Science Spotlight | Late August 2026
ACSM publishes roundtable statement on Components of Fitness! In August, ACSM published a new specialty communication “The Components of Fitness: A Roundtable Statement by the American College of Sports Medicine” in the Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise journal. This statement provides consensus and recommendations for an updated, evidence-based framework in understanding the components of physical fitness. The five updated components presented in the statement include: “The ACSM roundtable statement on the components of […]
Hot Topic | What Myosin Fragmentation is Teaching Us about Exercise and Atrophy
If you coach, train, or treat athletes and patients, you’re aware that skeletal muscle adapts to the balance between building up (protein synthesis) and breaking down (protein breakdown). We’ve gotten remarkably good at measuring the “building up” side through stable isotope tracer methods, with newer methods enabling participants to orally consume them. The “breaking down” […]
Policy Corner | Fit Future Act Advances, Senate Confirms New CDC Director
The 2025 reconciliation bill, officially known as the “One Big Beautiful Bill Act” (OBBBA), underwent significant changes as it moved from the House to the Senate and ultimately became law.
Science Spotlight | August 2026 Highlights
ACSM journal sites have been updated! The ACSM journal websites have a new look and features. You can now find issue highlights from the Editors-in-Chief and featured articles about journal websites, along with the latest information about journal initiatives, calls for papers, and more. Access to all the ACSM journals can be found here: ACSM Journals Congratulations to the ACSM journals for […]
Active Voice | With Resistance Training, Load is Only Half the Story
For decades, one question has dominated resistance-training research: How much weight should we lift? Many studies have compared heavy and light loads to identify the optimal stimulus for maximizing strength and muscle hypertrophy. These investigations have shaped coaching practice, informed resistance-training guidelines, and fueled one of the longest-running debates in exercise science. Yet this question […]
Hot Topic | Being Outside Makes You Feel Better
Nature as a therapeutic intervention is a practice that dates back centuries but has only recently gained empirical legitimacy. From Shinrin-yoku (forest bathing) in Japan to green exercise initiatives in urban areas of the United States and Europe, nature-based approaches to health are gaining traction. Mental health disorders, including anxiety, depression, and stress-related conditions, are […]
Science Spotlight | ACSM Publishes new Call to Action Statement
In July, ACSM published a new pronouncement titled, “Intentional Examination of the Social Determinants of Health in Clinical Practice and Research: An ACSM Call to Action Statement” in the Translational Journal of the American College of Sports Medicine (TJACSM). The statement was chaired by Tamerah N. Hunt, PhD, ATC, FACSM, with additional members of the […]
ACSM Advocacy Updates – July 2026
Check out updates on the re-established Presidential Youth Fitness Test and the Freedom 250 National Park Campaign.
Comments on Proposed Rule — Uniform Grants Regulation (Revision to 2 CFR, Title 2, Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance)
Submitted electronically via Regulations.gov on July 8, 2026 Download a PDF copy of these comments here. Docket: OMB-2026-0034 Re: Comments on Proposed Rule — Uniform Grants Regulation (Revision to 2 CFR, Title 2, Guidance for Federal Financial Assistance) To Whom It May Concern: The American College of Sports Medicine® (ACSM®) appreciates the opportunity and respectfully submits the following comments […]
Science Spotlight | July 2026 Highlights
ACSM hosts “Fighting Physical Education Decline” webinar July 21, 2026 Physical education requirements are increasingly deprioritized in pre-k through college level curriculum, contributing to a decline in movement and physical activity among younger generations. Join us for this foundational EIM-On Campus (EIM-OC) webinar as we explore the shared purpose that unites us as ACSM members […]
