BooneThink

Just recently, a student asked me “What is the difference between sports medicine and exercise physiology?” It occurred to me that the ACSM definition of sports medicine should help the student. For example, ACSM states that “Sports medicine is the field of medicine concerned with injuries sustained in athletic endeavors, including their prevention, diagnosis, and treatment.”

Moments later the student asked, “What is exercise science?” I gave her the ACSM definition: “Exercise science is the study of movement and the associated functional responses and adaptations.” I can’t say she was impressed, but before I took another breath she asked what is the definition of Exercise Physiology?

I said that the ASEP Board of Directors published a comprehensive definition of Exercise Physiology on the ASEP homepage. It is the first professional definition that highlights the belief of the leadership that exercise physiology is a healthcare profession.

In other words, exercise physiology is the practice of exercise physiology. It is not as simple as the “acute and chronic changes that occur with exercise” as most textbooks state. Exercise physiology is more. It is the 21st century breakthrough thinking in healthcare.

It is all about academic accreditation linked to a board certification that exclusively defines the professional title. This, I said, is probably the most important statement about ASEP (i.e., the commitment to professional development).

This is the difference between ASEP and other organizations. The perception of exercise physiology via the ASEP organization ought to be consistent with the profession infrastructure that ties the content together. Licensure is a very real possibility in the not too distant future but, in many ways, it is not absolutely necessary for credibility and financial stability.

As professionals, exercise physiologists have come a long way. However, they still must commit to seeing themselves as healthcare professionals, dedicated to their clients, the public and, perhaps, most importantly to their profession.

Life is full of challenges. Some are easy to handle. Others are next to impossible. If we choose to avoid the “big” challenges, we forfeit the chance for a new reality. This is why we must seize every opportunity to speak out and to get involved. Whether it is physical, moral, or social courage, we cannot step back even when we think that we might be wrong. This is the distinction that men and women have struggle with, but understand. This is also how each of us actualizes our dreams and talents so that everything around us sharpens our understanding that intensifies our efforts. This is the moment that our capacity to believe in breakthrough thinking is increased. New patterns of thinking lead to new insights and possibilities. This transition sets the stage for periods of hope and sharing that allows giving ourselves to challenges that defeat uniformity in thinking. This means that we must always stand tall. Just as courage is a menace to groupthink, the courage to stand tall is essential to our fate and sense of timing as healthcare professionals.

What was once the great promise for physical educators with an interest in “physiology of exercise” turned into a sense of sadness, given the lack of sustainable leadership in exercise physiology. Perhaps, early on, the association (if not commitment) with sports medicine was promising but, strangely enough, the promise lay in the achievements of sports medicine and not exercise physiology.

Many great “exercise physiologists” — meaning those primarily with a physical education background who earned a doctorate degree in “whatever is generally accepted as exercise physiology” — did (and are still doing) exceptional work in the field. Few would disagree that their research in particular has proven extremely helpful in laying the scientific basis for exercise phyysiology.

However, an interest in just research is grossly inadequate in the shaping of a profession. This is well understood for decades across many healthcare professions. Exercise physiologists deceive themselves when they think that research alone is adequate. Progress must take shape on several different fronts, most of which has been thoroughly explained in published articles in the Professionalization of Exercise Physiologyonline journal.

In fact, the criteria for a profession are so commonplace that it is an extraordinary event indeed for exercise physiologists to continue not to support the American Society of Exercise Physiologists. The practice of exercise physiology is defined by the ASEP leadership, which is acknowledged as a beginning point only. Much remains to be done in regards to defining the exercise physiology practice with “exercise as medical treatment” woven throughout the document.

This is also why the idea of a specialist, often rendered from “instructor-level” thinking simply isn’t enough education or professional background to warrant credibility in the public sector. It is even truer that the “personal trainer” is not a healthcare professional. The practice of applying exercise as medicine in an exercise prescriptive sense is increasingly too valuable to allow or even encourage non-healthcare professionals involvement.

This thinking, pushed by well-established healthcare ideas, concepts, and professional standards, will eventually be understood by society (and by the academics involved in related problems of study). Unfortunately, the academic exercise physiologists aren’t keeping pace with the advancement of the infrastructure for professional development of exercise physiology. The schools, especially those with a high emphasis on research, are likely to be transformed very slowly into the ASEP way of thinking.

Meanwhile, the effort goes on, the work is obvious, and sorting it all out is a time-driven process in much the same order others have done before us. No one or emerging professional is immune to the challenges of progress. This is exactly why exercise physiologists must move on from sports medicine and become authors of their own destiny.

Personal training is not the future of healthcare in the United States. There is far too little wisdom and insight into believing otherwise. It is important that this great divide now between sports medicine thinking and ASEP is thoroughly and urgently understood. The past is no longer the exercise physiologist’s guiding light. Instead, it is a junkyard of outmoded ideas.

My point is this: This participation in the early 1950s and, then, later in the 80s and 90s in sports medicine thinking was once mutual, perhaps, even a natural function, but this is no longer the case today. We find ourselves unable to go back, knowing what is necessary of us to go forward.

