ACSM Fitness Trends 2018

Fitness Pros Name HIIT Top Trend for 2018, Wearables #3

• 1. High-intensity interval training. HIIT typically involves short bursts of high-intensity exercise followed by a short period of rest or recovery and typically takes less than 30 minutes to perform (although it is not uncommon for these programs to be much longer in duration). Although being offered as a possible trend in previous surveys but not making the top 20, HIIT was number 1 in the survey for 2014 despite the warnings of many survey respondents about potential dangers. Even after a few years in the top 10 fitness trends, many of the comments claimed that clients liked this kind of program for a short time then were looking for something else, whereas others warned that it was very popular but were concerned with a potentially high injury rate. Others working with clinical populations in medical fitness centers said they would like to try it with their patients but would substitute high-intensity with moderate-intensity interval training. Despite the warnings by some fitness professionals of potentially increased injury rates using HIIT, this form of exercise has been popular in gyms all over the world.
• 2. Group training. Group exercise instructors teach, lead, and motivate individuals through intentionally designed larger group exercise classes (more than five or it would be group personal training). Group programs are designed to be effective sessions for different fitness levels and are motivational with instructors having leadership techniques that help individuals in their classes achieve fitness goals. There are many types of classes and equipment, from aerobics and bicycles to dance classes. Group exercise training programs have been around for a long time and have appeared as a potential worldwide trend since this survey was originally constructed. However, it was only in 2017 that group exercise training made the top 20, appearing at number 6. None of the respondents could explain why group training has become popular, so it will be interesting to watch this trend in 2018 and beyond. Note that this is a general trend for larger exercise classes and not specialty classes such as Zumba and other dance classes.
• 3. Wearable technology. Wearable technology includes activity trackers, smart watches, heart rate monitors, GPS tracking devices, and smart eye glasses (designed to show maps and track activity) that were introduced only a few years ago. Examples include fitness and activity trackers like those from Misfit, Apple iWatch, Garmin, EFOSMH, Pebble Time, Juboury, Samsung, Basis, Jawbone, and Fitbit. Trending in this part of the industry today now includes smart glasses, with a predicted $1.5 billion in sales (https://www.juniperresearch.com/home) to smart fabrics and interactive textiles. It is unpredictable how wearable technology will advance over the next decade.
• 4. Body weight training. Body weight training appeared for the first time in the trends survey in 2013 (at number 3) and was in the number 2 position for 2017. Body weight training did not appear as a survey trend option before 2013 because it only became popular (as a defined trend) in gyms around the world over the last few years. Body weight training has been used previously, in fact people have been using their own body weight for centuries as a form of resistance training. But new packaging, particularly by commercial clubs, has now made it popular in all kinds of gyms and health clubs around the world. Typical body weight training programs use minimal equipment, which makes it a very inexpensive way to exercise effectively. Although most people think of body weight training as being limited to push-ups and pull-ups, it can be much more than that.
• 5. Strength training. Strength training remains popular in all sectors of the health and fitness industry and for many different kinds of clients. Strength training dropped to number 4 in the 2015 and 2016 surveys and number 5 in 2017 after being at the number 2 position for 2 years but has been a strong trend since the first year of this survey. Many younger clients of both community-based programs and commercial clubs train almost exclusively using weights. In today’s gyms, however, there are many others (men and women, young and old, children, and patients with a stable chronic disease) whose main focus is on using weight training to improve or maintain strength. Many contemporary and innovative health fitness professionals incorporate some form of strength training into the comprehensive exercise routine for their clients and for their patients. It is not uncommon for cardiovascular and pulmonary rehabilitation or metabolic disease management programs to include weight training in the exercise programs for their patients.

