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88 of 588 courses · National members receive member rates. Prices from the ACSM PathLMS catalog.
With rising obesity rates and continued decreases in physical activity, our society is faced with increasing burdens on the healthcare system. The "eat less, move more" advice given by many practitioners over the years is not addressing this issue. With so many factors at play, a new strategy…
Dance is a somatic, culturally embedded activity practiced worldwide. As both an art form and a physical activity, it integrates physical, emotional, cognitive, and social dimensions, making it well suited for studying their interconnectedness. Dance engagement supports motor coordination,…
The ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist® (ACSM-CEP) is recognized as eligible to sit for the Certified Diabetes Care and Education Specialist (CDCES) examination through the Certification Board for Diabetes Care and Education (CBDCE). As a CDCES, the ACSM-CEP can provide both…
Motivation states provide valuable information to exercisers and fitness professionals that can positively impact approaches that aim to create optimal physical activity experiences. This article-based course explores essential elements of momentary exercise motivation that impact physical…
Physical activity has many potential benefits during pregnancy and postpartum. To promote safety, physical activity programs should be individualized with recognition of conditions that may result in the need to modify physical activity recommendations. Evidence-based questionnaires designed for…
ACSM’s Worldwide Fitness Trends report provides an annual snapshot of emerging and sustained trends that inform professional practice, programming, and workforce development in the health and fitness industry. Based on a global survey of exercise professionals, the 2026 report highlights current…
Next to food and clothing, achieving personal and professional success is rated at the very top of the hierarchical order of human needs. Although field-specific or “hard skills” are important to ensure competency, it is the complementary “soft skills” that are typically not taught in the…
Physical inactivity has long been recognized as a global health concern, and its prevalence continues to rise with ongoing technological advancements. However, only recently have we begun to fully grasp the wide-ranging effects of inactivity, not only on overall health but also on the body's…
All exercise professionals are educators, whether that is in the classroom or working to educate clients and communities. Declines in engagement and attention spans of learners highlight the need for shaking up instructional practices. Active learning is a pedagogical skill that promotes…
Even though health and medical organizations recommend resistance exercise for females of all ages, participation rates remain low, contributing to health disparities and limiting opportunities for women to improve their physical health, mental well-being, and overall quality of life. By…
The exercise recommendations for patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) or end-stage renal disease ( ESRD ) are analogous to those for older adults and the management of comorbidities such as diabetes and hypertension. It is suggested that these recommendations be considered in light of each…
Certification establishes a solid foundation -- but it is the skills, experience, and specialized expertise beyond certification that help candidates rise above the rest in the applicant pool. Communication, special populations, technology, leadership, diversity awareness, and lifelong learning…
Exercise professionals should be prepared to write training plans that include traditional strength training (TST) and functional fitness training (FFT) as they ranked #7 and #10, respectively, on ACSM’s Top 20 Fitness Trends for 2026. If we evaluate their efficacy in isolation, it is…
Mobile exercise apps can be powerful tools for promoting behavior change in sedentary or insufficiently active individuals, but only when they incorporate well-established techniques from behavioral science and are built with users' needs in mind. Apps that include multiple behavior change…
Exercise professionals play an important role in understanding the physiological changes associated with aging that impact active older adults and master athletes’ nutrition needs for health, training, and recovery. There is limited research specific to older active adults and athletes, so it’s…
Power training in older adults has become more widely accepted. Although research studies specific to power training in older athletes are generally lacking, some overall principles of power training in older adults still apply. The exercise professional should focus on the needs analysis for…
There is a wide range of exercises that may be used to train power output in the older population; however, the prescribed exercises should follow an appropriate progression or regression based on the abilities of each individual. Research has moved beyond traditional strength development and…
As power training is known to be beneficial for counteracting the age-related declines in skeletal muscle mass, strength and function, exercise professionals can benefit their older adult clients through applying best practices in power training. These best practices include performing 1 to 4…
Multi-dimensional targeted power assessments can guide personalized interventions that will improve daily activities, reduce fall risks, and enhance cognitive function in older adults will be discussed. Power testing enables exercise professionals to establish baselines, track progress, and…
Muscle power is one of the first components of physical fitness to deteriorate with age. Muscle power appears to be more strongly associated with functional decline than muscle strength alone. Assessing muscle power is essential for establishing a baseline, setting realistic training goals, and…
There is a critical need for qualified exercise professionals who can create inclusive, adaptive, and evidence-based exercise programs for individuals with Autism spectrum disorder. The ACSM Autism Exercise Specialist Certificate provides the specialized knowledge and skills necessary to meet…
This course discusses strategies to promote LGBTQ+ inclusivity in fitness spaces may include staff diversity, gender-neutral facilities (e.g., bathroom, locker rooms), LGBTQ+-specific fitness classes, and zero-tolerance policies for discrimination. Successful implementation can promote health…
Participants in focus groups share what kind of fitness-related content they like seeing on social media, as well as types of content they would like to see. Exercise professionals can keep the ten suggestions highlighted in this course in mind when creating and sharing their expertise on social…
This course highlights the growing importance of exercise in cancer care, emphasizing its benefits in reducing treatment side effects, improving physical functioning, and enhancing overall survival rates. Despite the known advantages, the implementation of clinically-based exercise programs…
