Parkinson disease (PD) is a progressive and chronic neurodegenerative disorder that compromises both motor and nonmotor functions, ultimately leading to a decline in functional capacity and quality of life. Although the etiology of PD is multifaceted, exercise has shown promising effects in managing PD symptoms and enhancing patient well-being. Although aerobic and resistance exercise demonstrate benefits within this specific population, the exact application of these modalities varies and often differs depending on disease progression and the individual. Although individuals diagnosed with PD are encouraged to exercise, there is still a lack of information pertaining to how to successfully structure physical activity into their daily routine. There are also distinct barriers and motivators impacting their decision to engage in regular exercise. This manuscript offers practical recommendations and personalized exercise guidelines for exercise professionals, empowering them to optimize PD management through targeted exercise interventions. In addition, it offers current information on promoting exercise among patients with PD, specifically to enhance their functional outcomes.

Darnell Clark, Director of Strength and Conditioning at Charlotte Country Day School in Charlotte, NC, talks to the NSCA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about his path to becoming a high school strength and conditioning coach, the structure of his high school (Charlotte Country Day) strength and conditioning program, and giving back to the industry.

The purpose of this article is to provide an introduction to contrast training, including how it is defined, what variables are utilized, and examples of how to use it in training.

Stuart Hart, Head Strength and Conditioning Coach for women’s basketball at the University of Nebraska, talks to the former NSCA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about his journey from high school athlete to personal trainer to volunteer coach to full-time college strength and conditioning coach. Topics under discussion include a day in the life at the University of Nebraska, building relationships throughout the entire athletic staff, and the value of going to conferences for both educational and networking reasons. Find Stuart on Twitter: @No_DaysOff06 or Instagram: @strength_byhart

The National Strength and Conditioning Association (NSCA) is proud to announce the recipients of the organization’s 2025 Coach of the Year Awards

The Tactical Strength and Conditioning Professional of the Year Award is awarded to the coach, researcher, tactical professional, educator, or administrator whose influential contributions to the field measurably result in its advancement in a way that exceeds the outcomes achieved by others.

With the current rise in overweight individuals, obesity, prediabetes, and diabetes, the role of qualified personal trainers is absolutely crucial for creating a more active and healthy society.

Deloading is a period of reduced training stress where training demand is intentionally reduced to mitigate physiological and psychological fatigue and promote recovery. A deload is commonly implemented to enhance readiness for subsequent training and occurs between or during training phases. During a deload, training is typically modified by reducing the intensity of effort, training volume, duration, or frequency. Adjustments in exercise selection are based on recovery goals and the specific demands of the athlete’s training. Deloads are commonly preplanned and implemented into the training program every 4–8 weeks based on the structure of the training cycle and recovery needs. Alternatively, deloads are sometimes applied reactively using an autoregulatory approach to accommodate unexpected fatigue or performance decrements. While deloading shares conceptual similarities with tapering and training cessation, it should be differentiated based on its objective, structure, and positionality with the overall training program. The purpose of this article is to describe the current research landscape, propose areas for future research, and to provide broad practical recommendations for implementing deloading within the strength and physique sports training program.

Maura Bergan, Associate Professor of Exercise Science and Sports Studies at Springfield College, talks to the NSCA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about social media in the exercise science field, key career decisions, and qualities and values that help you as a coach.

Michael Doscher from Valdosta State University talks to the NSCA Head Strength and Conditioning Coach, Scott Caulfield, about how to thrive for many years at one institution and work well with those around you, as well as how strength coaches should be evaluated.