Knowledge Nuggets

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.

Is getting active part of your New Year’s resolutions? Goals are a great way to stay motivated. Set a physical activity goal and create a detailed plan for when, where, and how you will achieve it. Review your goal on a weekly or bi-weekly basis to celebrate progress, increase the challenge, or adjust expectations (too...

A progressive decline in walking speed may be linked with a higher likelihood of developing dementia, according to a new study. Dual decliners – those who experience a decline in gait speed and cognition – have about a 50% risk of progression to dementia. The researchers recommend dual decliners be prioritized for interventions to reduce...

According to the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines, children (ages 5-13) require 9 to 11 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night and youth (ages 14-17) require 8 to 10 hours per night. Check out this infographic for tips to encourage a good night’s sleep in your family such as encouraging regular wake-up times on the weekend...