SIRC’s Knowledge Nuggets provide a daily source of insight, leveraging the latest in research findings, promising practices, relevant news and practical resources.
Stretching is a common practice among athletes across sports. Long-term daily stretching has been shown to have a significant impact on gains in muscle strength, size, and flexibility, with research suggesting it may offer similar benefits to other forms of strength training.
Despite more women participating in sports worldwide, few are stepping into community-level officiating roles. Key issues such as barriers to entry and retention challenges contribute to this lack of participation.
Parental involvement is crucial for youth athlete participation and enjoyment. Education programs for parents can enhance support for youth athletes by equipping them with a range of skills and knowledge, enabling them to better support their children.
A new review of the academic literature shows that positive engagement and development in elite youth sport hinge on supportive environments, strong relationships, and age-appropriate training. Remember, even top performers need developmentally appropriate activities that focus on overall well-being, ensuring they thrive both in and out of sport.
Cold water immersion is a newer recovery method used by many athletes. In a survey of 111 respondents, many reported perceived benefits of cold water immersion despite solid evidence supporting its scientific benefits.
Nutrition knowledge among athletes is vital for promoting healthy eating habits and optimizing performance. However, many athletes have limited knowledge about nutrition and its specific impacts on sport performance. Involving nutritionists and other experts in athlete training may enhance athlete knowledge and encourage better dietary choices.
An alarming number of elite athletes rely on pain relief medication to compete through injuries or enhance performance. Despite some caution about side effects, self-administration is common and can be influenced by coaches and medical staff.
Higher testosterone levels are linked to faster sprint times in young male athletes, offering a potential edge in performance. While female athletes showed no correlation, males with higher testosterone ran significantly faster in 20 m and 30 m sprints.
Physical activity is essential for maintaining health, but intense training can result in immune dysfunction and muscle damage. Recent research points to meat as a potent recovery aid, rich in bioactive compounds that support muscle repair and optimize performance.
Did you know that professional skiing and snowboarding has an injury incidence rate of 3.49 injuries per 1000 days? Among these injuries, lower extremity injuries are most prevalent, with freestyle skiing exhibiting the highest risk at an alarming 6.83 injuries per 1000 days.
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