Category: News

ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal® September – October 2024 CEC Course #5: Emerging Health Technologies: Opportunities and Practical Applications for the Exercise Professional

1 CEC

By Brian Biagioli, Ed.D.; Graham Melstrand; and Rick Howard, DSc, CSCS, RSCC, FNSCA

Summary:

Rapid advances in health technology offer great potential for accelerating the integration of exercise into healthcare, but what do qualified exercise professionals need to know, and how could they implement these technologies into their practice? This article highlights the challenges that new technologies could help to overcome, combined with practical tips for exercise professionals seeking to harness these innovations.

ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal® September – October 2024 CEC Course #4: Making Exercise as Medicine a Clinical Reality: Program Development and Implementation

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By Karen Y. Wonders, Ph.D., FACSM; Barry Franklin, Ph.D., FACSM, ACSM-CEP; and Sheryl Brown, PT, MSPT

Summary:

To bridge the gap between the fitness community and individuals living with chronic diseases, it is crucial to emphasize the transformative power of structured exercise as a cornerstone of effective disease management. By fostering collaborative partnerships between healthcare professionals and clients, we can empower individuals to embrace tailored exercise programs as integral components of their holistic treatment plans. Through education, support, and personalized guidance, we can cultivate a shared understanding of the profound impact that regular physical activity can have on improving health outcomes and enhancing overall well-being in those living with chronic conditions.

ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal® September – October 2024 CEC Course #3: Developing Trusted Collaborative Relationships between Healthcare Providers and Exercise Professionals

1 CEC

By Amy Bantham, DrPH, MS, MPP; Jeff Young, MS, CSCS, EIM; and Matthew Kampert, DO, MS, ACSM-CEP

Summary:

This feature article examines how to bridge the gap between healthcare professionals and exercise professionals with the ultimate goal of creating seamless, effective, and mutually beneficial relationships to improve the health of patients and clients served by these professionals. It compares a traditional approach to exercise referrals with a digital approach, using the Cleveland Clinic BRIDGE-PROJECT as a case study. It provides a three-step process for exercise professionals to receive referrals, including 1) reviewing information from the referral source on the exercise prescription form, 2) performing a baseline screen and assessment, and 3) performing a follow-up assessment and returning a progress report to the referral source. It shares additional information and support for building a referral network tailored specifically to exercise professionals not working in a clinical setting. It recognizes that the development of trusted collaborative relationships is an ongoing process that requires clear communication, shared educational efforts, evidence-based practice, and a mutual understanding of each party’s expertise and constraints.

ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal® September – October 2024 CEC Course #2: The Role of Programmatic Accreditation, Certification, and Career Advancement

1 CEC

By Ben Thompson, Ph.D., FACSM, ACSM-EP; Laura A. Richardson, Ph.D., ACSM-CEP, FACSM, FCEPA; and Francis Neric, M.S., MBA

Summary:

In recent years, the exercise profession has been actively pursuing recognition as allied health professionals through the establishment of job-specific standards for programmatic accreditation, providing professional certification and credentialing, creating a professional registry (United States Registry of Exercise Professionals [USREPS]), and providing continuing professional development. The purpose of this article is to outline the pathway that the exercise profession must follow to establish a professional identity. The first step is requiring programmatic accreditation with a competency-based curriculum for students. The second step is providing board certification for students upon completion of an accredited program. The final step is to provide career advancement through continuing education. Following this path will aid in establishing a professional identity and help the underutilized and under-recognized exercise professional become the qualified exercise professional or qualified health care professional.

ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal® September – October 2024 CEC Course #1: Harmonizing Health and Fitness with Healthcare Through the US Registry of Exercise Professionals

1 CEC

By Brian Biagioli, Ed.D.; Graham Melstrand; and Rick Howard, DSc, CSCS, RSCC, FNSCA

Summary:

There has never been more opportunity for exercise professionals to become an enabled part of healthcare through both preventative and therapeutic care models. The development of the United States Registry of Exercise Professionals (USREPS) has created a utility for the verification of qualified professionals who meet competency standards for recognition in the health system aligned with the HL7 Physical Activity Implementation Guide.

4 CECs

Sponsored by: Technogym

Course description: 

This course is designed for health professionals seeking to understand the basic physiology behind resistance training. This basic knowledge is then applied to training methodology, including practical examples of both equipment-based and bodyweight tools and exercises. Additionally, this course covers the benefits of resistance training in subjects with chronic conditions such as diabetes, obesity, hypertension and cancer.

Learning objectives:

Design personalized resistance training programs tailored to individuals with chronic conditions, incorporating appropriate modifications and safety considerations, and demonstrate the ability to guide clients through a sample resistance training session while monitoring and adjusting exercises based on individual needs and health status.

Explain the physiological principles underlying muscle adaptation to resistance exercise.

Apply learning principles and instructional design techniques to develop training sessions.

Industry Presented Webinar: An Update on Caffeine and Exercise Performance 

1 CEC

Sponsored by: Gatorade Sports Science Institute

Description

We’ve long known that caffeine has a positive effect on exercise, but it’s important to understand the details. For one, did you know that low doses (~200 mg) improve performance as much as higher ones? Learn about new areas of caffeine research, including mouth rinsing, alternative forms of delivery (e.g., gum, energy drinks, aerosols) and genetic diversity in caffeine response.

Learning Objectives 

After participation, the attendee should understand that:

Your genetics have some effect on your response to caffeine.

Caffeine improves exercise performance in a large number of exercise and sporting situations;

Caffeine’s ergogenic effect is mediated through interaction with the central and peripheral nervous systems;

Caffeine may be taken in many doses and in many forms (e.g., coffee, tablets, gum, mouth rinse) and works for men and women; and

A Strong Approach for Overcoming the FoRE: Fear of Resistance Exercise

1 CEC

By Avery D. Faigenbaum, Ed.D., FACSM; Danielle Kamis, M.D.; and Tamara Rial Rebullido, Ph.D. 

Fear of resistance exercise (FoRE) can cause those who would most benefit from it to abstain, get even weaker and suffer the inevitable consequences of muscle disuse and dysfunction.  To overcome FoRE, we need to make use of education, guidance, exposure and support. This multifaceted course will teach you how to encourage, promote and sustain participation in resistance exercise.  

1 CEC

By Renee J. Rogers, Ph.D., FACSM 

As the use of (and media attention on) anti-obesity medications (AOMs) increases, fitness professionals need to stay on top of current AOM research, learn about the effectiveness of approved AOMs, and keep an eye on those still in development.  This includes understanding indications for the use of AOMs and how they can contribute to holistic client care. These highly effective agents are considered “life-changers” for patients with chronic obesity, and exercise professionals have an opportunity to reframe programming with such medications in mind.