Exercise Trends for Physical Therapists and their Patients

exercise trends

For the past nine years, The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) has published the top 20 exercises trending in the upcoming year in its health and fitness journal. As in previous years, the 2015 survey, sent to over 28,000 fitness professionals, was comprised of 39 possible trends. This year’s survey shows that Pilates, Zumba and indoor cycling have declined in popularity. Body weight training claims the number one spot this year.

Many of the respondents to ACSM’s survey work as allied healthcare professionals in a clinical setting, or in hospital outreach programs provided by their healthcare employers. It behooves these therapists to take a look at what’s in and what’s out, in America’s gyms and exercise classes; they can use the survey results to better serve patients and their families, and justify investments in the customized physical therapy programs they are likely using with patients.

Body weight training’s ascent to the #1 spot has been an interesting climb. Last year, the top honor went to high-intensity interval training. Body weight training did not appear in the ACSM survey until 2013, when it was listed at #3. Physical therapists with a niche in sports medicine will want to take a comparative look at this year vs. last year’s fitness trends, to see which ones climbed, fell, or dropped off the list altogether.

Top 10 Trending Exercises

These are the top 10 (out of 20) most popular fitness trends for 2015; the rest included exercises such as outdoor activities, boot camp, wellness coaching and circuit training.

  1. Body weight training
  2. High intensity interval training
  3. Educated, certified, and experienced fitness professionals
  4. Strength training
  5. Personal training
  6. Exercise and weight loss
  7. Yoga
  8. Fitness Programs for older adults
  9. Functional fitness
  10. Group personal training

Today’s Physical Therapists Are Trending Right Along with This Year’s Exercise Trends!

When physical therapists review the top fitness trends and exercise in 2015, they will be encouraged by a recurring theme here, one that can’t help but resonate in most physical therapy careers, an emphasis on fitness programs for seniors, health and wellness coaching and working one on one with patients. The top trends for 2015 are ideal for helping physical therapists develop “personalized prevention plans” in accordance with the U.S. Preventive Services Task Force, and the Affordable Care Act’s requirement that Medicare patients’ annual wellness visits are 100% covered! Allied healthcare professionals who are interested in introducing some of this year’s trending exercises to patients can access the full text of the ACSM’s study by clicking on this link from their Health & Science Journal.

An Experienced Therapist Recruitment Agency Has a Grip on 2015’s Hottest Job Trends!

American Traveler Allied staff have decades of experience placing allied healthcare workers in well-paying therapy jobs in all 50 U.S. States. Our candidates are the same brand of educated, certified, and experienced fitness professionals that helped shape ACSM’s popular survey last year, this year and in years to come. Get in touch with one of our recruiters today for instant access to therapy jobs in America’s best rehabilitation hospitals and outpatient centers. Our benefits include free private housing in featured locations, and the chance to advance your therapist career into the six figures. Happy New Year, everyone!