Answers (10)
2
Hi Joanne!
I am an ACSM certified professional and find that the resources that it provides has a broad range of depth as well as reach for the diverse fitness world we work in today. This being said I find that to pigeon-hole myself into a "select" organizations may narrow my ability as a professional to adequately adapt to the changes of fitness. I think that both the ACSM and the NSCA provide excellent sources of information that also serve as a spring board in many ways to lead fitness professionals into a broader search.
Just like the medical associations that serve as a platform for professionals to share ideas and research, ACSM and NSCA are a meta-search engine that give us the ability to get a broad range of knowledge in a central location. The best way to find evidence-based research is to begin in a place such as ACSM or NSCA with your broad topic or question, narrow the search and then go to sites like PubMed or scholarly journals to find even more "time-tested" as LaRue put it, research being done to give you the most well rounded amount of information.
To continue to learn and develop in the field we also have to be journalists, researchers, scientists, educators and students to continue the progression of knowledge. ACSM and NSCA are two sites that give us a portal where we can narrow our questions and ideas and take our profession to a new level.
I am an ACSM certified professional and find that the resources that it provides has a broad range of depth as well as reach for the diverse fitness world we work in today. This being said I find that to pigeon-hole myself into a "select" organizations may narrow my ability as a professional to adequately adapt to the changes of fitness. I think that both the ACSM and the NSCA provide excellent sources of information that also serve as a spring board in many ways to lead fitness professionals into a broader search.
Just like the medical associations that serve as a platform for professionals to share ideas and research, ACSM and NSCA are a meta-search engine that give us the ability to get a broad range of knowledge in a central location. The best way to find evidence-based research is to begin in a place such as ACSM or NSCA with your broad topic or question, narrow the search and then go to sites like PubMed or scholarly journals to find even more "time-tested" as LaRue put it, research being done to give you the most well rounded amount of information.
To continue to learn and develop in the field we also have to be journalists, researchers, scientists, educators and students to continue the progression of knowledge. ACSM and NSCA are two sites that give us a portal where we can narrow our questions and ideas and take our profession to a new level.
1
Hi Joanne. I do use the sources that you site in your question, along with others that over the years I have come to trust and rely upon (e.g. New England Journal of Medicine). As I'm sure you'd agree, with any study or research finding, it's important that the reader not simply take a finding as "gospel" and rush to conclusions simply because the research project has been published - some of those research projects are simply too small, or not 'time-tested' to be fully relied upon in my opinion.
Time-tested research findings, repeatable results, and a sample size, and subject demographic that I can relate to and trust are all things that I consider before relying on the findings of some of the research projects out there.
While research can certainly point us in the direction of current thinking and trends on certain subjects, in my practice and in my opinion, I need and rely upon more than one published research finding, but instead as I think you correctly point out, also rely on position statements and guidelines proffered by organizations respected in our field such as the ones that you cite.
If the research is of sufficient sample size, backed by solid research, comes from an organization or source that I've come to trust... then "yes," I use those findings in helping me with my practice and work with my clients.
Great question! Thanks.
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
larue.cook@lecfitness.com
Time-tested research findings, repeatable results, and a sample size, and subject demographic that I can relate to and trust are all things that I consider before relying on the findings of some of the research projects out there.
While research can certainly point us in the direction of current thinking and trends on certain subjects, in my practice and in my opinion, I need and rely upon more than one published research finding, but instead as I think you correctly point out, also rely on position statements and guidelines proffered by organizations respected in our field such as the ones that you cite.
If the research is of sufficient sample size, backed by solid research, comes from an organization or source that I've come to trust... then "yes," I use those findings in helping me with my practice and work with my clients.
Great question! Thanks.
LaRue, CSCS
www.lecfitness.com
larue.cook@lecfitness.com
1
I am certified with ASCM and rely on it for the latest research and always check in with ACE and IDEA to see how they get the latest research out.
ASCM is very scientific but we need that as our foundation, for this industry that has no regulations. It's great to have access to it.
It's been interesting to watch all of the changes that have occured over the past thirty years when Jane Fonda was teaching in her leg warmers, little did she know what would come of it!
I check ASCM's portal and webite on a regular basis along with keeping in close communication with a client who is a physician and wellness coach!
ASCM is very scientific but we need that as our foundation, for this industry that has no regulations. It's great to have access to it.
