Perfectionism in high performance athletes
Many high-performance athletes scrutinize their own performances and often aim for perfection. A recent study delved into how perfectionistic athletes view success and failure in sports. Through interviews and season-long diaries, researchers found that an athlete’s ability to deal with failure depended on the type of perfectionism they exhibited.
Strength training for injury prevention
In soccer, preventing injuries is crucial for player performance and long-term health. Current evidence supports strength training, including methods like eccentric and flywheel training, to reduce injury risks effectively.
Keto diets for elite endurance athletes
Ketogenic diets are gaining attention in elite endurance sports for their ability to boost fat burning, potentially transforming performance. However, concerns linger about their impact on glycogen use and high-intensity exercise, with mixed results among athletes.
Sleep quality and sport performance
Elite athletes and coaches view sleep as essential for optimal performance and recovery, but sleep quality is often compromised by various factors. Sleep quality can affect athletic performance and recovery, with the impact varying based on sport type and individual needs.
Positive effects of social support on stress adaptation
Stress can significantly impact an athlete’s well-being and sport performance, but social support from teammates, coaches, and support staff can positively influence how athletes perceive and adapt to stress. Recent research shows that for social support to produce positive effects, having a shared social identity and the knowledge and expertise to provide sufficient support is…
How coaches can increase athlete enjoyment and commitment
How a coach interacts with athletes can be significant predictor of athletes’ enjoyment and intentions to stay in sport. A study of 202 elite-level artistic swimmers from 22 countries showed that athletes under the guidance of democratic-style coaches reported elevated levels of athletic enjoyment and expressed greater intent to pursue their athletic careers.
Sleep quality and sport performance
Elite athletes and coaches view sleep as essential for optimal performance and recovery, but sleep quality is often compromised by various factors. Sleep quality can affect athletic performance and recovery, with the impact varying based on sport type and individual needs.
Benefits of pre-exercise stretching
Regular stretching is common among athletes as an injury prevention and warm up method. A recent study finds that regularly stretching before exercising and sticking to a routine can lower the chances of muscular or tendon injuries, especially in sports like running. Additionally, regular stretching may even improve balance and lower the risk of falling.
Music for weightlifting
Training and lifting at gyms are a common part of athlete development, with many athletes listening to music for motivation. A study found that although preferred warm-up music does increase the volume of lifts and motivation, it does not speed up or change how the lifts feel.
Running towards Longevity: Insights from sub-four-minute milers
In the mid-20th century, breaking the four-minute mile was considered an insurmountable feat. Then came Roger Bannister in 1954, who shattered that barrier and changed the landscape of middle-distance running forever. But what if this extraordinary athletic achievement had effects that went beyond the track?  This question sparked a study, Outrunning the grim reaper: Longevity…