Understanding Physical Activity and Exercise - Chapter 1

Understanding Physical Activity and Exercise - Chapter 1

• ACSM (American College of Sports Medicine) was founded in 1954

• ACSM is a leading organization in exercise science, offering certifications signifying high knowledge and professionalism.

• ACSM certifications include training to work with diverse clients, including those with chronic diseases and medically supervised exercise programs.

• Becoming a Certified Exercise Physiologist (CEP) enables more clinical work with patients in healthcare settings.

• ACSM certifications are based on the latest scientific research, ensuring safe and effective exercise programs.

• This certification enhances earning potential and opens doors to leadership roles within the fitness industry.

• ACSM provides ongoing learning opportunities to stay updated on advancements in exercise science.

• ACSM offers a network of certified professionals through the community.

Physical Activity

• Physical Activity is a behavior

• Physical Activity can be divided into subcategories like Recreation, Transport, Occupation, and Household.

Energy Systems during Physical Activity

• A graph shows the percentages of energy used by different energy systems (ATP-CP, Glycolytic, and Oxidative) over time during exercise.

Defining Physical Fitness

• Physical fitness comprises attributes related to the ability to perform physical activity.

• Health-related fitness (lifestyle) includes body composition, cardiorespiratory endurance, muscular strength/endurance, flexibility.

• Skill-related fitness (sport-related) includes agility, coordination, reaction time, balance, speed, power.

Development of Exercise Physiology

• Physical activity has been recognized as important for a long time, with historical figures like Socrates emphasizing its significance.

• Exercise physiology emerged from physical education and health, with prominent contributions from the Harvard Fatigue Lab in the 1920s.

ACSM and the Course

• The American College of Sports Medicine was founded in 1954

• ACSM includes researchers, practitioners, and educators.

• ACSM offers certifications, including the Certified Exercise Physiologist (ACSM-EP).

• Completing this course, along with a bachelor's degree and CPR certification, equips students well (approximate membership cost: ~$350)

Physical Activity Guidelines

• Guidelines for various life stages (preschool, children, adults, older adults, pregnant women, adults with chronic conditions) regarding physical activity duration and intensity levels for achieving health benefits.

Trends in Physical Inactivity

• There are targets for decreasing inactivity (adults age 18+). The 2020 target was 32.6%.

Trends in Childhood Obesity

• Obesity trends among children and adolescents (ages 2-19) show increases from 1963 to 2015-2016.

Conditions and Exercise

• Benefits of physical activity for people with chronic conditions (e.g., breast cancer, colorectal cancer, prostate cancer, osteoarthritis, hypertension, Type 2 diabetes, recent hip fracture, frailty, stroke, spinal cord injury, dementia, multiple sclerosis, Parkinson's disease, schizophrenia)

Recommendations and Precautions

• Exercise Physiologists (EP-Cs) must consider client risk factors before recommending physical activity.

• Inactivity or low-intensity physical activity programs can be done without baseline testing for many individuals

-For vigorous intensity, EP-Cs need to be well prepared regarding life support and cardiovascular disease (CVD) signs and symptoms.

Risks of Sudden Cardiac Death

• Sudden cardiac death risk is higher in sedentary individuals.

• Appropriate screening is important to minimize this risk.

Musculoskeletal Injuries and Exercise

• Muscle-skeletal injuries are common associated with certain activities like weight bearing activities, repetitive motions and team/contact sports. The benefits of exercise often outweigh the risks.