ACSM’s first major resistance training update in 17 years says strength training is about far more than building muscle. The review also suggests that many workout details people obsess over may matter less than regular, sustainable training that fits real life
The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has issued its first major update on resistance training — also known as weight or strength training — since 2009, and it is forcing a rethink on how anyone approaches working out. Its broader message is, in fact, even more encouraging: healthy adults do not need to treat strength training as a technical maze before it becomes effective.
The report, which draws on 137 research papers involving more than 30,000 participants, says resistance training does far more than build muscle. It improves strength, power, balance and several measures of physical function. In other words, it helps people not just get stronger, but move better too. It also suggests that many of the training details people obsess over do not consistently change results.
The report, which draws on 137 research papers involving more than 30,000 participants, says resistance training does far more than build muscle. It improves strength, power, balance and several measures of physical function. In other words, it helps people not just get stronger, but move better too. It also suggests that many of the training details people obsess over do not consistently change results.