Evidence-based exercise programming

Exercise professionals, such as kinesiologists, strength and conditioning coaches, and exercise physiologists, are expected to design programs that are based on the best available scientific evidence. Several practical challenges impede the ability to implement evidence-based exercise programming, including finding, curating, and deciding on the best evidence.

We seek to develop methods that facilitate evidence-based exercise programming, and we implement it in assisting individuals to achieve their goals.

In terms of methods devleopment, we developed a PubMed search filter for exercise training studies, which promises to improve the efficiency of literature searches.

We applied evidence-based exercise programming in helping treat a woman with mitochondrial disease. She reversed the effects of this genetic condition entirely with lifestyle-related modifications! In another study, we assessed the impact of a learning module on coach knowledge of low-energy availability (unpublished BSc Honours thesis), with the knowledge base for the module published as a review article (Charlton and Clarke, 2022).

I have supervised numerous undergraduate projects in evidence-based exercise programming, and teach its skills in my course, BPK 443 Advanced Exercise Programming.