Moving you to better health

Frequently
Asked Questions

1. What is Biokinetics?
Biokineticists are medical professionals that use physical activity as therapeutic treatment for various conditions. We aim to improve patients’ functional ability in order to improve their quality of life and/or performance after injury.
Biokinetics is one of the only medical professions that specialize in preventative health care. All this is achieved through scientifically designed exercise programs, taking into account current physical ability, condition and goals, in order to treat and/ or prevent chronic & metabolic diseases, orthopedic conditions and sports injuries.
2. How is Biokinetics different from Physiotherapy?
Biokinetics and Physiotherapy are both university-trained professions that are registered as part of the Health Professions Council.  Physiotherapists are known to use a variety of methods such as manual therapy, acupuncture, therapeutic first phase exercises, massage, joint mobilization and other methods to treat areas of musculoskeletal disorders – Their treatment is thus for pain, swelling, mobilization and muscle activation in the first and second phase after an injury or in the case of chronic back pain etc. 
Biokineticists do the third and final phase of injury rehabilitation. We will then take over from the Physiotherapist in order to complete the rehabilitation process.
Biokinetics utilize exercise for musculoskeletal disorders (acute injury or chronic orthopedic conditions e.g. chronic back pain).
We also focus on chronic disease prevention and management and have a broad knowledge in all aspects health related and the benefit of exercise on each condition.
Biokineticists will also address lifestyle and behavior modification through the many benefits of exercise. 
3. Does Medical aid cover Sessions?
YES. When you are referred for any medically related condition.
4. What happens when my medical aid benefit is depleted?
There are a few options.
  • You can continue on a maintenance program with us for a monthly fee.
  • You can continue on a home program, provided by us.
  • You can continue on a gym program if you are a member at a gym, we will also provide you with that program.
  • In both the last 2 options you can still come in on a 6 weekly basis for re-evaluations and adjustment of your program and pay only for that appointment.
6. Who can refer me to Biokinetics?
  • GP’s
  • Orthopedic surgeons
  • Physiotherapists
  • Dieticians
  • Neurologists
  • Neurosurgeons
  • Cardiologists
  • Chiropractors
  • Psychologists
  • Psychiatrists
  • Registered nurses (e.g. Diabetic nurse)
The health care provider will refer you to a biokineticist when there is an indication for exercise intervention and guidance as treatment for your condition. Ask your Doctor.

7. What conditions can I be referred for?

METABOLIC DISORDERS
  • Body Mass Index higher than 30 (Obesity)
  • Borderline hypertension/ borderline cholesterol/ pre-diabetic – no medication (Preventative care)
  • High Blood pressure/ cholesterol/ type I and II diabetes – using medication
  • Hypothyroidism/ hyperthyroidism
  • Lifestyle modification to lower risk in chronic disease development (Preventative care)
ORTHOPEDIC CONDITIONS:
  • Lower back pain or vertebral disc pathology
  • Sports injuries
  • Muscle/ tendon strains, tears/ruptures or tendonitis
  • Ligament sprains, tears/ruptures or repairs
  • Shoulder operations, injuries, pain or dislocations
  • Knee operations, injuries, pain or instability
  • Post-operative joint replacements (Knee, Hip, ankle, Shoulder)
  • Fractures to weight bearing bones – requiring stabilization
  • Before or after Back surgery
  • Hernias, cesareans and abdominal surgery
CARDIOVASCULAR & PULMONARY & RENAL DISEASE
  • Any diagnosed Heart conditions
  • Chronic heart failure
  • After heart attack
  • Cardiovascular risk factors (Family history, HPT, Cholesterol, Diabetes etc.)
  • Post Bypass surgery/ valvular heart disease/ pacemakers/ cardiac transplant
  • Renal failure/ dialysis/ kidney transplant
  • Chronic obstructive or restrictive pulmonary disease
  • Asthma
CHRONIC or NEUROMUSCULAR DISABILITIES
  • Osteoporosis/ rheumatoid- or osteoarthritis
  • Neuromuscular disorders/ cerebral palsy/ polio and post-polio syndrome
  • Stroke/ spinal cord injury/ muscular dystrophy/ Guillain-Barre
  • Fibromyalgia / Chronic pain - Chronic fatigue syndrome
PSYCHOLOGICAL ISSUES
  • Stress
  • Depression
  • Anxiety
  • Bi-Polarity and other diagnosed issues
Other
  • Pregnancy
  • HIV
  • Cancer
  • Multiple sclerosis/ Parkinson’s disease/ Alzheimer’s disease
8. What about gym rebate?
The Gym rebate benefit has been discontinued by the medical aid as it is not allowed under Namibian law, for a medical aid to pay for non-medical activities.
This means that they may not pay for or contribute to your gym fee. Unfortunately, that meant that they also stopped rebate payments for Biokinetics even though we are classified under medical treatment.
9. What to expect with my first visit?

