Introduction
The American College of Sports Medicine is a premier international organization in the field of sports medicine and exercise science.
It is the largest organization of its kind in the world and pioneers extensive efforts in the diagnosis, treatment and prevention of sports-related injuries and the advancement of the science of exercise.
Functional Areas
The services of the American College of Sports Medicine cover a vast gambit of healthcare services, offering facilities to different types of consumers, ranging from athletes and sportspersons to astronauts and individuals with chronic diseases and physical challenges.
Overall, the American College of Sports Medicine aims and strives to promote and integrate scientific research, education and practical applications of sports medicine and exercise science to maintain and enhance physical performance, fitness, health and quality of life.
Certification Categories
Being the premier organization in the field of sports medicine and allied services, the American College of Sports Medicine offers a wide range of certifications to qualified individuals in varied categories.
In this section, we list the main certifications offered by the organization, along with details of the relevancy to various professionals.
A) Health Fitness Certifications
i) ACSM Certified Personal TrainerSM
This certification is offered for fitness professionals aspiring to develop an individualized approach to exercise leadership in healthy populations.
ii) ACSM Health/Fitness Instructor (
This certification is specifically meant for leaders of preventive health programs in corporate, commercial and community settings.
B) Clinical Certifications
i) ACSM Exercise Specialist(
This is basically a certification for professionals performing exercise testing and training clients with cardiovascular, pulmonary or metabolic diseases.
ii) ACSM Registered Clinical Exercise Physiologist(
Individuals with this certification specialize in providing services in exercise management for patients with a broad spectrum of chronic diseases or disabilities.
Research Endeavors
The allied branch of the American College of Sports Medicine, the ACSM Foundation and the Office of Research Administration and Programs offer substantive grants to ACSM student members along with the existing and senior investigators.
The key funding areas for the purpose include:
* Injury prevention
* Weightlessness
* Space physiology
* Exercise and aging
* Exercise and disease risk factors
* Exercise and heart rate response
In addition, the Research Administration and Programs department serves as a scientific information source to various other National Center departments as well.
The Publications
For the benefits of the general public on a whole, the American College of Sports Medicine offers a wide-range of publications, primarily comprising of four journal offerings, a bimonthly newsmagazine and a series of book and video products.
Each of these basically focuses on the study of sports medicine, exercise science, health and fitness. Here we list the titles of some of the most popular ACSM journals:
* Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise
* Exercise and Sport Sciences Reviews
* ACSM’s Health & Fitness Journal
* Current Sports Medicine Reports