It's been interesting to watch all of the changes that have occured over the past thirty years when Jane Fonda was teaching in her leg warmers, little did she know what would come of it!
I check ASCM's portal and webite on a regular basis along with keeping in close communication with a client who is a physician and wellness coach!
1
I refer to ACE, NASM as well as ACSM. I use my colleagues as a resource, sometimes the answer may not be found by doing quick web searches, IDEA Connect, what we use has been invaluable. As long as the source is reliable, can be verified and is applicable for your situation, use it, in short.
1
As a CSCS since 1996 , a presenter with IDEA, and owner of fitness facility I believe both organizations and others such as ACE and IDEA are not only key resources for fitness professionals but are essential for a successful career in fitness.
They have not only served as an aid for scientific based knowledge but also provided essential business strategies and training tools for success. During the start up phase of building my fitness facility I often referenced the IDEA data base for information on hiring staff, training class teachers, code of ethics protocol, and client retention. I referenced the NSCA for specific gym set up information as well as training strategies for various clientele ranging from Olympic athletes, high school foot ball teams and seniors.
I have watched IDEA grow from a four page newsletter (one of which I still have from 1991) to an incredible trusted resource tool offering six journals (definitely over four pages in length). I highly recommend theses resource databases as trusted and valuable tools to enhance any fitness career.
They have not only served as an aid for scientific based knowledge but also provided essential business strategies and training tools for success. During the start up phase of building my fitness facility I often referenced the IDEA data base for information on hiring staff, training class teachers, code of ethics protocol, and client retention. I referenced the NSCA for specific gym set up information as well as training strategies for various clientele ranging from Olympic athletes, high school foot ball teams and seniors.
I have watched IDEA grow from a four page newsletter (one of which I still have from 1991) to an incredible trusted resource tool offering six journals (definitely over four pages in length). I highly recommend theses resource databases as trusted and valuable tools to enhance any fitness career.
1
Since I see my profession as maternal and child health as well as women's wellness I turn to:
Childbirth Connections
American College of Nurse Midwives
ACOG
ACSM
CDC
and use Cochrane reviews
Childbirth Connections
American College of Nurse Midwives
ACOG
ACSM
CDC
and use Cochrane reviews
0
Pub Med is a great resource to find individual studies or reviews/analyses. It's my opinion that nearly all exercise science studies are flawed in some way and the vast majority of them have made it into existence with hardly any scrutiny through the peer review process. As long as you can pick out the flaws first, you can still derive good info from well controlled studies out there. Additionally, if you have access to your school's database still (most of us don't anymore) that can offer you a wealth of information as well. Position stands by certain organizations (even non-profit ones) are heavily biased and face less scrutiny than other papers, I believe. It's a tough job sorting through the flaws, but it can be done. You can't take anything at face value. You have to dig deeper into methods, funding, motivations, biases, etc. As much as it's not supposed to be, scientific research is political too. However, paying attention to research at all rather than trendy stuff that is prevalent in what we do is a huge step in the right direction.
0
Hi Joanne,
I like to go to as many workshops and seminars as I can every year provided by NSCA. They have a large variety of subjects and they are always looking for ways to stay ahead of other organizations. They provide a large quantity of research and information and I'm always excited to be part of their organization. I love their TSAC information they put out there and I use it in my work. IDEA has great resources as well and I make sure to utilize as much as I can and I always look for new trends out there. The internet is great for searching and reading new material. I spend a lot of time every week looking for that information.
Just like you said, it's always good to have many different resources to cross examine so you can get the best reliable information as possible.
I like to go to as many workshops and seminars as I can every year provided by NSCA. They have a large variety of subjects and they are always looking for ways to stay ahead of other organizations. They provide a large quantity of research and information and I'm always excited to be part of their organization. I love their TSAC information they put out there and I use it in my work. IDEA has great resources as well and I make sure to utilize as much as I can and I always look for new trends out there. The internet is great for searching and reading new material. I spend a lot of time every week looking for that information.
Just like you said, it's always good to have many different resources to cross examine so you can get the best reliable information as possible.
0
I believe that such organizations should update relevant information for the further development of the topic of health and sports. I've bought a research paper online for college on the site https://au.papersowl.com/buy-research-paper-online because I want to receive only relevant knowledge. Because most books are based on data from another 20th century. All students deserve a decent level of education.
