11/06/2026
2026 ACSM Resistance Training Update: The Case for Getting the Basics Right”
2026 ACSM Position Stand on Resistance Training — In-Depth Summary
CK’s Takeaway:
If we step back from all the detail, the 2026 ACSM position stand lands in a very steady place:
What we glean is this!
You don’t need increasingly complex methods to get meaningful results. You need a structure you can consistently return to and build upon.
Most people are not limited by a lack of advanced techniques. They’re more often limited by:
* inconsistency over time
* frequent program changes
* or difficulty maintaining progression on what already works
*wanting instant gratification without understanding patience is a virtue.
In a more grounded CK sense:
You don’t need a more sophisticated program.
You need one that you can actually stick with and develop over time.
Train with enough effort that it stimulates change.
Progress it at a pace you can recover from.
And give it enough time for the adaptations to accumulate.
“Stimulate not annihilate”!
The 2026 ACSM position stand doesn’t really complicate training.
It quietly reinforces something that holds up very well across decades of evidence:
The basics, applied consistently, continue to deliver strong results.
