<h1><span style="font-weight: 400;">Introduction </span></h1>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Working in the field of biomechanics has historically required extremely high level degree training. Yet the basic principles of intrinsic biomechanics can be simple to learn, and in particular to apply, for a movement practitioner without ever going to university or doing a degree.</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The subject matters within the science of human movement (</span><a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/what-is-biomechanics/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">biomechanics</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;">) means that by definition anyone who works with human bodies would benefit from a deeper understanding of biomechanics and in particular, intrinsic biomechanics. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Jobs could range from becoming a </span><a href="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/what-is-a-biomechanics-coach/"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Biomechanics Coach</span></a><span style="font-weight: 400;"> to working in athletic performance, becoming a researcher, performing gait analysis, specialising in sports biomechanics or becoming a qualified biomechanist. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Modern equipment &amp; teaching styles can make learning about biomechanics more accessible &amp; fun. There are also many different routes into careers that require biomechanical knowledge &amp; yet the earning potential is quite broad </span>

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<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Examples of world leaders in biomechanics are:</span></h2>
<a href="https://www.backfitpro.com/books/back-mechanic-the-mcgill-method-to-fix-back-pain/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;"><img class="size-medium wp-image-33781 aligncenter" src="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/world-leaders-in-biomechanics--300x126.png" alt="" width="300" height="126" />Stewart McGill, spine biomechanics expert. </span></a>

<a href="https://www.nutritiousmovement.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Katy Bowman, biomechanist. </span></a>

<a href="https://www.brytespark.com/" target="_blank" rel="noopener"><span style="font-weight: 400;">Martin Haines, Biomechanics Coach &amp; chartered physio. </span></a>

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<h1><span style="font-weight: 400;">Industries where skills in biomechanics are useful</span></h1>
<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Health &amp; fitness sector </span></h2>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">Within the health &amp; fitness sector any practitioner who has a good understanding of anatomy &amp; biomechanics will certainly stand out. The impact this skill set has already been having on our sector is that we are closing the gap between us &amp; our clinically trained peers (GP’s,physiotherapists, osteopaths, chiropractors). The reason for this is any exercise practitioner that can fully understand, appreciate and communicate their understanding of intrinsic biomechanics poses a reduced risk along with the specialist skills that can help clients with recurring issues or modern ailments. </span>

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<img class="size-medium wp-image-33782 aligncenter" src="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/shutterstock_1846292467-300x200.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="200" />

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<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Biomechanics Coach </span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">The health, fitness and exercise sector is showing huge demand for practitioners who are skilled in understanding intrinsic biomechanics. This is the perfect place for personal trainers, pilates &amp; yoga teachers, strength &amp; conditioning coaches to reduce risk and optimise performance for their clients by training in the skills of Biomechanics Coaching for example. The skill set also allows for truly personal programming based on their ability to fully assess every joint and structure within each client.</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Biomechanics Coaches typically charge 2-3 x more than personal trainers from the day to day running of their services. They also find they are more trusted &amp; sought out by clinicians due to their specialism in identifying causes of modern ailments. </span>

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<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Personal trainers</span></h3>
<span style="font-weight: 400;">While their main role may well remain that of a personal trainer the skills of Biomechanics Coaching will really enhance their ability to assess risk of injury in their clients. They will also better understand how to create bespoke training programmes for improving performance. Alongside these advanced skills they will know how to communicate with clinicians, allied healthcare professionals, how &amp; when to refer tricky or symptomatic clients, while also knowing how to manage their programme if they have been referred back but still experience pain or recurring injuries.</span>

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<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Pilates &amp; Yoga teachers </span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">During both one to one &amp; group pilates or yoga sessions the skills in understanding intrinsic biomechanics are particularly helpful due to many participants in these classes attending in the Hope of resolving their physical ailments or movement limitations. Should the pilates/yoga teacher have a good understanding of intrinsic biomechanics they will have confidence in which postures or positions are best for an individual. They will also have unique intervention techniques they can deliver &amp; prescribe in any environment. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">£20-30k</span>

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<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Specialist Sports Coaching Sector </span></h2>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Within the sports coaching sector it is paramount the coach has a good understanding of biomechanics and in particular intrinsic biomechanics. The reason for this is the 2 priorities for any athletes are optimisation of their performance level along with reduction of risk of injury. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Sports coaches with a good biomechanical knowledge are certainly the most impactful and in demand coaches for this reason. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Sport has become more and more popular for youngsters but also as the alternative for adults who do not enjoy being in the gym environment. The impact of this on sports coaching means gaining clients becomes harder as the competition is stronger. This is why anybody wanting to work as a coach in sport should seriously consider training specifically in intrinsic biomechanics. </span>

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<img class="size-medium wp-image-33788 aligncenter" src="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/shutterstock_496233847-300x169.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="169" />

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Strength &amp; Conditioning trainers/ Coaches</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Understanding biomechanical principles are a must have for any strength &amp; conditioning trainer/coach. The ability to better interpret angles and forces during lifts like the snatch, clean &amp; jerk is vital when coaching an athlete into the optimal position for that lift. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">They also require an appreciation of joint biomechanics during the force production of a track athlete propelling themselves forwards when speed &amp; performance training during sprinting or upwards during a high jump for example. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Being able to evaluate the biomechanics of each individual athlete allows the coach to strengthen them with specificity to their performance level &amp; sport.</span>

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<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Equine Biomechanics </span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">There are specific sporting activities where the term ‘biomechanics’ is more commonly used, horse riding is one of them. Historically equine sport has been mainly focused on understanding and improving the horses biomechanics &amp; well being. However recent trends are now encouraging riding instructors to gain skills in human biomechanics to really enhance their service provision. With Biomechanics Coaching skills they have the ability to recognise that a rider could have pelvic dysfunction presenting as a functional leg length discrepancy that can cause the horse to lean or pull in one direction due to the added pressure through one side of the saddle. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Rider coaches and equine professionals are recognising the value of becoming a Biomechanics Coach as it teaches them how to assess for an issue like this and also address it with simple exercises.</span>

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<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Golf Coach</span></h3>
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Other popular sports that really appreciate the benefit of understanding biomechanics are golf coaches. The swing of a golf club heavily relies on great biomechanical set up in the player. The corkscrew effect requires taking the club back behind the body through thoracic and hip rotation, with shoulders moving around the upper body.

