Hot Topic | Being Outside Makes You Feel Better
Nature as a therapeutic intervention is a practice that dates back centuries but has only recently gained empirical legitimacy. From Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) in Japan to green exercise initiatives in urban areas of the United States and Europe, nature-based approaches to health are gaining traction. Mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, and stress-related conditions, are […]
New Exercise Guidelines for Older Cancer Survivors: Meeting the Needs of a Rapidly Growing Population
By 2040, most cancer survivors in the U.S. will be over the age of 65. Many will survive for five or more years, which means that they will be living with the combined threats of aging and cancer well past their initial diagnosis. Cancer and its treatments can accelerate typical aging, hastening the decline toward […]
Hot Topic | Autism and Exercise Participation
Exercise is one of the most effective tools for improving physical and mental health, yet autistic individuals remain one of the most underserved populations in physical activity settings. Autism is a neurodevelopmental disorder that includes deficits in sensory and communication skills, and restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and/or activities. Despite the well-established benefits of […]
New ACSM Expert Consensus Statement: Exercise is a Supportive Care Measure for Children and Adolescents with Cancer
New ACSM Expert Consensus Statement provides the first evidence-based exercise guidance for children and adolescents with cancer, finding that appropriately prescribed exercise is safe and can improve strength, physical function and recovery during and after treatment.
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 […]
Active Voice | Orthostatic Hypotension in Athletes with Spinal Cord Injury
Many perceive paralysis as the most devastating consequence of spinal cord injury (SCI). Yet, among athletes with SCI, autonomic dysfunctions, including impaired blood pressure (BP) control, are also critical, invisible health concerns that can impair cognition, daily activities, and athletic performance. In able-bodied individuals, when moving from lying down to sitting or standing, the autonomic […]
Science Spotlight | ACSM Endorses CSEP Postpartum Guidelines
In March 2025, new evidence-based guidelines for physical activity, sedentary behavior and sleep throughout the first year postpartum were released by the Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP) and endorsed by the American College of Sports Medicine® (ACSM). The guidelines are intended for women and people, health care providers and exercise professionals on physical activity, […]
Supporting Physical Activity Initiatives in Rural Communities
Rural-dwelling individuals have higher rates of physical inactivity and chronic diseases — as well as lower life expectancies and poorer health outcomes — than those living in urban areas. The implementation of physical activity interventions should be encouraged in such communities to improve health and reduce disease risk. However, there are multiple considerations unique to […]
Pregnancy, 24-Hour Physical Activity Behavior and Infant Growth
Physical activity during pregnancy is recommended for its many benefits for both mother and fetus, including reducing the risk of pregnancy complications, perinatal depression and risk factors for childhood obesity, such as high birthweight. Many people of reproductive age are not active, and pregnancy can be a motivating time to start physical activity. Fortunately, current guidelines […]
“Sex Differences in Athletic Performance: Perspectives on Transgender Athletes”: ESSR 2023 Paper of the Year in the University Classroom
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)’s journal, Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews (ESSR), awarded the “2023 Paper of the Year” designation to Sex Differences in Athletic Performance: Perspectives on Transgender Athletes (Volume 51, July 2023), collaborated on by authors Natalie J. Nokoff, Jonathan Senefeld, Csilla Krausz, Sandra Hunter, and Michael Joyner. The manuscript provides an overview of sex-based […]
