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  • ACSM Participates in Move With US Physical Activity Symposium

    by Caitlin Kinser | Oct 15, 2024

    On Sept. 19, we were honored to represent ACSM at the Second Annual Physical Activity Alliance Symposium. We were among more than 100 representatives from 75+ organizations in attendance. The symposium was inspiring for many reasons, and we wanted to share some of that inspiration with the wider ACSM community. 

    The Physical Activity Alliance (PAA) is a collection of the leading health nonprofits in the United States. Formed in 2020, it is the nation’s largest coalition dedicated to advancing regular participation in physical activity and does so by using its collective voice to lead efforts that create, support and advocate for necessary policy and systems change. ACSM, a PAA member since the alliance’s inception, is one of 18 organizations on its board of trustees; ACSM’s collaborative contributions to the PAA are both directly related to ACSM’s mission and vision as well as a key part of our advocacy and outreach efforts. 

    At its core, the symposium was a gathering of people doing the hard work of making physical activity more accessible to and part of the day-to-day lives of all Americans. Aside from representatives of the various member orgs, officials from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention who oversee national efforts to increase physical activity were also present to help connect the dots. 

    Like you, those in attendance recognize the many contemporary challenges we face, and some of the day’s themes included: 

    • Higher than ever levels of inactivity in children, confirmed by the most recent U.S. Report Card on Physical Activity for Children
    • That the exercise profession is good at “getting the fit fitter/healthy healthier” but still are only at 15-20% of market penetration — recognizing exercise professionals as an integral part of the QHP team is critical
    • Funding barriers
    • Getting physical activity prescriptions and references to qualified exercise professionals (QEPs) as part of a standard of care
    • Military readiness of both current and future enlisted US armed services members
    • The role of technology and digital health and how this both closes and widens the gap
    • Inclusion and the disability community — “Nothing about us without us” 

    Meanwhile, the symposium’s several panels and sessions covered: 

    • “Changing the systems,” with a focus on education, health care, public health and the exercise professional
    • Pressing issues (e.g., anti-obesity medications, mental health, military readiness, physical activity disparities)
    • Leveraging trends toward 2028 (when the updated Physical Activity Guidelines for Americans will be released) — Active People, Healthy Nation; the PAA’s National Physical Activity Plan (NPAP), the Physical Activity Guidelines themselves; and Move Your Way®
    • Transforming culture — accessibility, rural areas, transportation & community design, and youth
    • Finding policy opportunities 

    Though we were ACSM’s official representatives, other members of the ACSM family were in attendance in other capacities. ACSM members onsite included Rafael Alamilla, MS; Amy Bantham, DrPH; Cedric Bryant, PhD, FACSM; Madison Crisler, MS, ACSM-CPT; David Flench, MBA, ACSM-EP, EIM; David Geslak, ACSM-EP; NiCole Keith, PhD, FACSM; Russ Pate, PhD, FACSM; Karin Pfeiffer, PhD, FACSM; Katrina Piercy, PhD, FACSM, ACSM-CPT, ACSM-CEP; Michael Stack, ACSM-EP, PAPHS, EIM. And ACSM VP of Governmental Affairs Monte Ward was also present. 

    The adage “Many hands make light work” was the rule of the day; members of the board and the more than 100 individuals representing 75 organizations present, all play an integral role in the PAA’s important efforts. But the ACSM community in particular ought to be proud not just of the number of its members in attendance at this important summit but the foundational work we are all doing in the areas of research, education, advocacy, Exercise is Medicine® and scientific publications. All of these topics came up repeatedly throughout the day, as did this special issue of ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal® about the professionalization of the exercise profession. 

    The many roles that members of the ACSM community perform are crucial pieces of the larger puzzle we are striving to assemble — movement for all. Thank you all for enabling ACSM to participate in such important advocacy and outreach effort. It was an honor to represent you at the PAA symposium. 

    Sincerely, 

    Carrie Jaworski, MD, FACSM 

    ACSM President-elect 

    Katie Feltman, CAE 

    ACSM Interim CEO/COO 

  • Clinical Highlights from Current Sports Medicine Reports | Q3 2024

    by Caitlin Kinser | Oct 15, 2024

    Quarterly Editor's picks with a headshot of Dr. Shawn Kane and the cover of Current Sports Medicine ReportsWelcome to the highlights and the review of the AWESOME material published over the last quarter in Current Sports Medicine Reports (CSMR). I’m going to do something a little different this quarter and highlight a couple invited commentaries, along with interesting case reports and section articles.

