The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM), headquartered in Indianapolis, Indiana, is a sports medicine and exercise science membership organization. Founded in 1954, ACSM holds conferences, publishes books and journals, and offers certification training for trainers and physiologists.
This study examined the dose-response effects of a 1-year hybrid-type, multicomponent interval training programme (DoIT) on various musculoskeletal fitness parameters in inactive overweight and obese adults in a gym setting. Ninety-seven middle-aged (44.8 ± 5.2 years) individuals with overweight/obesity (31.2 ± 5.7 kg/m2) (66% female) were randomly assigned to the following groups: (i) no-intervention control (CON, n = 29), (ii) DoIT performed once weekly (DoIT-1, n = 24), (iii) DoIT performed twice weekly (DoIT-2, n = 23) and (iv) DoIT performed thrice weekly (DoIT-3, n = 21). DoIT was a time-efficient, intermittent-based, multicomponent exercise protocol using progressive loaded fundamental movement patterns with prescribed work-to-rest intervals (1:3-2:1) in a circuit format (2-3 rounds). Muscular strength, muscular endurance, flexibility, passive range of motion (PRoM), static balance and functional movement screen (FMS®) were assessed at baseline, 6 and 12 months following intervention. At post-training, all exercise groups exhibited superior changes than CON in (i) muscular strength (+13%-38%, p < 0.001); (ii) muscular endurance (+42%-159%, p < 0.001); (iii) flexibility (+12%-42%, p < 0.001); (iv) PRoM (+6%-50%, p = 0.001-0.026); (v) static balance (+61%-163%, p < 0.001); and (vi) FMS (+18%-39%, p < 0.001). Although a single exercise session/week improved musculoskeletal fitness, changes demonstrated a step-wise improvement with two and three sessions/week suggesting a dose-dependent response. The response rate to training was 100% for all exercise groups. These findings suggest that a multicomponent exercise approach incorporating bodyweight drills and resistance-based alternative modes performed under real-world conditions may improve several musculoskeletal fitness indicators in a dose-dependent manner in inactive, middle-aged adults with overweight/obesity.Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT03759951.
Dixie Stanforth, Ph.D., FACSM,is a Professor of Instruction in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin. She developed and directs the Health Fitness Instructor, Community Health & Wellness, and Medical Fitness/Rehabilitation Specializations for undergraduates. She serves as a provost's teaching fellow, is an associate editor for ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal®, and is a frequent presenter at ACSM's International Health & Fitness Summit and other national conferences. Erin Crownover, M.S.,is a former collegiate basketball player who recently completed her master's degree in Exercise Physiology in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at UT Austin in the Physical Culture and Sport Studies program. Erin is passionate about exercise and sport, especially the intersection of exercise science with physical culture, sport history, sport economics, and sport/international relations. Disclosure:The authors declare no conflict of interest and do not have any financial disclosures.
Dixie Stanforth, Ph.D., FACSM,is a professor of instruction in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin. She developed and directs the Health Fitness Instructor, Community Health and Wellness, and Medical Fitness/Rehabilitation Specializations for undergraduates. She serves as a provost's teaching fellow, is an associate editor for ACSM's Health & Fitness Journal®, and is a frequent presenter at ACSM's International Health & Fitness Summit and other national conferences. Erin Crownover, M.S.,is a former collegiate basketball player who recently completed her master's degree in Exercise Physiology in the Department of Kinesiology and Health Education, The University of Texas at Austin. She is currently pursuing her Ph.D. at UT Austin in the Physical Culture and Sport Studies program. Erin is passionate about exercise and sport, especially the intersection of exercise science with physical culture, sport history, sport economics, and sport/international relations. Disclosure:The authors declare no conflict of interest and do not have any financial disclosures.