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Next the unleashing through the rotation starting in the legs and hips as they drive forwards above the lower limbs, unwinding the spine &amp; allowing the club to ‘swing’ through to whip the ball with enough hand eye coordination to hit the ball perfectly in order to travel hundreds of yards down the fairway &amp; hopefully into a tiny hole in the ground. They clearly must practise for many many hours to gain the quality of force production and precision of biomechanics required for this kind of accuracy.</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The biggest challenge in this particular sport is the sporting injuries that can result. The repeated strengthening of asymmetry is really purely for the sport &amp; not great for healthy natural biomechanics. All players will prefer to play in one direction with their swing. The ‘conditioning’ of the spine, hips &amp; shoulders to produce force, motion &amp; synchronicity in just one direction takes its toll over time if not addressed. Overtime they will often report injuries or asymmetries that in day to day life cause problems like back pain, knee pain or neck pain.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">This is where being able to understand the golf player's intrinsic biomechanics gives the coach the advantage.</span>

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<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Running coach</span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Running or jogging is one of the most popular sporting activities there is due to its low cost &amp; easy access with a camaraderie that becomes addictive to many keen runners. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">However, like all sports, running comes with common sporting injuries. So any running coach with a good understanding of lower limb &amp; foot biomechanics will have the edge when seeking optimisation of their runners biomechanical performance &amp; speed performance training.</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The biomechanical analysis of running can identify both extrinsic &amp; intrinsic influence. These offer different routes for intervention with a common &amp; controversial debate being the way the foot strikes tye floor.</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The evidence for &amp; against forefoot v’s rear foot striking is quite conflicting so a running coach who is trained in intrinsic biomechanics would have the ability to decide which foot strike their runner should use.</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Having a good understanding of foot &amp; ankle biomechanics also allows running coaches to advise when a podiatrist may be required or offer guidance on footwear. </span>

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<h2><span style="font-weight: 400;">Clinical research sector </span></h2>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Within the clinical research world the impact of understanding biomechanics means researchers can use human body science (biomechanics) to prove or disprove certain elements of clinical practice. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">In fact when any practitioner is learning about biomechanics the evidence based models will more often than not be from clinical studies. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">The evidence and research behind the intrinsic biomechanics programmes is predominantly from clinical research. </span>

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<img class="size-medium wp-image-33790 aligncenter" src="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/shutterstock_286003427-300x182.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="182" />
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<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Biomechanist</span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">To be a Biomechanist individuals would require at the very least a degree level of training in this field. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Katy Bowman is a well known &amp; respected Canadian Biomechanist. Her research into the application of engineering principles applied to human bones (levers) &amp; myofascial (pulleys) systems is documented in her books. </span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Prosthetists &amp; Orthotists use biomechanical principles in their line of work but may not be a biomechanist. </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">(Average £30k)</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">In fact an understanding of biomechanics is used in application in many ‘body worker’ roles but rarely is the term ‘biomechanics’ used in their professional title. </span>

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<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Sports physiotherapist</span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Sports physios who specialise in sports injuries will require a good understanding of biomechanical principles to rehabilitate &amp; reduce risk of their athletes. An understanding of common sporting injuries can really help their specific choices of treatment &amp; exercises.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">(Upwards of £35k)</span>

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<h3><b>Podiatry</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Professionals who analyse gait with the use of expensive video equipment also require a high level of biomechanical knowledge. Podiatrists or foot specialists are experts in the extrinsic analysis of gait, foot biomechanics &amp; the influence of footwear on foot biomechanics. This can also include interventions like orthotics, they may prescribe to improve the gait cycle, force production &amp; dynamic foot biomechanics </span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">(£25-35k)</span>

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<h3><span style="font-weight: 400;">Ergonomist</span></h3>
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<span style="font-weight: 400;">This</span> <span style="font-weight: 400;">is safety &amp; efficiency of equipment &amp; transport so a professional in this field would require a strong understanding of human biomechanics in relation to the surroundings.</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">(Earning potential £25-75k)</span>

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<h1><b>Conclusion</b><span style="font-weight: 400;"> </span></h1>
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<img class="size-medium wp-image-33785 aligncenter" src="https://www.biomechanicseducation.com/wp-content/uploads/2022/09/shutterstock_1054776068-300x118.jpg" alt="" width="300" height="118" />

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Jobs in biomechanics are often assumed to be solely in fields like speed performance training, sports injuries &amp; using modern expensive equipment like video or gait analysis. However as we have discussed here it is clear there are many different routes that can be taken &amp; with huge scope for earning potential.</span>

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<span style="font-weight: 400;">Would you like to learn more about creating a career in intrinsic biomechanics?</span>

<span style="font-weight: 400;">Why not get in touch <a href="tel:%EF%BB%BF02038416151">020 3841 6151</a></span>

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