     

    Invited Commentaries

    The Cannabis Shift: How We Educate and Message is Key submitted by Jeff Konin, PhD, ATC, PT, FACSM. The times are changing, and our athletes deserve better from us is the message from Dr. Konin in this commentary. This invited commentary lays out an effective framework for how those caring for athletes need to frame and deliver the message. I was unable to attend but Dr. Konin spoke to our athletes here at the University of North Carolina-Chapel Hill and I can report that across the board from athletes to coaches to administrators his message was well received. 

    You can also read a blog post from Dr. Konin on his article here.

    Transgender Athlete Participation in Sport: Misplaced Fear and the Harms of Exclusion submitted by Robert S. Phillips, PT, DPT, PhD; Lee R. Ryder, PT, DPT and Ebony Jackson Clark, PT, DPT.  The last thing we need to do in this country and across the world is put up more barriers to physical activity, sport participation and inclusion. It is common knowledge that physical activity is good, no it’s great for a person’s health and well-being and it has a positive impact on multiple aspects of patients’ lives.  The same is true for sports participation on a team or as an individual. There is no reason to demonize, add to the exclusion and isolation of any subset of our population. The authors’ message comes from the viewpoint of physical therapists and translates across all medical specialties. 

     

    Case Reports

    Case reports are a great way to learn whether the write-up is about some rare, uncommon condition or just a different presentation of a common problem. I would like to highlight two not-to-be-missed cases from the past quarter:

    Hip Pain…Is It All in Your Head? submitted by Lammlein and Creech-Organ. This is very interesting case that highlights the need for a broad differential to help determine the true etiology of the problem and not just focus on the chief complaint. This is an interesting case of a 40-year-old women with a couple of chronic medical issues who was found to have bilateral  avascular necrosis of the femoral head. After the second joint replacement, the patient developed premature ovarian failure and endocrinology work up revealed a pituitary microadenoma. Upon resection a couple of her chronic medical issues resolved. It makes me wonder, if the hip replacements, at least the second one, could have been avoided.

    Exertional Compartment Syndrome in a Volleyball Player with Structural Abnormalities: A Case Report submitted by Wilson, Oca, Meller, Allen, and Strauss. Exertional compartment syndrome is a great example of one of those conditions that you should have in your differential diagnosis for exertional lower extremity pain. While it can be easy to diagnose based on pressure testing, the treatment can be challenging, and surgery is not a guarantee. This case highlights the importance of follow up, developing a plan, revising the plan based on what happens and, when the time is right, definitively treating. 

     

    Articles

    We also have some awesome articles that cover a variety of areas, and I would like to highlight three from the past quarter:

    Vigorous Exercise in Patients with Hypertrophic Cardiomyopathy submitted by Fox, Fox, Jacobsen, Blumenthal, and Barouch. I found this article so interesting as it changes the narrative around hypertrophic cardiomyopathy (HCM), a condition that impacts 1 in 200 to 500 patients. Speaking for myself, HCM has always been thought of as the cause of sudden cardiac death, a murmur that we all got asked about over and over but rarely heard about, not a condition that was managed in patients. The timing of this article was fortuitous as I now have HCM patients on my panel. The authors do a great job laying out an active management plan for HCM patients.

    Managing Pediatric Hip Pain Patients with Precision submitted by Knobloch, Kim, Babo, McCall and Covey. Pediatric hip pain can be incredibly challenging, and the differential includes infectious, metabolic and traumatic etiologies. This article is excellent, well-written and thorough and can help with the proper diagnosis and work up of a pediatric patient with hip pain. If you are involved in medical education, I would recommend using this article when teaching about the pediatric hip. 

    Contemporary Issue: Health and Safety of Female Wrestlers submitted by Jagim, Moschelli,  Woodroffe, Horswill, and Bloomfield. The sport of female wrestling is growing exponentially. This paper goes into the many challenges of keeping female wrestlers healthy. Determining the minimal wrestling weight and having a safe and effective plan to get there is essential for the health and safety of the wrestlers. 

