A longstanding collaborative relationship is now official: APTA and the American College of Sports Medicine (ACSM) have entered into a formal partnership that the organizations believe will strengthen their work toward improving health through movement.

ACSM is now a participant in the APTA Partnerships Program, an initiative aimed at enhancing relationships between the association and other organizations that share common goals. ACSM joins Special Olympics, Move Together, the American Academy of Orthopaedic Manual Physical Therapists, the Federation of State Boards of Physical Therapy, and the US Department of Veterans Affairs in the program.

ACSM and APTA aren't strangers to each other. The organizations have worked together before, and they hope to build on their relationship to bolster advocacy efforts as well as expand participation in each group's events and initiatives.

"I am so pleased we were able to formalize our already productive and positive relationship with ACSM," said APTA CEO Justin Moore, PT, DPT, in an APTA news release. "Both organizations are founded in helping individuals live their best lives, and this partnership will help better achieve our goals."

ACSM EVP and CEO Jim Whitehead also sees promise in the new partnership.

"The American Physical Therapy Association is a recognized leader in promoting recovery, health, and wellness," said Whitehead. "Our 2 organization have a shared vision to improve lives through exercise and healthy lifestyles, so this partnership will open the door to tremendous opportunities that wouldn't be possible otherwise. We can't wait to get moving."

ACSM's members number more than 50,000 and include physicians, scientists, researchers, educators, exercise professionals, and others in the field of sports medicine and exercise science. The mission of the college is to advance and integrate scientific research to provide educational and practical applications of exercise science and sports medicine.