The positive impact of physical activity on health

A recent systematic review supports Canada’s 24-hour movement guidelines, which recommend a balanced mix of physical activity, sedentary behaviour, and proper sleep each day. The research found that moderate to vigorous physical activity offers significant benefits for mental health, heart health, body composition, and longevity, reinforcing the value of moving more each day for better…

New guidelines recommend custom mouth guards for contact sports

An international panel of leading experts in dental trauma and sport dentistry recommends that athletes in high-risk sports like hockey, rugby, and martial arts wear custom-fitted mouth guards to prevent dental injuries. The guideline highlights the role of coaches, parents, and dental professionals in promoting this simple but effective form of protection.

Plyometric training for sport

Build sport-specific power with plyometric training! Just 8 weeks can boost speed, agility, and explosive strength for athletes.

Judo and recovery

Judo, a physically demanding combat sport, requires optimal recovery for peak performance. This study finds that muscle recovery reaches its peak 24 hours after a match, while movement ability remains steady. Prioritizing recovery during this period can enhance performance and reduce the risk of injury.

Physical activity and recovery from sport-related concussion

Imagine you’re on the field, adrenaline pumping, and ready to give your all. Suddenly, a collision occurs, and everything changes in an instant. This is the reality of a sport-related concussion, which many athletes know all too well. A sport-related concussion is a brain injury that happens when a blow to the head or body…

Schools play a key role in supporting youth physical activity

For over a decade now, Canadian children and youth have received an overall physical activity grade of ‘D’ or worse according to the ParticipACTION Report Card on Physical Activity (ParticipACTION, 2022). Only 28% of children and youth currently meet the Canadian Physical Activity guidelines of at least 60 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per day…

Facilitating physical activity and physical education participation in autistic children and youth

Introduction and context  Participation in physical activity (PA) and physical education (PE) is very important for all children and youth (C&Y) because it helps with physical, social, affective, and cognitive development (Bailey, 2006). Autistic C&Y especially gain from PA and PE as it may help develop their physical and social skills, including cooperation and personal…

The importance of the pelvic floor in returning to physical activity after childbirth

After childbirth, mothers have numerous concerns about their postpartum body and its capacity for returning to physical activity. One of the worries is whether physical activity may negatively affect the pelvic floor after pregnancy and delivery. The pelvic floor is a crucial group of muscles that helps maintain bladder and bowel control, support internal organs,…

Returning to exercise postpartum: Supporting women’s physical activity after the birth of a child

This article was originally published by The Conversation on March 20, 2022 The birth of a child is a momentous occasion in a woman’s life. It may also be one of the most challenging transitions that women face, requiring adaptation to identity and role while undergoing a unique physiological transformation. Physical activity after recovery from birth…

The Canadian sport and physical activity community identifies topics for researchers to prioritize 

Highlights  Adoption in practice of research findings is often sub-optimal because of a disconnect between researchers and the individuals or groups overseeing and facilitating sport and physical activity participation.  To help bridge the gap between sport and physical activity research activities and the needs of those best positioned to apply those findings, we conducted a…