According to Stuart Phillips, distinguished professor in the Department of Kinesiology and one of the Position Stand’s authors, “The best resistance training program is the one you’ll actually stick with.” This principle should resonate deeply with chiropractors who understand that patient compliance often determines treatment outcomes.

The updated guidelines highlight several important points:

• Consistency trumps complexity: Training all major muscle groups at least twice a week matters far more than pursuing a “perfect” or overly complicated training plan
• Any start is a good start: The biggest benefits often come from transitioning patients from no resistance training to any regular activity
• Tool flexibility: Whether patients use barbells, resistance bands, or bodyweight exercises, consistent effort drives results
• Small amounts deliver benefits: Even modest amounts of resistance training can improve strength, increase muscle size, enhance power, and support overall physical function

Clinical Applications

For chiropractors integrating exercise prescription into their treatment plans, these guidelines offer a practical framework. Rather than overwhelming patients with complex protocols, focus on helping them establish sustainable routines that target major muscle groups regularly.

The evidence is clear: while variables like load, volume, and frequency can be fine-tuned based on individual goals and capabilities, the primary objective for most adults should be building a routine they can maintain consistently over time.

Resources

The full ACSM Position Stand is available at acsm.org, providing detailed guidance you can reference when developing patient exercise programs.

As healthcare providers committed to whole-person wellness, these simplified yet evidence-based recommendations give us another tool to help patients build stronger, more resilient bodies—one consistent workout at a time.