility or function, this is not true. With progressive, individualised exercise, the body adapts at any age. Biokinetics focuses on restoring movement capacity, reducing pain and improving long-term health outcomes.
It’s never about going backwards - it’s about moving forward, safely.

👉 Find a biokineticist near you: https://biokineticssa.org.za/public-information/

16/02/2026

Hemiplegic (Circumduction) Gait — Biomechanics

Hemiplegic gait is a characteristic walking pattern seen in individuals with unilateral weakness, most commonly following a stroke or other upper motor neuron lesion. The affected side demonstrates impaired voluntary control, muscle weakness, spasticity, and abnormal synergies, all of which alter normal gait mechanics.

During the stance phase, the affected limb often remains in a rigid extended posture due to extensor spasticity. The hip stays extended and internally rotated, the knee remains extended, and the ankle is typically plantarflexed and inverted. This posture provides stability but reduces shock absorption and adaptability to ground surfaces. Weight bearing may be asymmetrical, with the patient shifting body weight toward the unaffected side for balance.

In the swing phase, inadequate hip flexion, knee flexion, and ankle dorsiflexion make limb clearance difficult. To compensate, the individual uses circumduction, swinging the affected leg outward in a semicircular motion. Hip hiking and lateral trunk lean toward the unaffected side may also occur to help clear the foot.

Foot positioning is often affected by foot drop and plantarflexor spasticity, causing the forefoot to contact the ground first instead of a normal heel strike. This leads to reduced shock absorption and increases fall risk. Toe drag during swing further reflects dorsiflexor weakness and impaired motor control.

Upper limb posture also reflects neurological involvement. The affected arm is commonly held in flexion with reduced arm swing, which disrupts normal counter-rotation and balance during walking. Reduced trunk rotation and poor postural adjustments further compromise gait efficiency.

Overall, hemiplegic gait is energy inefficient and increases fall risk due to poor limb clearance, asymmetrical loading, and balance deficits. Rehabilitation focuses on improving dorsiflexion, knee flexion, hip mobility, postural control, and symmetrical weight shifting to restore safer and more efficient walking patterns.