ACSM has published a new expert consensus statement that provides guidance on training staff and establishing emergency plans to prevent cardiovascular events at fitness facilities, community and hotel fitness facilities and sporting event venues.

The new statement aims to further reduce the rare cardiovascular complications of exercise while removing unnecessary barriers to widespread participation in an active lifestyle. This newer approach is based on:

• The increasingly recognized health benefits of even low levels of physical activity (PA)


• Cardiovascular events provoked by physical activity among healthy adults, and those with established cardiovascular disease, are rare.


• Some pre-exercise screening strategies present a barrier to PA because they often require additional medical testing for clearance


• Immediate assistance provided by nonmedical personnel—such as dialing 911, initiating bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) and using an automated external defibrillator (AED)—can greatly reduce the morbidity and mortality of acute cardiac events.

ACSM Expert Consensus Statements serve as official statements on topics of high importance to sports medicine and exercise science. Consensus statements blend research evidence and expert opinion to present a well-rounded summary of the topic.

View Published Consensus Statement

Read News Summary

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View Official ACSM Positions