American College of Sports Medicine
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a large sports medicine and exercise science membership organization. Founded in 1954, ACSM promotes and integrates scientific research, education, and practical applications of sports medicine and exercise science to maintain and enhance physical performance, fitness, health, and quality of life. Members of the ACSM work in a wide range of medical specialties, allied health professions, and scientific disciplines, and are committed to the diagnosis, treatment, and prevention of sports-related injuries and the advancement of the science of exercise. International, National and Regional chapter members hail from more than 80 countries around the world.
ACSM also offers certifications and continuing education for fitness professionals as well as clinicians.
Strategic initiatives include: Exercise is Medicine,[1] ACSM American Fitness Index,[2] National Youth Sports Health & Safety Institute, and ActivEarth.
Leadership
The current (2019–2020) ACSM elected offices are held by:
- President: William Kraus, M.D., FACSM, Duke University School of Medicine[3]
- President-elect: NiCole Keith, PhD, FACSM, Indiana University[4]
- Immediate Past President: Kathryn H. Schmitz, PhD., MPH, FACSM, Penn State College of Medicine[5]
- Second Past President: Walter R. Thompson, PhD, FACSM, Georgia State University[6]
ACSM History
The founding meeting of the "Federation of Sports Medicine" took place in New York City at the Hotel Statler on April 22, 1954, as part of the afternoon program of the American Association for Health, Physical Education, and Recreation (AAHPER). The following year, the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) was officially incorporated, and 11 individuals were designated as founders. This group was composed of seven men and one woman with careers in physical education, and three physicians. The physical educators were Clifford Brownell, Ph.D. Ernst Jok, M.D., Peter Karpovich, M.D., Leonard Larson, Ph.D. Grover Mueller, M.S., Neils Neilson, Ph.D, Josephine Rathbone, Ph.D. and Arthur Steinhaus, Ph.D. Although they had training in physical education or were employed in departments of physical education, Jokl, Larson, Karpovich, and Steinhaus were primarily involved in research dealing with the physiology of exercise. The physicians were Louis Bishop, M.D., Albert Hyman, M.D., and Joseph Wolffe, M.D. All three were practicing cardiologists.
The ACSM national headquarters moved to Indianapolis in 1984, joining organizations such as the National Collegiate Athletic Association, the National Federation of State High School Associations, and national sport-specific governing bodies.[7]
Membership
ACSM members represent more than 70 disciplines in sports medicine and exercise science. ACSM membership is offered in four categories:
- Alliance of Health Fitness Professionals
- Professional
- Professional-in-Training
- Students
Regional chapters
ACSM has 12 regional chapters[8] throughout the United States that ensure easy access to regional educational meetings.
- Alaska ACSM Regional Chapter
- Central States ACSM Regional Chapter
- Greater New York ACSM Regional Chapter
- Mid-Atlantic ACSM Regional Chapter
- Midwest ACSM Regional Chapter
- New England ACSM Regional Chapter
- Northland ACSM Regional Chapter
- Northwest ACSM Regional Chapter
- Rocky Mountain ACSM Regional Chapter
- Southeast ACSM Regional Chapter
- Southwest ACSM Regional Chapter
- Texas ACSM Regional Chapter
ACSM journals, books and publications
The American College of Sports Medicine has a publishing program made up of books and journals dating back to 1975. The five journals, several books and various multimedia resources serve ACSM's diverse audiences.
Journals
ACSM's five leading scholarly journals[9] provide access to cutting-edge research, relevant clinical reports and recent health-and-fitness information.
Books
ACSM publishes several books[15] and multimedia resources to serve a variety of readers across the spectrum of students and teachers, researchers, M.D.'s and clinicians, public health professionals and those in the health and fitness industry. ACSM is best known for ACSM's Guidelines for Exercise Testing and Prescription, first published in 1975.
Some of ACSM's most popular titles include:
- ACSM's Clinical Exercise Physiology
- ACSM's Complete Guide to Fitness and Health
- ACSM's Exercise Management for Persons with Chronic Diseases and Disabilities
- ACSM's Health/Fitness Facility Standards and Guidelines
- ACSM's Introduction to Exercise Science
- ACSM's Nutrition for Exercise Science
- ACSM's Resources for the Exercise Physiologist
- ACSM's Resources for the Personal Trainer
Certifications
ACSM offers eight different certifications for fitness and clinical exercise professionals.
- ACSM Certified Personal Trainer
- ACSM Certified Group Exercise Instructor
- ACSM Certified Exercise Physiologist
- ACSM Certified Clinical Exercise Physiologist
- Exercise is Medicine Credential
- ACSM/NCHPAD Certified Inclusive Fitness Trainer
- ACSM/ACS Certified Cancer Exercise Trainer
- ACSM/NPAS Physical Activity in Public Health Specialist
Foundation
The American College of Sports Medicine Foundation[16] is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization affiliated with and developed to support the American College of Sports Medicine, Inc. Each year the ACSM Foundation awards approximately $100,000 in research awards and scholarships. To sustain and build these funds, the Foundation conducts ongoing fundraising efforts.
See also
References
- "Exercise is Medicine". exerciseismedicine.org. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
- "ACSM American Fitness Index". americanfitnessindex.org. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
- "William Erle Kraus, MD | medicine.duke.edu". medicine.duke.edu. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
- "NiCole Keith, Ph.D., FACSM". IUPUI School of Health & Human Services.
- "Kathryn Schmitz, PhD, MPH, FACSM - Penn State Cancer Institute". cancer.psu.edu. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
- hillarygmeister. "Walter R. Thompson". College of Education & Human Development. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
- "ACSM | History". www.acsm.org. Retrieved 2018-02-08.
- "Regional Chapters". www.acsm.org. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
- "ACSM Journals". www.acsm.org. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
- "Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise". journals.lww.com. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
- "Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews". journals.lww.com. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
- "Current Sports Medicine Reports". journals.lww.com. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
- "ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal". journals.lww.com. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
- "Translational Journal (TJACSM) | ACSM Journal". www.acsm.org. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
- "ACSM Books". www.acsm.org. Retrieved 2019-07-10.
- "ACSM Foundation". www.acsm.org. Retrieved 2019-07-10.