New Resources Help Public Reach Personal Fitness Goals
ACSM recently unveiled new tips and tools to help the public find the right professional services and environment for health and fitness. These online resources were created to link the public to the most qualified professionals and information in the fitness industry for safe and effective exercise practice and advice.
A pair of training guides, Selecting and Effectively Using a Personal Trainer and Selecting and Effectively Using a Health/Fitness Facility, are now available on-line at www.acsm.org. These guides were developed by a panel of exercise physiologists and exercise science professionals to educate individuals on the proper characteristics of personal trainers and health and fitness facilities. Each publication includes a checklist of important fitness factors, as well as recommendations on asking the right questions before joining any new exercise program.
The ACSM's ProFinderTM, a searchable on-line database of ACSM-certified health/fitness professionals, also is available to the public free of charge. This service allows an individual to search for professionals who have achieved ACSM certifications by the level of certification, as well as geographical location. ProFinder professionals hold at least one ACSM certification, which ensures that they have mastered the established knowledge, skills, and abilities required of ACSM certification programs. They have demonstrated competencies in health screening, fitness assessment, exercise testing, exercise prescription/program development, supervision, program administration, and development.
To participate in the ACSM ProFinder program, please contact ACSM's Certification Department at [email protected].
ACSM Clarifies Indicators for Fluid Replacement
ACSM experts advise the public to avoid relying on thirst alone to gauge the body's fluid replacement needs in light of the recent Institute of Medicine (IOM) report, which set dietary intake levels for water, salt, and potassium for the maintenance of health and well being.
ACSM is pleased that the report indicates that athletes and other active people have higher fluid replacement needs but that underscored thirst is not the best indicator of how much these individuals should replace in terms of fluid and sodium losses after prolonged physical activity or heat exposure. Whereas much of the report focuses upon daily fluid requirements for the public, experts note that consuming fluids before, during, and after exercise is an important part of regulating body temperature and replacing body fluids lost through sweat.
In a similar vein, the IOM report's guidance on chronic sodium intake should not be confused with recommendations that athletes liberally salt their food and consume sports drinks when acclimatizing to or exercising in hot conditions. Whereas cutting back on overall sodium in the diet is sound advice for the majority of the public, athletes have a special need to replenish lost sodium stores in the short-term.
To read the full ACSM statement, visit "News Releases" at www.acsm.org.
Celebrate in INDY!
ACSM proudly hosts the 51st Annual Meeting from June 2-5, 2004, marking the year-long anniversary celebration of the history of the organization and its contribution to advancing the field of sports medicine and exercise science. This year's co-host is the city of Indianapolis, a friendly metropolis that is home to the ACSM National Center. Don't miss this historic meeting and your chance to enjoy presentations of original research in a variety of educational formats. Exclusive lectures and special events are planned for the occasion, as ACSM recognizes the people, programs, and landscape of 50 years in sports medicine and exercise science. To register, visit www.acsm.org.