For this reason, the American Society of Exercise Physiologists was founded in 1997 to not keep placing limits on exercise physiology or even bondage on how they think, but to recover what is left of the exercise physiologist’s self-esteem and respect. In short, it is all about removing the shackles of past thinking for a new 21st century way of thinking.

ASEP is, therefore, a deliberate step into the professionalism of exercise physiology. It follows that it is logical and centered entirely on the credibility of exercise physiologists. The professional title, exercise physiologist, matters more now than ever before, because it bears witness to everything that is understood in “titles that define other professionals.”

Accreditation matters, but only when linked to a singular professional title. An exclusive certification, such as the ASEP board certification (the EPC), also linked to a specific Code of Ethics, such as now exercise physiologists have with ASEP, and a Standard of Practice that holds exercise physiologists accountable are all a living witness of the work of ASEP on behalf of exercise physiology.

The old way, the ACSM way, is no longer needed, nor is it justified. This is a lesson that is hard to learn for some, but obvious to others. Exercise physiologists, who embrace ASEP, will no longer be specialists, but healthcare professionals who will be like physical therapists, nurses, and others in the healthcare field, having learned to understanding their role in a “profession” more directly, as well as the life-long dedication to attaining credibility.

The desire for exercise physiology to be a healthcare profession drives me to write and to share my thoughts and feelings. It is a vision that I believe all exercise physiologists will come to share. It answers all of our questions, and it gives us hope and reason for our work. It is the ASEP vision. Perhaps it would be useful to read it within this message. It consists of three parts: (1) To be recognized as the leading professional organization of American scholars and practitioners in the study and application of exercise physiology to fitness, health promotion, rehabilitation, and sports training. (2) The Society is dedicated to unifying all exercise physiologists in the United States and worldwide to promote and support the study, practice, teaching, research, and development of the exercise physiology profession. (3) Through proactive and creative leadership, the Society empowers its members to serve the public good by making an academically sound difference in the application of exercise physiology concepts and insights. Think about it. We need to share this vision, and we need to work together. It is uplifting and it is exhilarating. It gives me courage to keep writing, take risks, and believe in the impossible.

1. Not everyone is going to publish. Some people just aren’t interested in writing. To write is to dedicate a serious block of time that takes from more enjoyable tasks. No one likes dealing with rejection.

2. Start earlier rather than later. Rejection is easier earlier on and later in the process, but not easy in the middle part. It takes time to develop your own style of writing (and, as is often the case, a way of writing that defines how you think as well).

3. Look to articles, books, friends, colleagues, and the Internet (not just in your area of interest, but also outside of it) to write about new ideas and possibilities. It is always fun to publish an article that hasn’t been done or written with your unique perspective. This kind of writing also provides you “more ownership.”

4. Be ready to modify your original thinking. You know publishers have their own way of doing things, but do you believe it (and are you willing to live it). Being willing to listen to the Acquisition Editor increases your chances of getting a book published.

5. Be ready to acquire new skills aside from writing per se. Often, books are more than words (as we know) and, therefore, have you considered the cost factor to publish pictures and/or illustrations? Also, there are costs for typing and editing by a friend or colleague.

6. Acknowledge that publishing isn’t fair. Rejections are often biased and unfair (for a variety of reasons). Politics shape what is published; companies are political and editors know their first responsibility is to keeping their job (even if they truly like your proposal). Acquisitions editors have operate by their own agenda even if you will never learn of it.

7. Don’t allow rejection to mean more than is it. It is about the article or book proposal. It is not a definition of who you are! Don’t take it personally, however hard not to. As with all games of contest, there are winners and losers. Do not allow the game to mess with your mind. Rather, learn how to play it better. There are always opportunities to learn from rejection.

8. Speaking of learning, writing and publishing constitutes an integrated art form that is in constant flux with opportunity. Every word written or spoken may stimulate your next thought or the reason for your next published paper or book. This is especially the case when writing becomes your passion and outlet. Publishing isn’t any longer about another article or book but about the message – it is something done because there are no alternatives to not doing it. Then, be ready to consider that you are either “over the edge” or “on to something.”

9. If you must write (as writers must do), forget the restraining and often meaningless statements from colleagues (and, even occasionally, from family members). No body cares to read that stuff. No one would publish it in a respectable journal. “You did what?” – Self-publish. My God! Get serious. Electronic journals and/books will never have the value of print copy documents.

10. Lastly, to publish articles, research manuscripts, or books, one must learn how to write. Writing, like athletics, requires long hours of not “just doing it” – but doing it with the purposeful intent to do it well. Look to other writers and how they write. Study the flow and context of “what is what” in their books or manuscripts. Like life or sports, writing is about finding the time. Then, after so many months or years, it becomes part of who you are.

The road ahead to fitness can be an incredible adventure or it can be an absolute failure. The human body is an unexplored territory, where predictability is next to impossible. Do adults who are enthralled by fitness and the possibilities it promises understand that it is not the answer to being healthy? Fitness is one among many factors that influence one’s health.

