The Translational Journal of The American College of Sports Medicine (TJACSM) was launched in the Spring of 2016 to fill a gap for the ACSM membership and the overall exercise science literature. The purpose of translational science is to move new findings from the laboratory to public use for large-scale impact. The goal of TJACSM is to ultimately become the authoritative journal for translational exercise science and policy.

In 2018, articles published in TJACSM provided new insights and strategies to translate exercise and policy into a wide variety of settings to impact individuals and communities. The most accessed paper was by Ladwig and colleagues “My Best Memory Is When I was Done With It: PE Memories Are Associated With Adult Sedentary Behavior.” The article investigated the dislike of physical education (PE) class and subsequent participation in exercise and sedentary behavior of adults. This article has significance given the well- known association of physical activity and health and was featured in The New York Times (August 22, 2018).

The topic of physical activity in the school setting proved to be a popular topic in 2018. Two other TJACSM articles, by Bartholomew and colleagues and Beemer and colleagues, illustrate in-classroom physical activity and the impact for increasing activity and impacting learning.

Although we frequently link exercise with physical health, there is past and emerging evidence of the importance of exercise for mental health and cognitive function. Rosenbaum and colleagues published an international consensus statement supported by Exercise and Sports Science Australia, ACSM, the British Association of Sport and Exercise Science, and Sport and Exercise Science New Zealand. This statement delineated key factors to be addressed by decision makers to increase access to exercise programs for individuals with mental illness to help close the life expectancy gap compared to individuals without mental illness.  

For the 2019 ACSM Annual Meeting, the subcategory of Translational Research was added as an option for the free communications/posters. Travel awards and on-site recognition will be provided for the top graduate/postdoctoral and new investigator presentations; you can find more information on the awards here.

In 2019, TJACSM will continue to publish papers that provide new insights for translational exercise science and policy. Two theme-based series of papers will be published; one in collaboration with the ACSM’s Strategic Health Initiative on Women, Physical Activity and Sport, and one on physical activity in schools and the classroom. Of note for potential authors is that indexing for TJACSM is in process and once completed all previously published articles will be retroactively indexed. More information will be released once this is completed. 

Most Read Articles Published in 2018

"My Best Memory Is When I Was Done with It":  PE Memories Are Associated with Adult Sedentary Behavior

The Role of Sport, Exercise, and Physical Activity in Closing the Life Expectancy Gap for People with Mental Illness:  An International Consensus Statement by Exercise and Sports Science Australia, American College of Sports Medicine, British Association 

Validity of Activity Tracker Step Counts during Walking, Running, and Activities of Daily Living

The Warrior Wellness Study:  A Randomized Controlled Exercise Trial for Older Veterans with PTSD

Active Learning Increases Children's Physical Activity across Demographic Subgroups

If You Build It, Will They Come? A Quasi-experiment of Sidewalk Improvements and Physical Activity

Feasibility of the InPACT Intervention to Enhance Movement and Learning in the Classroom

An Alternative Approach to Isometric Exercise Training Prescription for Cardiovascular Health

Effects of Task Difficulty on Kinematics and Task Performance during Walking Workstation Use

Preparticipation Screening before Physical Activity in Community Lifestyle Interventions

Conversation Starters: Highest Altmetric Attention Score

Altmetric calculates a score based on the online attention an article receives. The score is calculated based on two main sources of online attention: social media and mainstream news media. 

"My Best Memory Is When I Was Done with It":  PE Memories Are Associated with Adult Sedentary Behavior

The Role of Sport, Exercise, and Physical Activity in Closing the Life Expectancy Gap for People with Mental Illness:  An International Consensus Statement by Exercise and Sports Science Australia, American College of Sports Medicine, British Association 

If You Build It, Will They Come? A Quasi-experiment of Sidewalk Improvements and Physical Activity

Feasibility of the InPACT Intervention to Enhance Movement and Learning in the Classroom

Integrating Exercise into the Electronic Medical Record:  A Case Series in Oncology

The Implementation and Outcomes of Exercise Is Medicine on Campus

Development of a Community Wellness Program for Prostate Cancer Survivors

ACSM Professional Members receive a subscription to the ACSM journals Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise®, Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews and the Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine. Additionally, members who are physicians receive a subscription to Current Sports Medicine Reports. Further, members receive discounts on ACSM certification exams, meeting and conference registrations, ACSM continuing education credits and more. Learn more and join today! 

Joseph E. Donnelly, EdD, FACSM, is the Editor-in-Chief of the Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine. He is a Professor of Medicine and Director, Center for Physical Activity and Weight Management at the University of Kansas.