Knowledge Nuggets

Asthma is a chronic respiratory disease that affects more than 300 million individuals worldwide. Although various pharmacological treatments exist, recent research suggests that there could be additional benefits with lifestyle changes, particularly with increased physical activity.

In the landscape of elite youth sports, there exists a notable gap in research concerning parental roles in fostering their child’s psychosocial development. A recent study delves into the dynamics at play within a professional football (soccer) academy and its players development process. The investigation centers on uncovering parents’ perspectives on their roles and experiences...

A recent global study shows that sports psychology professionals must prioritize cultural competence beyond a checklist, considering it an ethical duty for effective practice. The research highlights the need to actively develop this competence through learning from mistakes and open conversations, grounding it in personal and professional experiences for meaningful cultural understanding.

Parents supporting young para-athletes report challenges including limited local sports options and funding difficulties. Recognizing these hurdles, and understanding their impact, can inform improved support mechanisms for the sports sector like addressing cultural barriers, engaging parents in program development, enhancing access to sports for disabled youth, and refining talent identification pathways for aspiring para-athletes.

Rest and sleep are key parts of maintaining physical health and recovering from potential injuries. This is true even outside of competition season, a recent study done on preseason rugby athletes found that longer sleep duration during the preseason may assist in enhancing physical qualities including aerobic capacity and body composition.

Injuries are common in sports and can have significant physical, psychological and financial consequences. A recent study found that current machine learning methods can be used to identify athletes at high risk of injury and be helpful to detect the most important injury risk factors.

Sport should be an inclusive space for all, which is why it is important that all people feel included regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and beyond. A recent study highlights elevated levels of mistreatment to individuals who identify as a sexual minority and offers important contributions to understanding sexuality, sports-related mistreatment, and adults’...

Stretching and getting warmed up plays a key part in athlete recovery and injury prevention. A recent study found favourable effects of foam rolling on performance compared to static stretching, when applied to some muscles such as quadriceps.

Team sports are incredibly effective in creating positive relationships and fostering camaraderie between teammates. A recent study also found that team sport participation was associated with decreased odds of smoking and tobacco use, alcohol and drug use, as well as depression and anxiety.

A relatively unexplored area of athlete psychology is the relationship between attachment styles and its relationship to mental health. A recent study dives into the role of attachment relationships to significant others (for example, parents or sports coaches) in influencing psychological needs.