Yet, endless magazine articles, television shows, and consensus conferences have created the notion that fitness is health. This almost unbelievable interest in fitness has resulted in thousands of people, some informed and others uninformed, going beyond reason in hope of unrealistic gains. They exercise to exhaustion and do so day-after-day to reduce the risks of dying from heart disease without realizing that the disease is a multivariate problem. Still others are driven by different needs. They believe that increased fitness will empower them to cheat life’s wear and tear. Some expect to increase longevity and prove that exercise is the panacea of society’s ills.

But life is more than physical activity, although admittedly helpful and beneficial physically and psychologically, there are pitfalls! Fitness for many Americans is more driven by who runs faster and has the best stomach muscles. They are interested in being first and doing whatever it takes to refigure the way they look. The heart of the problem is not our lack of the perfect body, but rather the unprecedented notion that we should have a perfect body.

There is also the problem (given the absence of absolute confirmation) with the suggestion that physical inactivity (thus the lack of fitness) is the cause of heart disease, diabetes, high blood pressure, an colon cancer to mention a few. Interest in fitness has thus led to many destinations. Some have enormous potential and should be applauded. Other expectations are little more than entertainment. A few are even dangerous! For me, many of the 16+ million increase in baby boomers (35 to 59 years old) during the past seven years have doubtlessly responded to speculation and virtually boundless misinformation.

To some extent, the search for a better life through better fitness is understandable. But, simple formulas are seldom helpful and when adults develop the habit of believing any absurdity from the fitness industry, there is a problem. That is, while a commonsense approach to fitness and physical activity may help promote psychological well-being, educated laypersons with psychological problems should not depend on their fitness status to correct their problems and/or diseases. The ultimate test of good and thoughtful information is the degree to which it causes healing to takes place from within.

Remarkably, the solution to change from within is frequently as simple as “taking responsibility for our health.” I am convinced that the power of conversion in fitness thinking that guides a person’s life comes first from the person’s strong belief that fitness is the answer. Belief alone, however, can be a ticklish point particularly if it plays a key role in embracing extreme ideas that hurt more than they help. Hence, a strong belief system without the power of critical reflection is seldom a safe system. Without a serious and critical reflection of the value of fitness versus health, Americans will continue to confirm their personal bias while failing to seek disconfirming evidence. This sort of failure in thinking is a problem because it results in unwarranted generalizations.

Fitness in the 21st century should begin with the resources within you. What do you think about the fitness clubs? Do you need to belong to be physically fit? What does it mean to be fit? Are you healthy when you are fit? What do you think about the fitness machines, weights, and classes? Is the exercise at the gym worth it? Do you feel better? Should you strive to be emotionally, mentally, spiritually, and physically healthy, or physically fit?

In that we are what we think, the key to defining the role of fitness in your life may come only after you have unleashed a never-ending personalized commitment to be healthy. The direction may take you to the gym or it may cause you to act on a dream, an idea, or a place to think and/or pray. The key ingredient to your success may be in the definition of what is appropriate or proper for you, your life, and your challenges. Forget about pursuing goals talked about or believed to be important by others. Instead, explore what turns you on and sets your course toward better health (and fitness).

Ask not what someone else thinks is the desired fitness status to achieve, but ask yourself! What is realistic for you? Focus on your needs, and what you can learn from empowering yourself to act, think, and feel. Convert your physical challenges into opportunities to realize your potential, and banish your fears and uncertainties. Trust in your abilities to commit to act and to live your dream of attaining health and happiness. Develop a plan to be creative and responsible to turn what is into what can be!

This kind of thinking is more than adapting to a certain fitness look or measuring up to someone else’s standards. The interpretation of what is important and what has meaning should come from within. You must take control of your mind to take effective action and to improve the quality of your life. Hence, beyond the idea of fitness lies health. Awaken the power within you that can help enhance states of health and well-being and, if you truly believe in your personal strength and endurability, you may well be on the right road that many have missed. The search for fitness begins from within and not in the gym.

It is your belief in who you are and what you can do because your mind has the power to create reality and to exercise control over your health. It is up to each of us to actualize our potential. Giving birth to a healthy state of mind and body is psychologically challenging because we have failed to listen and to make time for ourselves. The foundation of 21st century health lies solidly in each person’s commitment and courage to face up to his/her specific responsibility to be healthy.

So, if you are in limbo where to exercise and how to do it, stop and think what is right for you! While fitness often dictates uniformity and predictability, ignite the passion from within to surpass the simplicity that you are just a physical creature struggling to run faster, lift heavier weights, or to emerge as a TV look-a-like. Dance in the joy of your strengths, both mind and body, and embrace the dawn of the 3rd millennium not as an unraveling fitness nut who is afraid of not buying the next new pair of running shoes, but as the person who understands individual responsibility and the work required to empower yourself. Good luck. Published in the ASEPNewsletter, Vol 3 No 9, September 1999.