Knowledge Nuggets

As humans age, they lose muscle. More specifically, the number of motor units that make up each muscle are gradually reduced. However, new research suggests that long-term endurance and strength training expands the size of the remaining motor units to compensate for the decline in motor units in older age – more evidence to support...

Fathers have a unique and powerful influence on their children’s physical, social, emotional and mental health. The DADEE program developed by researchers at the University of Newcastle in Australia targeted the father-daughter relationship to improve girls’ self-esteem and physical activity. After the program, daughters were more active, had better sport skills, and improved their resilience...

Research exploring elite athletes’ experiences of clinical depression sheds light on symptoms that may be unique to high performance sport, including demotivation, drops in performance, and risk-taking behaviours. Stigma surrounding mental illness may delay the time it takes for athletes to seek help, but an understanding of these symptoms could help reduce the time to...

Opportunities for development are the second most important factor in workplace happiness (after the nature of work itself), yet the urgency of work too often trumps the luxury of learning. A Harvard Business Review article suggests “learning in the flow of work”, which refers to learning opportunities that fit around and align with the nature...

ParticipACTION’s new app is designed to help Canadians reach the national physical activity guideline of 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) each week. Learn more about how the app integrates theories of behavioural change and machine learning, and what makes it different than other physical activity apps, in the Spring SIRCuit.

Researchers in Spain are investigating the link between endurance races and elevated levels of key biomarkers that signal myocardial strain. This is particularly important for “weekend warriors” that participate in marathons without proper training. A high proportion of all exercise-induced cardiac events occur during marathons, especially in men 35 years of age and older.

Dementia is a rapidly growing public health problem affecting around 50 million people globally, and nearly 10 million new cases every year. The disease inflicts a heavy economic burden on societies, with the costs of caring for people with dementia estimated to rise to US$ 2 trillion annually by 2030. According to new guidelines from...

According to Dr. Tish Doyle-Baker at the University of Calgary, sweat has little superpower “killing invaders”. “Sweat is designed to guard against infection. It’s like a natural antibiotic and protects us from really harmful pathogens like E.coli and some strains of staph (Staphylococcus aureus).”

Research from the University of Alberta discovered athlete burnout may have more to do with the social environment than early specialization. Athlete burnout depends on many factors, including opportunities to participate in other sport and non-sport activities, confidence and engagement in skill building, the nature of relationships with coaches and teammates, and having a choice...

Parents and caregivers can have a deep and meaningful impact on the development of a child’s physical literacy. To celebrate Mother’s Day this weekend, this Active for Life blog shares insights from elite Canadian athletes about their mother’s influence on their athletic journey.