Getting to Know the ACSM Foundation
The ACSM Foundation is organizationally structured as independent from ACSM but with the objective of supporting and advancing the mission and strategic plan of ACSM. To accomplish this goal, the foundation shepherds 25 funds, with a total value over $3.2 million. Over the past two years, the ACSM Foundation has updated all governance documents (bylaws and constitution) […]
Is Healthy Weight Gain in Athletes Realistic?
As a dietitian in the United States Army, many soldiers have sought nutritional advice from me with the goal of gaining muscle or bulking up before going to Ranger School. Many professional and recreational athletes likewise want to intentionally gain weight for reasons that include increased strength or power or being at a heavier body […]
Summertime and the 24-Hour Day: Get Teens Moving!
Everyone looks forward to the summer, especially teens. In the United States, this two- to three-month period is typically characterized by sleeping in, catching up on shows and taking part in assorted adventures. But today’s adventures may be different than those of the past. Just in case parents of today’s teens needed a reminder, we […]
Examining Running Speed after ACL Reconstruction
Following anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), athletes often exhibit altered knee biomechanics during running, such as reduced knee flexion angles and extensor moments of the surgical limb compared to the nonsurgical limb, healthy controls and the preinjury state. These altered biomechanics persist well beyond the standard course of rehabilitation and may impair athletic performance, increase […]
Does Cardiorespiratory Fitness Prevent Breast Cancer in Women?
Scientific evidence collected for seven decades strongly supports the position that higher cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) levels are associated with more favorable health outcomes, including mortality due to various cancers. Findings from several small population studies suggest that a physically active lifestyle offers protection against pre- and postmenopausal breast cancer. However, physical activity in these studies […]
This May, Actively Transport Yourself to Work and Play
May is Active Transportation Month, a time to get outside — an experience enhanced by walking, riding or rolling rather than driving a vehicle. The health benefits of incorporating physical activity into one’s daily routines, whether during our commute, running errands or simply for leisure, have been extensively reported. These benefits span across cardiovascular, metabolic, […]
Understanding the Energy Requirements of Paralympic Athletes
With the growing participation of athletes with disabilities in competitive sports, there is an increased need for specialized nutritional support tailored to their unique physiological differences. These athletes often exhibit distinct body compositions, metabolic rates, training loads and activity patterns compared to their peers without disabilities. Sports nutritionists, especially those working with Paralympic athletes, have […]
Exercise for Autism: An Important Piece of the Puzzle
“Our kids won’t want to do that; they don’t like to exercise.” When I first proposed an exercise program for autistic children at the Institute for Autism Research at Canisius University, that was a response I often heard. The reasons why autistic individuals won’t exercise are as varied as the individuals themselves: uninterested, difficulty moving, picked last […]
Visceral Fatness and “BrainAge”
There is little doubt that our brain changes as we age, with changes in structure that contribute to cognitive decline over time. However, the degree of change is highly variable across individuals in terms of its onset, rate and magnitude. How should we behave, and what should we change to ensure that our brains stay […]
Exercise Oncology: Ready for Prime Time
The field of exercise and cancer (exercise oncology) has a long history. In 1911, findings were published documenting that being more physically active was associated with lower risk of colon cancer. Throughout the 20th century, animal model experiments repeatedly showed that exercise slowed tumor growth. In the late 1980s, Winningham and MacVicar carried out the […]