National Academy of Sports Medicine

Last updated
National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM)
Founded1987;37 years ago (1987)
Founder Robert M. Goldman [1]
TypeFor-profit
FocusCertifications, Continuing Education, Professional Enablement [2]
Headquarters Gilbert, AZ [3]
Area served
Members in 100+ countries [4]
MethodCertifications, technical assistance, trainings and seminars
CEO
Mehul Patel
Parent organization
Ascend Learning
Website nasm.org

The National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM) is an organization that provides certification, education, and career development opportunities for professionals in the fitness, wellness, and sports industries. Established in 1987, NASM has gained recognition for its evidence-based approach to fitness and wellness education and has developed a range of programs aimed at enhancing the skills of personal trainers, wellness coaches, athletic trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, physical therapists, and other health professionals. Its headquarters is located in Gilbert, Arizona. [5] NASM is a subsidiary of Ascend Learning. [6]

Contents

History

NASM was founded in 1987 by Robert M. Goldman with the goal of creating standardized educational programs for the personal fitness training industry. [7] [8] In 1998, Neal Spruce relocated NASM to California and integrated it with Apex Fitness. Subsequently, in 2000, Dr. Micheal Clark became the CEO of NASM, introducing the Optimum Performance Training™ (OPT™) model. This model, which emphasizes a systematic approach to training with phases of stabilization, strength, and power, aims to reduce injury risk and has become integral to NASM's educational programs.

Over the years, NASM has expanded its certification offerings and has certified over 1.4 million individuals globally. In 2015, NASM acquired the Athletics and Fitness Association of America (AFAA), further broadening its educational scope to include group fitness instruction. [9] In 2019, NASM acquired ClubConnect, an online platform providing education and training content, as well as business development and club management tools.

Company Timeline

Certificates & Products

NASM offers a variety of certification programs for fitness and wellness professionals at different stages of their careers. These programs are based on an evidence-based approach and cover areas such as human movement science, biomechanics, and client-focused programming.

Fitness and Performance Certifications

Nutrition & Wellness Certifications

Professional Enablement Tools

NASM provides various products, resources, and tools to support fitness and wellness professionals throughout their careers. These include NASM One, a membership platform offering ongoing support and education, and the NASM Edge app, a digital coaching tool for client management and business operations.

Continuing Education and Accreditation

NASM emphasizes continuing education through advanced certifications and specialization courses. The organization is accredited by the National Commission for Certifying Agencies (NCCA), ensuring that its certification processes meet high standards of fairness, validity, and reliability.

NASM's educational programs are based on scientific research and industry best practices, with a focus on human movement science, biomechanics, and corrective exercise. The organization also utilizes digital tools to enhance the learning experience for its global community of professionals.

NASM Podcast Network

The NASM Podcast Network features a selection of podcasts hosted by industry professionals, providing education and insights into fitness, wellness, performance, and health.

Global Impact

NASM has certified professionals in over 100 countries and is recognized by major gym chains, health clubs, and sports organizations worldwide.

Industry Leadership and Advocacy

NASM advocates for policy and legislative changes that promote physical activity and improve public health. [10] The organization participates in initiatives such as the NFL's Smart Heart Sports Coalition and supports military families by providing career opportunities in fitness and wellness. [11]

Supporting Military Families

Since 2017, NASM has been recognized as a Military Friendly School, [12] offering discounts on courses and military funding options for certifications, which enable military families to pursue rewarding careers as fitness professionals. [13]

Publications and Research

NASM publishes resources like the textbook "NASM Essentials of Personal Fitness Training" [14] and contributes to industry journals, [15] sharing research and its application in fitness training.

Notable NASM Certified Professionals

See also

Related Research Articles

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Coaching is a form of development in which an experienced person, called a coach, supports a learner or client in achieving a specific personal or professional goal by providing training and guidance. The learner is sometimes called a coachee. Occasionally, coaching may mean an informal relationship between two people, of whom one has more experience and expertise than the other and offers advice and guidance as the latter learns; but coaching differs from mentoring by focusing on specific tasks or objectives, as opposed to more general goals or overall development.