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• 6. Educated, certified, and experienced fitness professionals. Falling to number 3 in 2015, to number 5 in 2016, and back to number 4 in 2017, this is a trend that continues now that there are third-party accreditations offered by national accrediting organizations for health and fitness and clinical exercise program professionals and a registry designed for exercise professionals. There continues to be sustained growth of educational programs at community colleges and colleges and universities, which have become accredited by the Commission on Accreditation of Allied Health Education Programs (CAAHEP, www.caahep.org) through the Committee on Accreditation for the Exercise Sciences (www.coaes.org) and more certification programs independently accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA, www.credentialingexcellence.org/NCCA) and the newly announced accreditation offered by the American National Standards Institute. As the economy continues to grow and as the market for fitness professionals becomes even more crowded and more competitive, interest in some degree of regulation either from within the industry or from external sources (i.e., government) seems to be expanding. In 2007, CAAHEP added a Personal Fitness Trainer accreditation for certificate (1 year) and associate (2 years) degree programs. The accreditation for the academic training of the personal fitness trainer joined academic program accreditation for exercise science (baccalaureate) and exercise physiology (graduate programs in either applied exercise physiology or clinical exercise physiology). Recently, the not-for-profit CREP was created. CREP maintains the United States Registry of Exercise Professionals (www.USREPS.org), which is recognized internationally by the International Confederation of Registers for Exercise Professionals. For more information, contact [email protected].
• 7. Yoga. Moving slightly up the list for 2018 is yoga. In 2017 it ranked number 8 after occupying the number 7 spot in 2015 and number 10 in 2016. Yoga first appeared in the top 10 in this survey in 2008, fell out of the top 20 in 2009, but made a great comeback in the 2010 (number 14) and 2011 surveys (number 11). In 2012, yoga was number 11 on the list, falling to number 14 in 2013 and up to number 7 in 2015. Yoga comes in a variety of forms including Power Yoga, Yogalates, and Bikram Yoga (the one done in hot and humid environments). Other forms of yoga include Iyengar Yoga, Ashtanga, Vinyasa Yoga, Kripalu Yoga, Anuara Yoga, Kundalini Yoga, and Sivananda Yoga. Instructional videos and books are abundant, as are the growing numbers of certifications for the many yoga formats. The sustained popularity of yoga seems to be that it reinvents and refreshes itself every year making it an attractive form of exercise.
• 8. Personal training. Professional personal trainers continue to seek the professionalization of their part of the industry (see trend number 6). Since this survey was first published in 2006 (1), personal training has been in the top 10 of this survey. Much attention has recently been paid to the education (through third-party accreditation of CAAHEP) and certification (through third-party accreditation by NCCA) of personal trainers. Recent legislation has been introduced in an attempt to license personal trainers in a number of states and the District of Columbia (California, New Jersey, Massachusetts, Georgia, and several others), but all have so far not been adopted. Although there have been some minor variations of personal training (e.g., small groups as opposed to one-on-one), personal trainers will continue to be an important part of the professional staff of health and fitness centers. Personal trainers are employed by community-based programs, in commercial settings, in corporate wellness programs, and in medical fitness programs, or are self-employed and work independently.
• 9. Fitness programs for older adults. There is a growing market of older adults who are now retiring healthier than other generations. Health fitness facilities should consider taking advantage of this by providing safe, age-appropriate exercise programs for this once-ignored sector of the population. The highly active older adult (the athletic old) can be targeted by commercial and community-based organizations to participate in more rigorous exercise programs including strength training, team sports, and HIIT when appropriate. Even the frail elderly can improve their balance and ability to perform activities of daily living when given appropriate functional fitness program activities. Health and fitness professionals should consider developing programs for people of retirement age and fill the time during the day when most gyms are underused (typically between 9 and 11 a.m. and 2 and 4 p.m.). It can be assumed that people who are retired not only have greater sums of discretionary money, but they also have a tendency to spend it wisely and may have more time to engage in an exercise program. The “baby boom generation” is now aging into retirement, and because they may have more discretionary money than their younger counterparts, fitness clubs should capitalize on this growing market.
