Quality health and fitness research

The ACE Scientific Advisory Panel, composed of experts from the fields of exercise science, sports medicine, psychology, nutrition, and fitness, evaluates current research and reviews high-profile products and trends to develop engaging reports on relevant topics. These reports were written with the health and fitness professional in mind and aim to both advance the industry and protect the public from unsafe exercise instruction and practices.

Getting the answers to your core questions

Core training, which focuses on strengthening the anterior abdominal muscles as well as multiple muscles from the shoulders to the hips, is essential for improving overall stability and mobility for people of every age. This paper examines the importance of core exercises and looks at the wide range of options available to exercise professionals developing programs for their clients.

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Integrating science with practice

Health and fitness professionals who stay current with the latest research findings in the areas of health and fitness are more likely to be aware of the best approaches to exercise training for helping clients meet their goals. This paper examines the importance of staying up-to-date on the scientific studies, deciphering the quality of the content, and understanding how to apply it to practice.

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Exercise, physical, activity, training and aging

Regular physical activity offers numerous physical and mental benefits for older adults. This paper details the research-based evidence for the positive benefits of regular exercise in an aging population, and how health and fitness professionals can play an essential role in helping older adults minimize the physiological effects of an otherwise sedentary lifestyle and increase active life expectancy.

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A comparison of high-intensity interval training in different populations

High-intensity interval training (HIIT), which involves brief, vigorous exertion interspersed with periods of rest or low-intensity aerobic exercise, is a popular form of exercise that produces significant results in less time than more moderate types of training. This paper examines the available research on the fitness benefits of HIIT, along with the potential for using it with specific populations, including those who were previously sedentary.

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The impact of hydration on athletic performance

Maintaining optimal hydration is essential for performance in both sport and life. This paper examines the physiological and performance consequences of dehydration and overhydration, how to determine a person's hydration status and fluid replacement needs, and specific populations at greater risk for dehydration.

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Exercise adherence: Translating the evidence on barriers and facilitators into practice

Fewer than half of American adults achieve the recommended amount of physical activity needed for good health, with lack of time, energy and motivation cited as the most common reasons. This paper examines evidence-based behavioral strategies for improving exercise adherence, and how health and fitness professionals can play a key role in helping people achieve benefits of exercise.

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The science of post-exercise recovery

Post-exercise recovery is a vital component of the overall exercise training paradigm, and essential for high-level performance and continued improvement. This paper examines evidence-based recovery strategies and the critical role that health and fitness professional play in helping clients identify the most appropriate training recovery program, a process that requires purposeful trial and error.

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Strategies and recommendations for youth physical-activity programming

Health and fitness professionals, healthcare providers, school administrators, government officials and parents need to work together to help youth develop and maintain healthy behaviors during their formative years. This paper examines the link between childhood physical inactivity and disease risk, and highlights novel strategies for identifying and treating youth who are not accumulating the recommended daily amount of physical activity.

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