07/05/2026
The American College of Sports Medicine has released its 2026 update to resistance training guidelines, the first major update in 17 years, and the message is clear: consistency matters more than complexity.
That strongly aligns with what we see in workplace health programs. One of the biggest barriers to people building strength is not motivation, it is over-complication. When exercise feels “expert-only” or difficult to start, many people simply don’t start at all.
What stands out in the updated ACSM guidance is the focus on practical, achievable training. While both the American and Australian guidelines recommend strength training at least twice a week, the ACSM update provides clearer direction around intensity, volume, and progression, helping remove some of the guesswork that often stops people engaging.
The broader message is important: effective strength training does not need to be perfect, complicated, or gym-based. It can be simple, flexible, and adapted to real-world constraints while still delivering significant benefits for strength, function, mental health, and injury prevention.
From a workplace perspective, this matters. When programs are accessible and achievable, people are more likely to participate consistently, maintain capacity, and reduce their risk of musculoskeletal injury.
A good program is not the most complex one.
It is the one people will actually do.
Get in touch if you'd like to explore workplace health programs: https://hubs.ly/Q04fM4c30
The update: https://hubs.ly/Q04fM22y0