• 10. Functional fitness. Functional fitness is defined as using strength training to improve balance, coordination, force, power, and endurance to enhance someone’s ability to perform activities of daily living. Replicating actual physical activities someone might do as a function of their daily routine, functional fitness first appeared on the survey in the number 4 position in 2007 but fell to number 8 in 2008 and number 11 in 2009. It reappeared in the top 10 for 2010 at number 7 and in 2011 as number 9. In 2012, functional fitness was number 10 and in 2013 and 2014 it was number 8, number 9 for 2015, number 7 in 2016, and number 12 in 2017. Some of the survey respondents said they typically pair functional fitness with fitness programs for older adults (see trend number 9) depending on the needs of the client. Functional fitness also is used in clinical programs to replicate activities done around the home.
• 11. Exercise and weight loss. Exercise in weight loss programs has been a top 20 trend since the survey began. In 2009, exercise and weight loss was ranked number 18, moving to number 12 in 2010, number 7 in 2011, and number 4 in 2012, and in 2013 the number 5 spot. In 2014, this trend was ranked number 6 and remained at number 6 for 2015. Exercise and weight loss was number 9 in the 2016 survey and number 10 in the 2017 survey. The combination of exercise and weight loss emphasizes caloric restriction with a sensible exercise program. Organizations, particularly those that are for profit and are in the business of prescribing weight loss programs, will continue to incorporate regular exercise as well as caloric restriction for weight control according to the 2018 survey. The combination of exercise and diet is essential for weight loss maintenance and can improve compliance to caloric restriction diets. Most of the well-publicized diet plans integrate exercise in addition to the daily routine of providing prepared meals to their clients.
• 12. 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 fitness professionals. The program is committed to the belief that physical activity is integral in the prevention and treatments of diseases and should be regularly assessed and “treated” as part of all health care provider visits. Exercise is Medicine goes beyond the recognition of the positive effects of regular exercise by physicians in the routine care of their patients. It encourages physicians to develop a regular referral program for patients into community programs. It also encourages exercise professionals to develop significant relationships in their communities with health care providers so that they have the necessary confidence to routinely refer their patients to qualified professionals. The Exercise is Medicine movement’s goal is for the fitness professional to become a member of the continuum of care for patients. Physicians and other health care providers should refer patients to exercise professionals in their communities with great confidence.
• 13. Group personal training. Group personal training continues to be a trend in 2018. The personal trainer continues to provide the personal service clients expect of one-to-one training (see trend number 8) but now in a small group typically of two to four, offering potentially deep discounts to each member of the group and creating an incentive for clients to put small groups together (as opposed to individual and often expensive personal training). In 2007, group personal training was number 19 on the list, but in 2008, it rose to number 15 but dropped again in 2009 to number 19 and improved to number 10 in 2010. In 2011, group personal training was number 14 on the survey, number 8 in 2012, number 10 in 2013, number 9 in 2014, number 10 in 2015, number 11 in 2016, and number 14 in 2017. In these challenging economic times, personal trainers are being more creative in the way they package personal training sessions and how they market themselves in small groups. Training two or three people at the same time in a small group seems to make good economic sense for both the trainer and the client.
• 14. Outdoor activities. Hiking, canoeing, kayaking, and games or sports are examples of outdoor activities. Outdoor activities also can include high adventure programs like overnight camping trips and mountain climbing. The trend for health and fitness professionals to offer outdoor activities for their clients began in 2010. In that year, outdoor activities was number 25 in the annual survey and in 2011 it ranked number 27. In 2012, outdoor activities was number 14, and in 2013, outdoor activities was number 12, in 2016 it was ranked number 14, and number 13 in 2017. Outdoor activities can be done with family and friends, with a group, or by yourself. Some personal trainers have used outdoor activities as a form of small group personal training.