    CSMR is ACSM’s official monthly clinical-review e-journal. Written specifically for physician and clinician members, CSMR articles provide thorough overviews of the most current sports medicine literature. ACSM physician members receive an online subscription to this journal as a member benefit.

    Shawn Kane headshot 2024Shawn F. Kane, MD, FACSM is a family physician, professor in the Department of Family Medicine, and adjunct assistant professor in the Department of Exercise and Sports Science at the University of North Carolina (UNC) Chapel Hill. He received his medical degree from the Uniformed Services University of the Health Sciences and served in the U.S. Army for 27 years. While in the Army he spent more than 18 years serving as a physician-leader in numerous units within the US Army Special Operations Command. He is interested in sports medicine, concussion care, veterans’ health, and primary care of patients with post-traumatic stress disorder. Dr. Kane joined ACSM in 2003 and became a fellow in 2011. He currently serves as the editor-in-chief for Current Sports Medicine Reports, on ACSM’s Clinical Sports Medicine Leadership Committee, ACSM’s Health & Fitness Summit Program Committee, and ACSM’s Program Committee. Outside of the office, Dr. Kane enjoys hanging out with his Leonbergers (big, furry, cute German Mountain dogs), as well as working out and traveling.

     

     

  • October Updates: Healthy People 2030, Federal Funding, Investing in an Healthier America, and New Obesity Maps

    by Caitlin Kinser | Oct 09, 2024
    October Advocacy Updates

    Healthy People 2030

    On September 30, 2024, the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) released a notice entitled, Announcement of Solicitation of Written Comments on Proposed Healthy People 2030 Objectives. HHS solicits written comments from the public on 12 new objectives proposed to be added to Healthy People 2030, and written comments from the public proposing additional new core, developmental, or research objectives or topics to be included in Healthy People 2030.

    Public comment informed the development of Healthy People 2030. HHS will provide opportunities for public input periodically throughout the decade to ensure Healthy People 2030 reflects current public health priorities and public input. The updated set of Healthy People 2030 objectives and topics will reflect further review and deliberation by federal Healthy People topic area workgroups, the Federal Interagency Workgroup on Healthy People 2030, and other federal subject matter experts.

     

    Congress Passes Continuing Resolution 

    The U.S. House of Representatives passed H.R. 9747, a continuing resolution (CR) to keep federal funding in place until December 20, 2024. The Senate quickly followed suit, passing the measure just hours later. None of the 12 appropriations bills for fiscal year (FY) 2025 had been enacted at that point, making the CR essential to prevent a government shutdown that would have started on October 1, 2024. 

    The resolution includes extensions for key health provisions. These include a delay in the reporting requirements and payment reductions for Medicare clinical laboratory tests, additional funding for the continued implementation of the No Surprises Act, and an extension of the FDA’s pediatric priority review voucher (PRV) program. Moreover, it gives the Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) access to its full FY 2025 funding—an urgent need with late-season storms affecting the U.S. mainland. 

    The House passed the CR with a vote of 341-82, while the Senate advanced it with a vote of 78-18. With both chambers of Congress now in recess until November 12, following the elections lawmakers are expected to reconvene for discussions on a significant omnibus spending package to finalize funding for the rest of FY 2025.The text of the CR is available here. 

     

    Congressional Hearing

    The September 18, 2024 hearing of the House Ways & Means Health Subcommittee, titled Investing in a Healthier America: Chronic Disease Prevention and Treatment, is highly relevant to members of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM). As experts in exercise science, sports medicine, and health promotion, ACSM members are dedicated to advancing the role of physical activity in preventing and managing chronic diseases—a key focus of this hearing. 

    The hearing featured testimony from prominent healthcare and policy leaders, such as former Senator Bill Frist and Dr. Mark Hyman, who are influential in shaping national strategies for chronic disease prevention and treatment. ACSM members know that conditions like diabetes, cardiovascular disease, and obesity can be significantly mitigated through regular physical activity, a cornerstone of ACSM’s advocacy efforts. This hearing aligns with ACSM's mission to integrate exercise into healthcare as an essential tool for managing chronic diseases, making it an important opportunity to influence policy discussions. 

