Discover the fundamentals of kinesiology.
Introduction to Kinesiology: Studying Physical Activity, Seventh Edition With HKPropel Access, stimulates curiosity about the vast field of kinesiology and generates awareness of the long-standing and current issues that kinesiology professionals seek to understand and solve. This engaging, full-color introductory text offers students a comprehensive overview of the field of kinesiology and explores major subdisciplinary fields of study, common career paths, and emerging ideas that are part of this dynamic and expanding discipline.
The seventh edition includes refreshed opening scenarios and photos, and it integrates the latest research results. This updated edition explores current topics such as the payment of college student athletes, issues in equitable services, competition, and emerging professions in high-performance sport. Hot Topic sidebars—new to this edition—highlight trending areas of kinesiology research in each subdiscipline. Related online learning tools delivered through HKPropel offer interactive opportunities for students to engage with and better understand the content.
Introduction to Kinesiology, Seventh Edition, features a three-section structure that has always been a strength of this leading introductory textbook. Pedagogical aids such as chapter objectives, opening scenarios, key terms, key points, review questions, suggested readings, and wrap-ups help students reinforce key knowledge.
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Part I examines the diversity of physical activity and kinesiology and summarizes the importance of knowledge gained through physical activity experiences.
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Part II delves into the seven major subdisciplines of kinesiology, with an overview of major historical events, research methods, professional work and application, and ideas for career advancement in each.
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Part III elaborates on professionalism, evidence-based practice, and five major areas of career opportunities.
Related online learning activities delivered through HKPropel include interactive Check Your Understanding activities, practice scenarios with questions, Explore the Topic activities, Kinesiology Colleagues online reflections, flash cards, key term quizzes, and key point reviews. Most of the activities can be assigned, and progress tracked, directly through HKPropel. Chapter quizzes, which are automatically graded, can also be assigned to test comprehension of critical concepts.
Introduction to Kinesiology provides essential knowledge for students embarking on their study of kinesiology and the science of sport and exercise. The updated seventh edition sets them up for success in major courses and a future career.
Note: A code for accessing HKPropel is included with this ebook.
Audience
Students taking introductory undergraduate courses or foundations courses in kinesiology, sports and exercise science, or health and human performance at colleges, universities, and community colleges (traditional and online).
Part I. Kinesiology and Physical Activity Experience
Chapter 1. Introduction to Kinesiology
Duane V. Knudson and Timothy A. Brusseau
Interest in the Discipline of Kinesiology
Physical Activity: The Focus of Kinesiology
Some Focuses of Physical Activity in Kinesiology
Kinesiology and Evidence-Based Practice
Wrap-Up
Chapter 2. Importance of the Physical Activity Experience
Timothy A. Brusseau and Duane V. Knudson
Sphere of Self-Sufficiency
Sphere of Self-Expression
Sphere of Work
Sphere of Education
Sphere of Leisure
Sphere of Health
Sphere of Competition
Factors That Influence Kinds of Experience in Physical Activity
Ways in Which Experience Can Affect Physical Activity
Heredity and Experience
Subjective Experience of Physical Activity
Wrap-Up
Part II. Scholarly Study of Physical Activity
Chapter 3. Philosophy of Physical Activity
Cesar R. Torres and Scott Kretchmar
Why Use Philosophical Thinking?
What Do Philosophers Do?
Research Methods Used in Studying Philosophy of Physical Activity
History and Future of Philosophy of Physical Activity
Overview of Knowledge in Philosophy of Physical Activity
Wrap-Up
Chapter 4. History of Physical Activity
Lindsay Parks Pieper
Why Use History of Physical Activity?
What Do Historians of Physical Activity Do?
History of Kinesiology and Physical Activity
Research Methods Used in Studying History of Physical Activity
Overview of Knowledge in History of Physical Activity
Wrap-Up
Chapter 5. Sociology of Physical Activity
Michael D. Giardina
Why 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 Activity
Overview of Knowledge in Sociology of Physical Activity
Wrap-Up
Chapter 6. Motor Behavior
Xiangli Gu and Katherine T. Thomas
Why Use Motor Behavior?
What Do Motor Behaviorists Do?
History of Motor Behavior
Research Methods Used in Studying Motor Behavior
Overview of Knowledge in Motor Behavior
Wrap-Up
Chapter 7. Psychology of Physical Activity
Lindsay E. Kipp
Why Use Psychology of Physical Activity?
What Do Psychology of Physical Activity Professionals Do?