A dietitian, medical dietitian, or dietician is an expert in identifying and treating disease-related malnutrition and in conducting medical nutrition therapy, for example designing an enteral tube feeding regimen or mitigating the effects of cancer cachexia. Many dietitians work in hospitals and usually see specific patients where a nutritional assessment and intervention has been requested by a doctor or nurse, for example if a patient has lost their ability to swallow or requires artificial nutrition due to intestinal failure. Dietitians are regulated healthcare professionals licensed to assess, diagnose, and treat such problems. In the United Kingdom, dietitian is a 'protected title', meaning identifying yourself as a dietitian without appropriate education and registration is prohibited by law.

A nutritionist is a person who advises others on matters of food and nutrition and their impacts on health. Some people specialize in particular areas, such as sports nutrition, public health, or animal nutrition, among other disciplines. In many countries, a person can claim to be a nutritionist even without any training, education, or professional license, in contrast to a dietitian, who has a university degree, professional license, and certification for professional practice.

Athletic training is an allied health care profession recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) that "encompasses the prevention, examination, diagnosis, treatment, and rehabilitation of emergent, acute, or chronic injuries and medical conditions." There are five areas of athletic training listed in the seventh edition (2015) of the Athletic Training Practice Analysis: injury and illness prevention and wellness promotion; examination, assessment, diagnosis; immediate and emergency care; therapeutic intervention; and healthcare administration and professional responsibility.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Athletic trainer</span> Licensed provider in sports medicine

An athletic trainer is a certified and licensed health care provider who practices in the field of sports medicine. Athletic training has been recognized by the American Medical Association (AMA) as an allied health care profession since 1990.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Health education</span> Education for awareness of and influence on the attitude of health

Health education is a profession of educating people about health. Areas within this profession encompass environmental health, physical health, social health, emotional health, intellectual health, and spiritual health, as well as sexual and reproductive health education. It can also be defined as any combination of learning activities that aim to assist individuals and communities improve their health by expanding knowledge or altering attitudes.

The Asian Academy for Sports and Fitness Professionals (AASFP) is a fitness instructors certification body founded in Hong Kong in 1992. The academy provides professional education and training programs in Asia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">American College of Sports Medicine</span> Membership organization of sports medicine and exercise science professionals

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 programs for personal trainers and exercise physiologists.

A peer support specialist is a person with "lived experience" who has been trained to support those who struggle with mental health, psychological trauma, or substance use. Their personal experience of these challenges provide peer support specialists with expertise that professional training cannot replicate.

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">Orthopaedic sports medicine</span>

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<span class="mw-page-title-main">UPMC Rooney Sports Complex</span> Multi-sport training facility

The UPMC Rooney Sports Complex is a multipurpose, multisport training, sports science, and sports medical complex of the University of Pittsburgh Medical Center. The complex is located along the shore of the Monongahela River in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and is unique in that it is the only facility in the United States housing the practice and training facilities for both a collegiate National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) football team and a professional National Football League (NFL) team, the Pittsburgh Panthers and Pittsburgh Steelers respectively. It is also unique in that it combines these training facilities in one location with an academically based sports science and medicine program. The complex consists of four centers which include the Center for Sports Medicine, Sports Training Center, Indoor Training Center, and the Fitness and Conditioning Center located in three buildings along with four outdoor practice fields all situated on 40 acres (16 ha) of land. The UPMC Center for Sports Medicine located in the complex is an international destination for amateur and professional athletes alike for its training, medical, and rehabilitation studies and services.

Exercise prescription commonly refers to the specific plan of fitness-related activities that are designed for a specified purpose, which is often developed by a fitness or rehabilitation, or Exercise medicine specialist for the client or patient. Due to the specific and unique needs and interests of the client/patient, the goal of exercise prescription should focus on motivation and customization, thus making achieving goals more likely to become successful. Exercise prescription should take into account the patient's medical history, and a pre-examination of a patient's physical fitness to make sure a person has the capacity to perform the exercises.

