Natural Health: Access to Nature Improves Mental Health, Physical Activity and Chronic Diseases
Have you ever wandered to a local park after a long day or a long week, taken a deep breath, and felt stress and tension leave your body? You are not alone. Just 20 minutes per day of exposure to natural environments decreases stress and improves cognitive function, blood pressure, mental health, physical activity and sleep. Chronic […]
10 Tips for Success on the ACSM-GEI Exam
A group exercise instructor is a fitness professional who safely teaches, leads and motivates individuals through intentionally designed exercise classes. Those who are ACSM Certified Group Exercise Instructors (ACSM-GEIs), provide safe and effective instruction across many class types, from dance fitness, to indoor cycling, to high-intensity interval training (HIIT) and everything in between. ACSM-GEIs come in […]
Importance of Including Translational Research in Your Syllabi
The phrase translational research has been used since about 1993. According to the National Institutes of Health (NIH), translational research has two parts: 1) using research conducted in the laboratory and pre-clinical studies to design trials in humans, and 2) ensuring that research is used to adopt best practices in the community. Regardless of the type […]
Physical Activity Guidelines Midcourse Report: A Q&A with Federal Lead Katrina Piercy, PhD, FACSM
Dr. Katrina Piercy, FACSM, is the director of the Division of Prevention Science within the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services’ (HHS) Office of Disease Prevention and Health Promotion (ODPHP), having taken on the role in January 2022. Piercy earned a Ph.D. in exercise physiology and nutrition from Virginia Tech (in the department now […]
Maximizing Pregnancy Health: The Role of EIM and Multidisciplinary Care
Pregnancy is one of the most complex periods in human life, and every year more research is published detailing how events experienced during gestation affect the future growth and development of the child. Epigenetic factors are particularly impactful during this time, and maternal lifestyle during pregnancy is of enormous importance. Thus, the current worldwide rates […]
The Pros and Cons of Hiring a Financial Advisor for Sports Medicine Professionals
Are you tired of feeling overwhelmed and stressed when it comes to your finances? You’re not alone. As a sports medicine professional, you’re no stranger to the ups and downs of the industry. Frequent injuries and hectic schedules can make your job incredibly demanding. Even stressful. But there’s one thing that shouldn’t keep you up […]
Eccentric Exercise as a Potent Prescription for Muscle Weakness after Joint Injury
Muscle weakness is difficult to treat after a traumatic joint injury as it stems from a multifaceted interplay of neurological and morphological processes that disrupt the muscle’s communication and regulation. Data from a large clinical database showed that four out of five patients who engage in anterior cruciate ligament rehabilitation (one of the most common therapeutic programs) […]
The 2022 Journal Impact Factor: Continuing Changes and the Lingering Effects of COVID-19
In this space last year, I provided some explanation of the Journal Impact Factor (JIF), the journal metric released annually by Clarivate Analytics as part of the Journal Citation Reports (JCR). This year provides an opportunity to address the changes that Clarivate have imposed over the past three years and how macrotrends in scientific publishing have […]
ACSM to Implement Mandatory First Aid Training for Certified Professionals in 2027
The American College of Sports Medicine’s (ACSM) certified professionals play a crucial role in ensuring the health and safety of their clients, extending beyond exercise routines. It is essential to provide immediate basic first aid care in certain situations to prevent the rapid deterioration of a client or patient’s condition and minimize the risk of […]
Play(grounds) for All: Inclusive Playgrounds and the Fitness Professional
For children, playgrounds offer numerous physical, social and cognitive benefits, including the development of motor skills, social skills, creativity and independence. These structures, defined as a designated play area that contains traditional play equipment linked together by paths, provide rich contexts for children to explore their social and physical environments. As a result, playgrounds offer […]