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 […]
Nation’s Capital Region Leads Fittest Cities in 2023 ACSM American Fitness Index® Ranking

Incidence of chronic disease — 6 in 10 face chronic conditions — calls for more exercise Indianapolis, IN (July 18, 2023) — Arlington, Virginia, and Washington, D.C., are the top cities in the 16th annual ACSM American Fitness Index® (Fitness Index) rankings published by the American College of Sports Medicine® (ACSM) and the Elevance Health […]
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 […]
First, You: Self-Care Strategies for Caregivers

Fitness professionals and medical professionals provide care to clients and patients everyday, as do the thousands of others caring for family members, friends and their communities. When you’re so focused on providing care for others, you may lose sight of caring for yourself.
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 […]
Alzheimer’s and Exercise: What Do We Know, and What Can We Do?

Author’s note: This blog post is based in large part upon “Alzheimer’s Disease and Physical Activity” published in ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal and authored by Barbara Bushman, ACSM, ACSM-CEP, ACSM-EP, ACSM-CPT, and Madison Pullen, ACSM-EP — a more in-depth piece for readers interested in the nexus of Alzheimer’s and exercise. Alzheimer’s disease is “an irreversible, progressive […]
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 […]