General Purpose and Audience

Writing in the field of exercise science requires extremely clear and concise language. The purposes of writing in this field are often to share data collected, inform about an issue, or document an approach. Audiences for this field include student peers, faculty, field scholars, medical and allied health professionals, and exercise practitioners. 

Appalachian State offers degrees in three disciplines within HLES:  

  • Athletic Training focuses on the prevention, treatment and rehabilitation of injuries and/ or illnesses; 
  • Exercise Science prepares students for graduate and professional programs (physical therapy, etc.) and for careers in clinical (i.e., cardiac rehabilitation) and athletic professions (i.e., strength & conditioning);
  • Health Promotion develops skills and programs to assess health behaviors and to design, deliver, and evaluate health promotion and risk reduction services.

Types of Writing

  • Research Papers

    • Formulate hypotheses and reach conclusions based on the appropriate literature

  • Literature Review

    • With introduction, body, summary, and references/citations

  • Books 

  • Journal Articles

  • Medical Documentation

  • Dissertations

  • Reviews

  • Abstracts

Types of Evidence

  • Data Collection procedures

  • Data smoothing

  • Experimental model

  • Data Calculations

  • Data Analysis 

  • Qualitative and quantitative research

Writing Conventions

  • Most publishers prefer active voice, not passive
  • First person is preferred over third person 
  • Writing should be clear and concise
  • Report Format is often used (Abstract/ Introduction/ Methodology/ Results/ Discussion/ References)

Terms / Jargon / Vocabulary

  • SOAP (Subjective, Objective, Assessment, Plan) (form of Medical Documentation)
  • Charting (refers to a group of different ways that medical notes can be documented)
  • Index Medicus (index of scientific journal articles)

Documentation Style

  • APA (American Psychological Association) 

(Click here for a link to the Journal of Athletic Training Authors’ Guide: http://www.nata.org/sites/default/files/JAT-Authors-Guide-2010.pdf)

Sources Consulted

Arnold, B., B. Gansneder, & D. Perrin. (2008). Research methods in athletic training. Philadelphia: F.A. Davis Co. 

Department of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science. (2013). Retrieved from Appalachian State University Department of Health, Leisure and Exercise Science website:  http://hles.appstate.edu/

How to write a scientific paper in the exercise sciences. Pepperdine University. Retrieved from http://faculty.pepperdine.edu/mfeltner/Classes/ Paper/index.html

Hyllegard, R., D. Mood, & J. Morrow. (1996). Interpreting research in sport and exercise science. St. Louis: Mosby-Year Book, Inc.

Konin, J., & M. Frederick. (2005) Documentation for athletic training. Thorofare: SLACK, Inc.