• 15. Flexibility and mobility rollers. These devices include the deep tissue roller, myofascial release, and trigger point relief. Mobility rollers are specifically designed to massage, relieve muscle tightness, alleviate muscle spasms, improve circulation, ease muscular discomfort, and assist in the return to normal activity. Rollers have been designed for the low back, hips, and for larger muscle groups such as the hamstrings and the gluteal muscles. These rollers are typically made of foam, whereas others are hard rubber or wood depending on the desired effect. Although the research is not abundant, there seems to be a growing market for these specialized devices. Flexibility rollers were the number 16 trend in 2016 and number 20 in 2017. Fad or trend, only time will tell.
• 16. Licensure for fitness professionals. Some professions in the United States and around the world are regulated by licensure. For example, someone cannot call themselves a medical doctor or nurse and in most states a physical therapist or dietitian without holding a license. This is a trend in the fitness industry for more regulations of fitness professionals such as personal trainers. It is important for the reader to know that licensure for any profession is done at the state level so any legislative action is done locally and not nationally. There has been some legislation introduced in a number of states, but all so far have been unsuccessful. This is the first time that licensure for fitness professionals has been in the top 20 trends in the industry.
• 17. Circuit training. Circuit training appeared in 2013 (number 18) for the first time in the top 20 trends and in 2015 occupied the number 14 position, up from number 15 in 2014. In 2016, it was trend number 18 and number 19 in 2017. Some respondents pointed out that circuit training is similar to HIIT but at a much lower or even moderate intensity. Circuit training is typically a group of about 10 exercises that are completed in succession and in a predetermined sequence. Each exercise is performed for a specified number of repetitions or for a set period before having a quick rest and moving on to the next exercise. Circuit weight training has been around for a long time, and it seems to continue to be popular. Circuit weight training has dated back to 1953, but it is impossible to determine exactly when and under what circumstances it was first developed.
• 18. Wellness coaching. Wellness coaching has been in the top 20 since 2010. Wellness coaching was listed at number 17 in 2014, number 13 in 2015, number 13 for 2016, and number 15 in 2017. Wellness coaching is the integration of behavioral change science with health promotion, disease prevention, and rehabilitation. Wellness coaching often uses a one-on-one approach similar to a personal trainer with the coach providing support, guidance, encouragement, and confirmation when short- and long-term goals are reached. The wellness coach focuses on the client’s values, needs, vision, aspirations, and goals. According to the 2018 trends survey (and results from past surveys), it appears as though some personal trainers and other health and fitness professionals are now adopting wellness coaching and its principled techniques of behavior change into their client’s exercise sessions.
• 19. Core training. Core training stresses strength and conditioning of the stabilizing muscles of the abdomen, thorax, and back. It typically includes exercises of the hips, lower back, and abdomen, all of which provide support for the spine and thorax. Exercising the core muscles improves overall stability of the trunk and transfers that to the extremities, enabling the individual to meet the demands of activities of daily living and for the performance of various sports that require strength, speed, and agility. Core training often uses stabilizing devices such as exercise balls, BOSU balls, wobble boards, and foam rollers. From 2007 to 2010, core training was in the top 5 of the fitness trends. Since 2010, it has been dropping to occupying the 19th spot in 2016 and dropping out of the top 20 in 2017.
• 20. Sport-specific training. Falling from a top 10 spot (number 8) in 2010, sport-specific training dropped to number 16 for 2011 and number 17 for 2012, dropped out of the top 20 in 2013, and reappeared as number 18 in 2014 and number 16 for 2015. For 2016, sport-specific training was ranked at number 15 and dropped out of the top 20 for 2017. This trend incorporates sport-specific training for sports such as baseball and tennis, designed especially for young athletes. For example, a high school athlete might join a commercial or community-based fitness organization to help develop skills during the off-season and to increase strength and endurance specific to that sport, something like functional fitness for sport performance. This is an interesting trend for the health and fitness industry to watch during the next few years because of the fall to number 17 in 2012 from its relative popularity in 2010 and then rebounding a bit in 2014, 2015, and again for 2016. Sport-specific training could possibly attract a new market or underserved market to commercial and community clubs as well as offer a different kind of service that could lead to increased revenues.

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