Knowledge Nuggets

True Sport is based on the values of fairness, excellence, inclusion and fun; and driven by the seven True Sport Principles: Go For It, Play Fair, Respect Others, Keep It Fun, Stay Healthy, Include Everyone and Give Back. But what does this look like in practice? Gymnastics Canada’s new Values-Based Sport Module is designed to...

As we age, research suggests we need to “add oomph to our workouts.” Older adults that regularly engaged in cycling walked more efficiently than those whose primary exercise was slow walking.

Services at major sport events can impact athlete satisfaction and performance. Data collected from 430 athletes competing at the 2018 Commonwealth Games found that a safe and secure environment, the availability of medical/health treatment, and provision of social and ceremonial aspects were essential for performance success.

Family support is positively associated with children’s physical activity levels. Parents and guardians can facilitate physical activity by encouraging, watching, role modelling, co-participating and attending physical activity events with their kids. Being active as a family encourages life-long physical activity and increases feelings of social support, connectedness and attachment – all important for good mental...

Research shows self-compassionate athletes rehabilitating from injury tend to be more mentally tough, perceive having more coping resources, and experience less self-criticism. In fact, self-compassion might allow injured athletes to access a healthier version of mental toughness, characterized by acceptance and wise actions, as opposed to a mental toughness characterized by making poor decisions to...

Judges’ decisions are an integral part of combat sports, from boxing and wrestling to mixed martial arts (MMA). However, data collected from more than 500 men’s and women’s mixed martial arts contests found the rate at which competitors fight (the number of strikes attempted per second) is more likely to result in judges awarding victory...

“I’ve often described a Major Games environment as the world’s largest petri dish…It’s like a quadrennial convention of the world’s active viruses and communicable diseases” says Antoine Atallah, General Manager of Major Games Canada. Learn how Canadian and international experts are working together to keep athletes safe at upcoming Major Games.

New research suggests training one arm can improve strength and decrease muscle loss in the other arm — without even moving it. Study participants who performed an eccentric exercise on their active arm had just 2% muscle wastage in their immobilised arm, compared with those who did no exercise who had a 28% loss of...

Findings from the Football Players Health Study, which includes self-reports from 3,794 former NFL players, show Black, Hawaiians, Native Americans and Asian players players were significantly more likely than white players to experience diminished quality of life due to pain, cognitive troubles, depression, and anxiety. The study’s lead author, Dr. Andrea Roberts, notes “our findings...

“The reality is there simply aren’t nearly enough qualified physicians to provide timely assessments for athletes hoping to return-to-play after a sports concussion…For athletes and parents frustrated with long waiting lists to see a doctor or nurse practitioner, [a role for team therapists in return-to-play decisions] is a potential game changer.” Dr. Pierre Frémont from...