ACSM's guidelines for exercise testing and prescription 12e book header
ACSM's guidelines for exercise testing and prescription 12e book header
Book

The 12th edition of the Guidelines presents evidence-based standards with several new sections, including updates on sex differences, transgender and gender diverse individuals, spontaneous coronary artery dissection, postural orthostatic tachycardia syndrome, pediatric patients with cardiac conditions, metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease, and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome. Also, a section on respiratory muscle testing and training was added to the section on pulmonary disease as much evidence has shown clinically meaningful outcomes. Significant updates based on current evidence-based practices were made to Chapter 12 on Behavioral Theories and for the resistance training section in Chapter 5. Highlights of this edition include: 

  • Updated content reflects current ACSM guidance on best practices for exercise testing and prescription, based on changes in the field and advances in research. 
  • Expanded coverage on the application of exercise testing and prescription in applied settings, as well as updated coverage on behavioral theories and resistance training. 
  • Reader-friendly features include abbreviations and common acronyms listed up front; boxes, tables, and figures that highlight key concepts in quick-reference, easy-to-digest formats; case studies that reflect real-world experience; FITT tables that apply Frequency, Intensity, Time, and Type principles; and useful appendices on common medications, ECG interpretation tips, metabolic calculations, and more. 

Course Instructors: Submit your request to access instructor resources, which include PowerPoint lecture outlines, image banks and additional test banks. Instructors interested in adopting the new edition of this title can submit their request with the supporting instructor resources and ebook access request form. 

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Additional Resources:

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Learn More
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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