Your initial assessment will vary, depending on what you were referred for. You will definitely be taken through a Physical Activity Readiness Questionnaire (PAR-Q) to see what special conditions or previous conditions we need to take into account to design your program. This is also a way to evaluate your risk value.
A specific evaluation will then be done in order to identify current shortcomings that needs to be addressed in the personalized exercise program. This can include your physical measurements and fitness during a metabolic evaluation or a posture analysis and functional tests during an ergological evaluation.

Re-evaluations are scheduled on regular basis to evaluate progress.
10. What can a Biokineticist contribute to help me improve my performance?

We assess the strength, fitness, muscle imbalances and posture of athletes in general and as related to their specific sport and then address weaknesses in order to improve performance.

We look at:
  • Biomechanics
  • Muscle strength and balance
  • Joints stability
  • Proprioception and balance
  • Flexibility
  • Endurance
We do team testing for performance evaluation, program prescription (based on testing outcomes and norms) and re-testing to measure progress.
We do individual testing to evaluate personal weaknesses in muscle balance, posture, power etc., program prescription based on test results and re-testing to evaluate progress.
11. What is Corporate wellness?
Wellness is a health promotion activity to support healthy behavior in the workplace and to improve health outcomes.
Although Corporate wellness has many aspects such as Nutrition, Emotional health, Financial wellbeing and Occupational health, we make part of this multi-professional team in the form of Physical fitness/health.
We do Executive Medical Screenings in the form of Stress ECG’s and measuring other aspects that might play a part in stress reduction and body pain, such as flexibility, core strength, postural evaluations etc.
We also do Ergonomic desk evaluation and setup for companies.
12. How can I motivate myself to start and keep on being active for my health?

The most important thing to start with is a “WHY?”

You have to find a good reason to want to change your life, because that is what it is, a LIFE-style-CHANGE.

If wanting to lose weight is the only reason you to want to start exercising, it is going to be very hard to sustain in the long run.

You need to identify bad habits and find a good reason to want to change it.

The only way to see permanent change in your health, body and stress levels is PERSEVERANCE.

SO the secret is to find something you want to persevere for….

FIND YOUR “WHY”
13. Can Biokineticists help me with a diet?

No, we will however refer you to a Dietitian that specializes in creating custom made diets for each person.

We can certainly advise you on a few basic do’s and don’t as you progress with your program.

What is Biokinetics?

How is biokinetics different from physiotherapy?

ORTHOPEDIC CONDITIONS

Sports injuries

ORTHOPEDIC CONDITIONS

Fractures to weight bearing bones – requiring stabilization

CHRONIC or Neuromuscular DISABILITIES

Neuromuscular disorders
  • CHRONIC or Neuromuscular DISABILITIES

    Stroke/ spinal cord injury/ muscular dystrophy/ Guillain-Barre
  • CHRONIC or Neuromuscular DISABILITIES

    Fibromyalgia / Chronic pain - Chronic fatigue syndrome
  • Gym

    What about rebates?
  • Biokinetics

    Contributes to help me improve my performance
  • Biokinetics

    Contributes to help me improve my performance

Make an Appointment

We will gladly advise you personally and answer all your questions.

Moving you to better health