ACSM Annual Meeting 2024

ACSM Boston 2024

71st Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM)

USA, Boston, Hynes Convention Center
www.acsm.org

ABOUT THE CONFERENCE

The American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) is the world’s largest and most influential organization in sports medicine, exercise science, and the promotion of physical activity. The ACSM's main flagship event is the Annual Meeting, which brings together more than 6 000 professionals for the largest conference in sports science in the world. This year is the 71st Annual Meeting, and the conference is held in Boston, Massachusetts from May 28 to 31, 2024.

OUR CONTRIBUTION

This was my first face-to-face ACSM Annual Meeting. I presented pilot data from my PhD project on microcurrent and resistance exercise during the poster sessions. The abstract will be published in Medicine and Science in Sports and Exercise, Volume 56, and together with our poster are both available for download on this page. The study will be built upon further by adding more participants, and the complete findings will be published in an international journal.

 

Effects of a 6-week Resistance Exercise Programme with Microcurrent on Strength, Functional Capacity, and Muscle Thickness in Middle-Aged Adults: A Pilot Study

Poster

ACSM Boston 2024
71st Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine

EFFECTS OF A 6-WEEK RESISTANCE EXERCISE PROGRAMME WITH MICROCURRENT ON STRENGTH, FUNCTIONAL CAPACITY, AND MUSCLE THICKNESS IN MIDDLE-AGED ADULTS: A PILOT STUDY

Stefan Kolimechkov, Marcos Seijo, Fernando Naclerio
Centre for Exercise Activity and Rehabilitation, Institute for Lifecourse Development, University of Greenwich, United Kingdom

ABSTRACT

PURPOSE:

Combining microcurrent therapy (MCT) and resistance exercise has been shown to contribute to muscle recovery and maximise training outcomes in young and older adults. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of adding MCT to a resistance exercise programme (RT) on strength, functional capacity, and muscle thickness in middle-aged adults.

METHODS:

Thirteen participants (mean ± SD: age 52.6 ± 7.5 years, BMI 24.6 ± 4.2 kg/m², height 168.2 ± 9.6 cm) were randomly assigned into either a microcurrent (MCT, n=7) or a sham (SH, n=6) group. Participants used a wearable microcurrent device (live or sham) on the dominant upper arm for 3 hours post-workout or in the morning on non-training days. The live device used an intensity between 50 and 400 μA in a ratio of 2:1 (on:off) and a frequency of 1.03 kHz. Participants completed a 6-week RT (2 times a week, 12 sessions in total), with each session involving 3 sets x 12-15 reps of 8 multi-joint exercises using elastics bands: squat with shoulder press, biceps curl, squat, lateral pull down, deadlift, triceps extension, lunge, and upright row. The OMNI-RES Scale (0-10 scale) for elastic bands was used to rate the perception of effort. Participants were instructed to reach the following OMNI-RES scores at the end of each set: 6 to 7 in week 1; 7 to 8 in week 2; and 8 to 9 during weeks 3 to 6. Measurements of strength (handgrip and 90° isometric leg press), functional capacity (30s chair stand test), and muscle thickness via ultrasonography were conducted before and after the intervention.

RESULTS:

Only the MCT group showed significant pre-post improvements for both, lower-body strength (+3.0 kg for the 90° isometric leg press, p = 0.02, d = 0.31) and functional capacity (+3.1 reps for the 30s chair stand test, p = 0.01, d = 0.57). No other significant pre-post or between-group differences were observed. Nonetheless, compared to SH, the MCT intervention demonstrated favourable moderate effect sizes for the 90° isometric leg press (d = 0.67), 30s chair stand test (d = 0.50), and vastus lateralis muscle thickness (d = 0.49).

CONCLUSION:

Adding MCT for three hours after resistance training seems to improve training outcomes in middle-aged adults.

 

Leading Author: Dr Stefan Kolimechkov

Date & time: 31 May 2024, 3:00 pm

Poster Session, Hynes Convention Center - Hall A
Session Title: HIIT and Resistance Training Interventions
Poster Board: #117; Presentation: #2744

 

 

GALLERY, ACSM Boston 2024

On the 14th of February 2024, I was officially accepted to present at the 2024 ACSM Annual Meeting in Boston.

 

And here I am in my very first face-to-face Annual Meeting of the ACSM in front of the main entrance of the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA, USA (28 May 2024).

 

My handstand in front of the famous ACSM letters, Hynes Convention Center in Boston, MA, USA (28 May 2024).

 

At the parallel session of the Annual Meeting of the ACSM, 30 May 2024.

 

ACSM unveiled the launch of its new brand identity with a new logo featured on the board behind me at the 2024 Annual Meeting, 30 May 2024.

 

The 71st Annual Meeting of the American College of Sports Medicine was hosted at the Hynes Convention Center in Boston, Massachusetts, USA.

 

On the 31st of May 2024, I took part in the Gisolfi 5K Run or Walk as part of the ACSM Annual Meeting. Here I am just after my finish with a time of 28.10 min and 177th place.

 

Roberto Laza and I represented the University of Greenwich, London at the 2024 ACSM Annual Meeting in Boston.

 

The new social experience called ACSM Honors combined New Fellows Reception and the ACSM Awards Banquet on the last day of the conference (31 May 2024).

 

Here I am with some of my new friends at the ACSM Honors, Sheraton Boston Hotel, 31 May 2024.

 

And of course I can't finish this event without a handstand. Thank you ACSM for an amazing conference in Boston and I really hope to be part of it next year in Atlanta.

 

This was my first ACSM conference and it was also my first time in the USA. During this one week, I also had the opportunity to visit New York City, and I represented GB Masters Gymnastics Team at the 2024 Masters Gymnastics World Cup in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Overall, these were one of the best experiences in my life.

 

How to cite this study:
After the 71st ACSM Annual Meeting, our study will be built upon further and the complete findings will be published in an international journal:

Coming soon...