“I am not surprised that wearable technology is ranked first again,” said Karen Wonders, Wright State University professor of exercise physiology and Sports Science program director. “People like immediate feedback, and it’s helpful to see your status throughout the day. It’s a great way to motivate someone to be active and with the wearable technology, they can easily see how well they did the day before and work to try and beat it.”
While some question the accuracy of the step counting or energy expenditure data, those might not be the most important elements of the devices.
“The actual accuracy is somewhat questionable, but if it motivates people to outdo themselves or if it motivates people to be accountable, that’s great,” said Jon Linderman, associate professor and graduate program director at the University of Dayton Department of Health & Sport Science. “It’s probably more of a motivational tool than great science.”
The most recent ACSM survey – in its 11th year – continues to support 18 of the previous top 20 worldwide fitness trends from 2016, with two additional trends appearing in the top 20 – Exercise is Medicine and group exercise programs. Exercise is Medicine is the integration of physical activity into healthcare and the linking of patients to evidence-based community resources. The goal of EIM is the implementation of interventions that will slow, stop, and reverse the progression of chronic diseases.
“I am thrilled to see this new trend,” Wonders said. “As the director of Maple Tree Cancer Alliance, we provide free exercise training to individuals battling cancer. Our research shows the numerous benefits associated with exercise during cancer recovery. Basically, exercise attenuates nearly every treatment-related side effect. The same goes for other chronic diseases as well.”
With the recent news that life expectancy for adults in this country has actually decreased, the concept of Exercise as Medicine is particularly timely.
“There is very little physical activity left in our daily jobs or our daily lives and that’s a big part of why we’re having so many health-related problems,” Linderman said. “Having people be more physically active can only help our medical problems.”
The top 10 fitness trends for 2017
American College of Sports Medicine
1. Wearable Technology: includes activity trackers, smart watches, heart rate monitors and GPS tracking devices.
2. Body Weight Training: Body weight training uses minimal equipment making it more affordable. Not limited to just push-ups and pull-ups, this trend allows people to get “back to the basics” with fitness.
3. High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT): HIIT, which involves short bursts of activity followed by a short period of rest or recovery, these exercise programs are usually performed in less than 30 minutes.
4. Educated and Experienced Fitness Professionals. It’s important that consumers choose professionals certified through programs that are accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), such as those offered by ACSM.
5. Strength Training. Strength training remains a central emphasis for many health clubs. Incorporating strength training is an essential part of a complete exercise program for all physical activity levels and genders.
6. Group Training: Group exercise instructors teach, lead and motivate individuals though intentionally designed group exercise classes. Group programs are designed to be motivational and effective for people at different fitness levels.
7. Exercise is Medicine. Exercise is Medicine is a global health initiative that is focused on encouraging primary care physicians and other health care providers to include physical activity when designing treatment plans for patients and referring their patients to exercise professionals.
8. Yoga. Based on ancient tradition, yoga utilizes a series of specific bodily postures practiced for health and relaxation. This includes Power Yoga, Yogalates, Bikram, Ashtanga, Vinyasa, Kripalu, Anurara, Kundalini, Sivananda and others.
9. Personal Training. More and more students are majoring in kinesiology, which indicates that they are preparing themselves for careers in allied health fields such as personal training. Education, training and proper credentialing for personal trainers have become increasingly important to the health and fitness facilities that employ them.
10. Exercise and Weight Loss. In addition to nutrition, exercise is a key component of a proper weight loss program. Health and fitness professionals who provide weight loss programs are increasingly incorporating regular exercise and caloric restriction for better weight control in their clients.
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