    Moreover, the presence of experts like Dr. Anne Peters and Dr. Ashley Gearhardt highlights the importance of interdisciplinary approaches—combining exercise science, clinical practice, and psychological research—to address the complexity of chronic diseases. For ACSM members, the outcomes of this hearing may shape future healthcare policies that prioritize prevention, including potential funding, programs, and research efforts that could directly impact their work in clinical and community settings.

     

    New Obesity Maps! CDC Releases State-Specific 2023 Data on Adult Obesity 

    CDC's Division of Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Obesity (DNPAO) recently released the 2023 Adult Obesity Prevalence Maps that show 23 states have an adult obesity prevalence at or above 35%, or more than 1 in 3 adults. Before 2013, no state had an adult obesity prevalence at or above 35%. The maps highlight the concerning rates of obesity. More 

     

  • Active Voice | From Activity to Sleep: A Balanced Lifestyle Approach to Brain Health

    by Greg Margason | Oct 08, 2024

    Dementia is one of the leading causes of disability and mortality worldwide, and modifiable lifestyle factors may be critical for preventing up to 45% of all-cause dementia occurring after age 65. Two key modifiable risk factors associated with reduced dementia risk and improved brain health are regular physical activity and good quality sleep. Physical activity and sleep are unequivocally related: optimal sleep can positively impact energy levels for physical activity engagement, and physical activity can enhance sleep quality. However, there is limited research examining how physical activity and sleep may work together to influence brain health. 

    Our recent review proposed that greater engagement in physical activity has the potential to compensate for negative brain health consequences associated with poor sleep in older adults. This hypothesis was initially based on several cross-sectional studies from our research group and others demonstrating that greater physical activity is most closely associated with better cognition in those with poor sleep. Two randomized controlled trials, one in healthy older adults and one in patients with chronic stroke, have now also demonstrated that exercise is most effective for improving cognition in participants who reported poor sleep at study commencement. This suggests that among poor sleepers, remaining physically active may be particularly important for maintaining cognitive function and may protect against sleep-related cognitive deficits. It is notable that one recent longitudinal study demonstrated evidence to support this hypothesis cross-sectionally, though this was not supported when examining the data longitudinally. Further randomized controlled trials and longitudinal studies are required to clarify the strength of associations and long-term effects of exercise on cognition in individuals with poor sleep. Nevertheless, with approximately 50% of older adults reporting sleep difficulties and limited effectiveness of non-pharmaceutical sleep improvement interventions, the possibility that physical activity may reduce poor sleep burden on the brain could have significant public health implications. Our research further highlights to geriatricians and clinicians the importance of providing exercise prescriptions and encouraging increases in activity levels within older adult populations. 

    The optimal exercise prescription (e.g., frequency, intensity, duration) for potentially compensating sleep-related poorer cognition is yet to be determined. However, we have demonstrated moderate intensity aerobic exercise showed beneficial effects on cognition in a cohort of older adult (>60 years) poor sleepers, whereas high intensity aerobic exercise did not. This suggests that the compensatory influence of exercise may be intensity-dependent, and that prescription of exercise intensity should be carefully considered, particularly for poor sleepers. 

    The effect sizes for the influence of exercise on cognition is likely contingent on several methodological factors. For example, research suggests that moderators such as sleep quality may explain some of the heterogenous findings and weaken effect sizes. Many similar moderators have not been considered previous studies, which likely contributes to the muddiness and misconceptions within this scientific literature. Thus, future randomized controlled trials examining the effects of exercise on cognitive and brain health outcomes should consider using sleep quality as a moderator variable. 

    One interesting finding within our research is that the cognitive domain of episodic memory (memory of personal experiences) appears to be consistently influenced by sleep and physical activity. We also have demonstrated that physical activity and sleep might interact to influence the pathology underlying Alzheimer’s disease (brain beta-amyloid). Therefore, we hypothesize that sleep and physical activity might relate to both pathological and non-pathological brain changes in aging. However, the mechanisms underlying these associations require further investigation. 

    We hope that a better understanding of the synergistic association between sleep and physical activity will help optimize and individualize exercise prescriptions for preserving brain health in older adults. 


