Introduction — This topic includes links to society and government-sponsored guidelines from selected countries and regions around the world. We will update these links periodically; newer versions of some guidelines may be available on each society's website. Some societies may require users to log in to access their guidelines.
The recommendations in the following guidelines may vary from those that appear in UpToDate topic reviews. Readers who are looking for UpToDate topic reviews should use the UpToDate search box to find the relevant content.
Links to related guidelines are provided separately. (See "Society guideline links: Stress testing and cardiopulmonary exercise testing".)
International
●International Exercise Recommendations in Older Adults (ICFSR): Expert consensus guidelines (2021)
●World Health Organization (WHO): Guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behaviour (2020)
●International Olympic Committee (IOC): Exercise and pregnancy in recreational and elite athletes – 2016/2017 evidence summary from the expert group meeting, Lausanne. Part 5: Recommendations for health professionals and active women (published 2018)
●IOC: Exercise and pregnancy in recreational and elite athletes – 2016/17 evidence summary from the Expert Group Meeting, Lausanne. Part 3: Exercise in the postpartum period (published 2017)
●IOC: Exercise and pregnancy in recreational and elite athletes – Evidence summary from the expert group meeting, Lausanne. Part 1: Exercise in women planning pregnancy and those who are pregnant (2016)
●IOC: Exercise and pregnancy in recreational and elite athletes – Evidence summary from the expert group meeting, Lausanne. Part 2: The effect of exercise on the fetus, labour and birth (2016)
●International Federation of Sports Medicine (FIMS): Position statement on cardiovascular adaptations and exercise (2012)
●FIMS: Position statement on resistance exercise for health (2006)
Canada
●Society of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists of Canada (SOGC)/Canadian Society for Exercise Physiology (CSEP): 2019 Canadian guideline for physical activity throughout pregnancy (published 2018)
●Canadian Academy of Sport and Exercise Medicine (CASEM): Position statement on physical activity prescription – A critical opportunity to address a modifiable risk factor for the prevention and management of chronic disease (2016)
United States
●American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM): Guidelines for exercise testing and prescription, 11th edition (2021)
●American Heart Association (AHA): A scientific statement on physical activity as a critical component of first-line treatment for elevated blood pressure or cholesterol – Who, what, and how? (2021)
●American Cancer Society (ACS): Guideline for diet and physical activity for cancer prevention (2020)
●American College of Obstetricians and Gynecologists (ACOG): Committee opinion on physical activity and exercise during pregnancy and the postpartum period (2020)
●U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS): Physical activity guidelines for Americans, 2nd edition (2018)
●ACSM: Position stand on quantity and quality of exercise for developing and maintaining cardiorespiratory, musculoskeletal, and neuromotor fitness in apparently healthy adults – Guidance for prescribing exercise (2011)
●American Academy of Family Physicians (AAFP): Physical activity guidelines for older adults (2010)
●ACSM: Position stand on appropriate physical activity intervention strategies for weight loss and prevention of weight regain for adults (2009)
●ACSM: Position stand on exercise and physical activity for older adults (2009)
●ACSM: Position stand on progression models in resistance training for healthy adults (2009)
United Kingdom
●National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE): Quality standard on physical activity – For NHS staff, patients and carers (2015)
●NICE: Public health guideline on physical activity – Exercise referral schemes (2014)
●NICE: Public health guideline on physical activity – Brief advice for adults in primary care (2013)
●NICE: Public health guideline on physical activity – Walking and cycling (2012)
●NICE: Public health guideline on mental wellbeing in over 65s – Occupational therapy and physical activity interventions (2008)
●NICE: Public health guideline on physical activity in the workplace (2008)
India
●Consensus physical activity guidelines for Asian Indians (2012)
Australia–New Zealand
●Exercise & Sports Science Australia (ESSA): Position & consensus statements
