Hot Topic | How Many Steps Do You Really Need?

Mother and daughter talking and walking through the public park

If you own a smartphone or wearable device, chances are you already track your daily steps. Step counting has become one of the most popular ways people monitor their physical activity, and for good reason, steps are simple, intuitive, and easy to track throughout the day. But how many daily steps are actually associated with […]

Science Spotlight | April 2026 Highlights

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ACSM’s From Around the Field Science Webinar Series Open to Students ACSM’s From Around the Field Science webinar series is designed to provide ACSM students and members with an opportunity to learn about the diverse science our members conduct. Join us for informal discussions with our ACSM members to hear more about what they study, the […]

Active Voice | Midlife Physical Activity and Heart Failure Prevention

Heart failure does not develop overnight. Rather, it is a disease that can progress over several decades; long before symptoms are apparent to the individual or their physician. During later, clinical stages of heart failure, it can be very difficult for the individual to be physically active at any level. While clinical heart failure is […]

Hot Topic | Physiological Assessments Using Muscle Near-Infrared Spectroscopy (mNIRS)

What is muscle near-infrared spectroscopy (mNIRS)? Muscle near-infrared spectroscopy (mNIRS) is a non-invasive technique that can be used to measure the changes in blood volume and oxygenation responses within the smaller diameter blood vessels in skeletal muscle. This is possible because near infrared light (~700-900 nm) emitted into biological tissues can help determine the oxygenation […]

Science Spotlight | ACSM Releases New Position Stand on Resistance Training

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ACSM is pleased to announce the publication of a new position stand titled: Resistance Training Prescription for Muscle Function, Hypertrophy, and Physical Performance in Healthy Adults: An Overview of Reviews. The paper will be published in the April 2026 issue of Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise and chaired by Stuart M. Phillips, PhD […]

Active Voice | Central + Peripheral Stimulation for Chronic Knee Osteoarthritis Pain

Roughly 645 million people suffer globally from knee osteoarthritis (KOA), ranking it among the most prominent disability causes. KOA prevalence increases with age, affecting approximately 10% of men and 13% of women over the age of 60. Pain is the primary symptom and prompts medical care, likely impairing functional mobility. First-line pain meds like nonsteroidal […]

Science Spotlight | March 2026 Highlights

person walking, data, steps

ACSM From Around the Field Science Webinar Series Open to Students ACSM’s From Around the Field Science webinar series is designed to provide ACSM students and members with an opportunity to learn about the diverse science our members conduct. Join us for informal discussions with our ACSM members to hear more about what they study, […]

Industry Presented Webinar Q&A | The Endurance Athlete: Opportunities and Limits 

Presented by: Miss the webinar? Access it here along with the opportunity for 1 CEC. Questions answered by: SW: Shawn Wierick, MS, MBAPhD Student in Exercise Science, University of Arkansas  WCA: Whitley Atkins, Ph.D.  Assistant Professor of Exercise Science, University of New Mexico  What is the most efficient way to train an endurance athlete 3 months prior to […]

Science Spotlight | Apply for the SILC Basic Science Travel Award

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Call for applicants: Basic Science research travel award to the ACSM Annual Meeting   Now is the time for undergraduate, graduate, and medical students enrolled in full-time programs to apply for the 2026 Science Integration & Leadership Committee (SILC) Basic Science Award. The SILC Basic Science Award recognizes excellence in student research in basic science and […]

Hot Topic | Are Weighted Vests Worth the Hype?

Weighted vest use has garnered wide-spread popularity, with many internet influencers and social media proponents promoting health and fitness claims. Given the gap between testimonials and systematic research, distinguishing facts from stories is essential. In this commentary, we address common questions regarding verifiable physiological outcomes from their use and provide advice fitness professionals can give […]

GSSI Pre-Conference

The Physiology of Hydration: More Than Water Alone

This session explores the physiology of hydration through an integrated lens—examining how carbohydrate, sodium, flavor, and fluid interact to influence intake, absorption, retention, and performance. We’ll review current research on fluid balance, osmotic drivers, and palatability, highlighting mechanisms that underpin voluntary intake and thermoregulation. Attendees will gain insight into individualized strategies, including sweat profiling and timing approaches, to optimize euhydration and mitigate performance decrements associated with >2% body-mass loss. Practical applications will be linked to laboratory- and field-based research, ensuring translation from bench to field. This pre-conference equips you with evidence-based tools to support athlete hydration across diverse environments and sporting contexts. 

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  • Session 1: Sweating the detail: New insights on hydration considerations for athlete performance
    • Lewis James, PhD, Associate Professor in Human Nutrition in the School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences at Loughborough University
  • Session 2: Functional ingredients in fluid replacement beverages for athletes
    • Lindsay Baker, PhD, Director at the Gatorade Sports Science Institute
  • Session 3: The hydration toolkit: Practical approaches to athlete support
    • Floris Wardenaar, PhD, Associate Professor at the College of Health Solutions at Arizona State University