The ninth edition of this book consists of a clinical practice guidelines for physical activity from the American College of Sports Medicine. These guidelines began in 1975 and have been continually updated every 4–6 years. There are over 50 contributing authors to this edition alone, consisting of many health professionals and researchers. The book consists of 11 chapters divided into 3 main sections: Health appraisal and risk assessment, Exercise testing, and Exercise prescription. The most valuable new addition is a chapter titled “Behavioural Theories and Strategies for Promoting Exercise”. This chapter explains theories as to why individuals adapt sedentary lifestyles and provides strategies to promote an active lifestyle.
This book is a useful resource for any health care provider that deals with exercise in their practice. It supports the public health message that practitioners should be ensuring that patients are participating in an active lifestyle in a safe, effective manner. This book highlights how to assess activity levels and prescribed exercises for a variety of conditions and special populations. It focuses on the clinical applicability of exercise testing and health screening before activity. Each chapter has summary points to ensure the reader is aware of the take home concepts. After reading this book you can feel confident that you have an up to date, reliable resource for exercise testing and prescription in the clinic.