    Kelsey R. Sewell, PhD    , is a postdoctoral research scientist in neuroscience at AdventHealth Research Institute, Orlando, Florida. Dr. Sewell earned her PhD at Murdoch University, Western Australia, where her training focused on sleep and physical activity patterns and how they influence brain health in older adults. Her broader work is focused on better understanding how lifestyle behavior optimization can prevent or delay the onset of Alzheimer’s disease and whether lifestyle changes can influence novel Alzheimer’s disease biomarkers (e.g., in blood). Dr. Sewell takes a comprehensive approach to her research, utilizing both large observational cohort studies and randomized clinical trials of exercise to investigate such questions. 

  • 5 Tips to Practically Integrate Lippincott® Connect and ACSM Material in the Classroom

    by Caitlin Kinser | Sep 25, 2024

    Blog title, alongside an image of two college students using a laptop computerIn recent years, every college professor at universities big and small has been faced with the fundamental question of how to adapt course materials into a digital platform. Each one of us must find the platform that fits, adapts, and is amicable to our needs as well as the needs of our department’s curriculum and students. My exercise testing, prescription, and assessment class uses ACSM’s Exercise Testing and Prescription, 2e on the Lippincott Connect digital courseware platform. The course is taught three days a week on Monday, Wednesday, and Friday (MWF) for 50 minutes per class session. I integrate both formative and summative assessment techniques with the goal of maximizing student learning.  The table below helps describe how I integrate my weekly materials. The following five tips are what I have learned when teaching ACSM’s material and how Lippincott Connect assists both myself and my students.

    Table 1: Weekly Course Instructional Plan

    DayInstruction ObjectivesCourse TechniqueLippincott® Connect Resources UsedForm of Assessment (Formative or Summative)
    MondayIntroduce the weekly topic and highlight major points of the materialLecture & In-class discussions
    • eBook
    • PowerPoints
    • Videos
    • Chapter Proficiency Quizzes
    		Formative
    WednesdayPractical ApplicationUniversity Lab EquipmentLab VideosFormative & Summative
    FridayReinforce materials taught during the week; Resuscitation of MaterialsLecture & DiscussionCase Studies & Test Bank QuestionsFormative & Summative
    Sunday

    Work is Student-Driven.

    Weekly homework deadlines are due    		Homework is due using the LMS via Lippincott ConnectQuizzes and Labs are due by Sunday 11:59 PMSummative

     

    Tip #1: Be Able to Walk into your Classroom and Talk to your Students

    On Mondays I lecture using resources and videos provided within Lippincott Connect. I build my lecture by developing notes using the PowerPoint slides, the eBook chapter, and the Chapter Proficiency Quizzes. Together, the videos, assessment, and resources provide the foundation for my lectures and our class discussions, allowing me to introduce the weekly topic and highlight the major points of the material.

    My students want more than just the professor reading the slides to them during the lecture2 and Lippincott Connect helps me deliver. I need to make my lectures practical for those students who learn by visual means as well as conceptual ideas which can lead to richer, fuller discussions about the materials. Using an ACSM video at the beginning or middle of the lecture can emphasize a point or demonstrate a technique. The ACSM videos and worksheets in Lippincott Connect offer several potential discussion opportunities which I craft into our discussions. This allows me to employ a formative form of assessment for the students1.

    Tip #2 Lab Day- Practical Application. This is Where the Rubber Meets the Road!

    On Wednesday, Lab provides a practical application of the materials and enables students to learn the necessary skills they will need in real life clinical settings. This is not just a formative form of assessment, but also a summative evaluation when I can grade the students in their performance of techniques.

    The application of laboratory experiments provides the student and the professor a practical method of integrating cognitive information (ACSM protocols) with the practical skills the students will be using in clinical settings. This is where Lippincott Connect excels in providing detailed charts defining ACSM standards for testing. These charts can be used in the lab to help students understand, when they perform their lab tests in real time, if their performance numbers are within a predetermined standardized range. Best of all, it allows me to provide immediate feedback to the students2.