Huntington University of Health Sciences, formerly known as the American Academy of Nutrition and Huntington College of Health Sciences, is a for-profit higher education institution based in Knoxville, Tennessee that offers programs in nutrition and health via distance education.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Professional fitness coach</span>

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The International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) is an organization that operates as an education and certification company for fitness trainers, personal trainers, strength and conditioning coaches, nutritionists, nutrition coaches, and aerobic instructors.

A strength and conditioning coach is a physical performance professional who uses exercise prescription to improve the performance of competitive athletes or athletic teams. This is achieved through the combination of strength training, aerobic conditioning, and other methods.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Council on Strength & Fitness</span> Organization

The National Council on Strength and Fitness (NCSF) is a member-driven organization of exercise professionals located in Coral Gables, Florida. The NCSF board for certification oversees the National Commission for Certifying Agencies accredited credentialing programs and advocates on behalf of exercise professionals. In 2004, the NCSF organization expanded internationally, offering exercise professional credentialing worldwide. In partnership with Prometric Testing Services the organization provides accredited certification exams in over 10,000 centers within its global network.

Andrew Scott Wyant is an American health and fitness entrepreneur who served as president and CEO of the International Sports Sciences Association (ISSA) and the 2022 CEO World Awards winner. He previously served as president of the National Academy of Sports Medicine (NASM). He had been credited for the growth in personal training certification over the past decade and was awarded the Ernst and Young Entrepreneur of the Year award. Prior to joining the fitness industry, Wyant was responsible for leading the sales and marketing of LifeLock, including the Social Security campaign.

References

  1. "Biography by Baron Magazine". Dr. Robert M. Goldman. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  2. Newport, Joshua. "LibGuides: Health and Physical Education: Professional Groups and Organizations". barton.libguides.com.
  3. "National Academy of Sports Medicine Acquires Aerobics and Fitness Association of America". clubindustry.com. 6 August 2015.
  4. "Marketwire.com info about NASM having members in 80+ countries". marketwired.com.
  5. "Next Insurance Partners with National Academy of Sports Medicine and Athletics and Fitness Association of America to Offer Tailored Coverage for Personal Trainers". www.morningstar.com. 28 February 2018.
  6. "About Us". NASM Website.
  7. "National Academy of Sports Medicine President and CEO Dr. Micheal Clark Named to Business Journal of Phoenix Forty under 40 List". Personal Fitness Professional. 16 March 2007. Retrieved 10 April 2018.
  8. "Biography". Dr. Robert Goldman MD, PhD DO, FAASP. 2019-10-22. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  9. Sandberg, Josh (2015-08-07). "National Academy of Sports Medicine Acquires Aerobics and Fitness Association of America". Ortho Spine News. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  10. "Breaking Ground: Health & Fitness Association's Debut Fly-In and…". Health & Fitness Association. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  11. NWSL (2023-06-01). "NFL Expands Smart Heart Sports Coalition to Include 26 Members, Continuing to Drive CPR and AED Advocacy | National Women's Soccer League Official Site". NWSL. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  12. "Marketwired.com article about NASM being military friendly". marketwired.com.
  13. USVM (2022-04-29). "NASM Supports Military Families with Career Opportunities | U.S. Veterans Magazine | A US Veterans News Resource". U.S. Veterans Magazine. Retrieved 2024-10-29.
  14. Bıyıklı, Türker (2018-10-29). "Comparison of Physical Parameters of the Individuals Who Have Received NASM-OPT Model & EMS Training in Combination With Traditional Fitness Training Applications Regularly as Personal Training (PT) for 20 Weeks". Journal of Education and Training Studies. 6 (12): 158. doi: 10.11114/jets.v6i12.3673 . ISSN   2324-8068.
  15. Maquirriain, Javier (2010). "Epidemiological analysis of doping offences in the professional tennis circuit". Journal of Occupational Medicine and Toxicology. 5 (1): 30. doi: 10.1186/1745-6673-5-30 . ISSN   1745-6673. PMC   3012045 .