History of Psychology of Physical Activity
Research Methods Used in Studying Psychology of Physical Activity
Overview of Knowledge in Psychology of Physical Activity
Wrap-Up
Chapter 8. Biomechanics of Physical Activity
Brad Bowser and Kathy Simpson
Why Use Biomechanics of Physical Activity?
What Do Biomechanists Do?
History of Biomechanics
Research Methods Used in Studying Biomechanics
Overview of Knowledge in Biomechanics
Wrap-Up
Chapter 9. Physiology of Physical Activity
Jennifer L. Caputo
Why Use Physiology of Physical Activity?
What Do Exercise Physiologists Do?
History of Physiology of Physical Activity
Research Methods Used in Studying Physiology of Physical Activity
Overview of Knowledge in Physiology of Physical Activity
Wrap-Up
Part III. Practicing a Profession in Physical Activity
Chapter 10. Becoming a Physical Activity Professional
Duane V. Knudson and Timothy A. Brusseau
What 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 Profession
Wrap-Up
Chapter 11. Careers in Health and Fitness
Warren D. Franke
The Need for Health and Fitness Professionals
Settings for Health and Fitness
Roles for Health and Fitness Professionals
Trends and Opportunities in Health and Fitness
Advice for Health and Fitness Students
Wrap-Up
Chapter 12. Careers in Medicine and Allied Health
Chad Starkey and Julie Cavallario
The Diagnostic Process
Integrating Exercise Into Medicine and Allied Health
Medical and Allied Health Settings
Roles for Medical and Allied Health Professionals
Trends and Opportunities in Medicine and Allied Health
Advice for Students Interested in Medicine and Allied Health
Wrap-Up
Chapter 13. Careers in Teaching Physical Education
Michael A. Hemphill, Kim C. Graber, and Thomas J. Templin
What Is the Teaching of Physical Education?
Settings for Teaching Physical Education
Roles for Physical Education Professionals
Trends and Opportunities in Teaching Physical Education
Advice for Physical Education Students
Wrap-Up
Chapter 14. Careers in Coaching, Sport Instruction, and High-Performance Sport
Joseph A. Luxbacher and Duane V. Knudson
What Are Coaching, Sport Instruction, and Sport Performance Teams?
Settings for Coaching, Sport Instruction, and High-Performance Sport
Roles for Coaching, Sport Instruction, and High-Performance Sport Professionals
Trends and Opportunities in Coaching, Sport Instruction, and High-Performance Sport
Advice for Students Interested in Coaching, Sport Instruction, and High-Performance Sport
Wrap-Up
Chapter 15. Careers in Sport Management
G. Clayton Stoldt and Mark C. Vermillion
What Is Sport Management?
Settings for Sport Management
Roles for Sport Management Professionals
Trends and Opportunities in Sport Management
Advice for Sport Management Students
Wrap-Up
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).
All ancillaries are free to adopting instructors through HKPropel.
Instructor guide. Includes information about how to use the various ancillaries; a syllabus; and chapter-by-chapter files that include chapter outlines with key points, additional student assignments, ideas for additional teaching topics and guest speakers, resources, and answers to the in-text review questions.
Test package. Contains more than 400 questions in true-false, fill-in-the-blank, essay and short-answer, and multiple-choice formats. The files may be downloaded for integration with a learning management system or printed for use as paper-based tests. Instructors may also create their own customized quizzes or tests from the test bank questions to assign to students directly through HKPropel. Multiple-choice and true-false questions are automatically graded, and instructors can review student scores in the platform.
Chapter quizzes. Contains ready-made quizzes (10 questions each) to assess student comprehension of the most important concepts in each chapter. Each quiz may be downloaded or assigned to students directly through HKPropel. The chapter assessments are automatically graded, and instructors can review student scores in the platform.
Presentation package. Features more than 300 PowerPoint slides of text, artwork, and tables from the book that can be used for class discussion and presentation. The slides in the presentation package can be used directly within PowerPoint or printed to make handouts for students. Instructors can easily add, modify, and rearrange the order of the slides.
Image bank. Includes most of the figures, content photos, and tables from the text, sorted by chapter. These can be used in developing a customized presentation based on specific course requirements.
Instructors also receive access to all student materials in HKPropel. For Introduction to Kinesiology, Seventh Edition, this includes interactive Check Your Understanding activities, scenarios with questions, Explore the Topic activities, Kinesiology Colleagues online reflections, flash cards, key term quizzes, and key point reviews.
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