Knowledge Nuggets

Today is International Women’s Day, a global initiative to celebrate the achievements of women and accelerate gender equity.  This year, SIRC is celebrating moms who are making efforts to play sports and be physically active, despite persisting public health restrictions. However, up to 75% of moms experience barriers to regular participation, including feelings of guilt, pressure, and...

According to the World Health Organization (WHO), global physical inactivity costs an estimated US$54 billion in direct health care and another US$14 billion to lost productivity. The WHO Guidelines on Physical Activity and Sedentary Behaviour, which complement Canadian physical activity guidelines, emphasize that everyone, of all ages and abilities, can be physically active and that every type...

Participation in Masters sport provides a number of physical, psychological and social benefits for athletes, including strength and conditioning, positive perspectives on aging, and strong friendships. Learn more in the SIRCuit.

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.

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...

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...

Today is Bell Let’s Talk Day, national initiative to build awareness, acceptance and action relating to mental health. Small actions can help support mental health and strengthen our communities during this difficult time – from recognizing the signs of stress, to taking care of yourself, to being there for a loved one. For additional support,...

From adapted equipment and modified play, to the appointment of a Chief Medical Officer, sport organizations are leveraging innovation and expertise to inform the development and implementation of their Return to Play plans. Learn more in the SIRC blog.

As gyms and sport facilities resume their operations, Canadians are wondering about the impact of masks on their performance. Researchers from the University of Saskatchewan found that wearing a mask does not affect performance and has minimal effect on blood and muscle oxygenation.

Participants using a physical activity app with team-based incentives accumulated more steps per day during a 12-week intervention period compared to matched controls. The findings offer further evidence that even very small incentives (users earned on average $3.60 CAD over 12 weeks) can be used to influence behaviour change and increase physical activity.