    Tip #3 Provide Closure on the Week - “Repetition, Repetition, Under Constant Supervision”

    On Friday I wrap up the material and answer any student questions applying to my lectures and the lab. Additionally, I use Lippincott Connect case studies to start an in-class discussion. This discussion ends with the class taking the Case Study Quiz directly in Lippincott Connect during class. Around every two to three weeks, I give a traditional in-class test on the material. The test bank questions available in Lippincott Connect are valuable for designing an in-class test; I integrate my own questions from the material with some from the test bank. My goal is to write objective exam questions (usually multiple choice mixed with true/false and fill-in-the-blank questions). I found this mix gives the highest level of reliability when designing a relevant test.

    During our class discussions I encourage my students to use the rationales and remediations available in Lippincott’s Connect to assist them with their answers. This format allows students to communicate using reliable ACSM material; not referencing AI options, which could be less trustworthy. When using this type of formative assessment, I find this is critical to providing closure on the topic and addressing any questions the students had during the week1.

    Tip #4 – Materials Promote Student Driven Learning - Weekly Topic and Focus on the Weekly Work Due

    When experimenting to promote student driven learning, utilizing an LMS system paired with Lippincott Connect allows both the instructor and student flexibility and the ability to reinforce the material taught throughout the week. All weekly assignments are due by Sunday night at 11:59 pm. Lippincott Connect allows you to choose multiple time and due date options for exams, quizzes and other work assigned. Having flexibility in weekly deadlines helps students with busy schedules. My students have extremely busy schedules due to either their work or intercollegiate sports competitions over the weekend. 

    Some tools unique to Lippincott Connect assist in student driven learning by ensuring students receive immediate feedback. The Hidden Reserve Prep U tests offer the instructor the option to customize in class assessment and assignments for home, and I know that all questions include rationales for right and wrong answers. This means no matter where my students are when they take PrepU quizzes, Chapter Proficiency Quizzes, video assessment, or Case Study Quizzes, they’re receiving feedback. Lippincott Connect also provides opportunities for remediation by pointing back to the text, and by using videos and Case Studies and the Stedman dictionary to provide additional support. This promotes student driven learning by encouraging students critical thinking skills.

    Tip #5 – Immediate Grading Feedback Offers Professor Self-Assessment & Further Student Interaction

    The most important step in my teaching strategy occurs in the first 5 minutes of each Monday’s class, when I request feedback from the students on the previous week’s work. This is very informal and immediate, but I can glean from it how the students learned the material and if I need to adjust the material to their needs.

    The gradebook in Lippincott Connect under the “Results” tab allows Prep U options feedback on how my students are progressing. Not only do I have access to analytics that let me know who has performed chapter reading, but I also can see how each student has performed on quizzes. Assessment even accompanies videos, so I can view the data to ensure that students grasped the concepts within the videos. If I had Lippincott Connect set up to integrate with our LMS, I could have this data populate my grade book.

    Conclusion

    During the last year I started using Lippincott Connect in my university’s exercise prescription and assessment course. Initially motivated by the use of ACSM materials, I have experimented with the Lippincott Connect courseware platform and have discovered new and innovative teaching techniques to bring to my students. Further advances in the Lippincott technology will only further drive the students’ interactive educational experience, accelerating the learning potential for each individual student.

    References

    1. Nallaya, S., Gentili, S., Weeks, S., & Baldock, K. (2024). The validity, reliability, academic integrity and integration of oral assessments in higher education: A systematic review. Issues in Educational Research, 34(2), 629–646.

    2. Peacock, J. L., FitzPatrick, K., & Finn, K. E. (2023). Student Performance and Perceptions of Adopting the Flipped Learning Approach into an Integrated Anatomy and Physiology Course. Journal of Higher Education Theory & Practice, 23(18), 145–161. https://doi.org/10.33423/jhetp.v23i18.6628

    Dr. Dan Dieringer is an associate professor of Health and Human Performance at Bethel University (TN) for the past four years. He is also the coordinator of the Exercise Science major at Bethel University and is a professional member of the ACSM.

    Resources

    ACSM's Exercise Testing and PrescriptionACSM/Bayles: ACSM's Exercise Testing and Prescription, 2nd Edition | ISBN: 9781975214142 

    For more information, or to request a demonstration of the new Lippincott® Connect, please contact your sales representative. 

     

     

     

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