Knowledge Nuggets

Competitive swimmers use an undulatory underwater swimming technique that until now, was little understood. Scientists from the University of Tsukuba in Japan used underwater 3D motion capture and stereo particle image velocimetry to discover how swimmers gain thrust by creating vortices around the foot during the downward kick, which collide to form a jet.

“It’s quite possible that youth are having difficulties coping with the lack of structured learning, friendly competition, and most of all, social interaction with teammates that comes with participation in sport.” University of Alberta youth sport researcher Nick Holt recommends keeping kids connected to the benefits of sport through backyard practices, engagement in fun social...

Older male adults can be a particularly hard-to-reach group when it comes to physical activity programming. In this SIRC blog, researchers break down the 7 A’s of Active Aging to improve understanding on how to design and deliver tailored physical activity programs.

Esports (competitive professional video gaming) is a rapidly growing industry, with an estimated global audience of 335 million people in 2017, including 143 million active in-person spectators. But what attracts fans to attend live esport events? In contrast to the limitations of watching events online, live experiences provide fans with enhanced opportunities for social interaction.

Understanding the problems or questions you want to address, and building strong relationships with researchers, are two of the tactics the Canadian Paralympic Committee has used to develop a research strategy to put evidence at the centre of decision making. Learn more about their journey to bring research to life in the organization.

Did you know that physically active people are up to 50% less likely to get an upper respiratory tract infection than people who are less active? In fact, moderate-intensity activities like brisk walking have been shown to reduce the risk of pneumonia — a complication of viruses like the one that causes COVID-19 — by...

Coaches and officials play an important role in Football Canada’s concussion prevention and management strategy. “Athletes need to know how to perform the skills properly, which means we have to give our coaches the tools to teach those skills and our officials the tools to deal with it effectively in competition.” Learn more in the...

Western University researchers reveal that brisk walks – as short as 20 minutes – are just as effective as caffeine in boosting working memory. Working memory is the ability to store and manipulate information in the moment, such as remembering items on a grocery list after you’ve driven to the store.

New ultrathin, breathable electronic material is paving the way for more functional wearable technology, with applications for everything from online gaming to medical monitoring. With preliminary results comparable to electrodes attached to the skin, the gas permeable material allows sweat to evaporate away from the skin, making it more comfortable for long-term use.

Two years ago, SIRC launched the “We Are Headstrong” campaign, supporting a nation-wide discussion about concussion management and prevention. For Throwback Thursday, we reflect back on the importance of a harmonized approach, leveraging the data, and continued learning to changing the sport concussion landscape in Canada.