Knowledge Nuggets

Rest and sleep are key parts of maintaining physical health and recovering from potential injuries. This is true even outside of competition season, a recent study done on preseason rugby athletes found that longer sleep duration during the preseason may assist in enhancing physical qualities including aerobic capacity and body composition.

Physical activity has been shown to have a multitude of mental health benefits. A recent study found that non-contact boxing appears to improve mood, self-esteem, happiness, confidence, self-agency, concentration, metabolic burden, strength and coordination. On top of this, there is evidence showing that it can provide a cathartic release of anger, aggression, stress, and the...

Injuries are common in sports and can have significant physical, psychological and financial consequences. A recent study found that current machine learning methods can be used to identify athletes at high risk of injury and be helpful to detect the most important injury risk factors.

Sport should be an inclusive space for all, which is why it is important that all people feel included regardless of race, gender, ethnicity, sexual orientation, and beyond. A recent study highlights elevated levels of mistreatment to individuals who identify as a sexual minority and offers important contributions to understanding sexuality, sports-related mistreatment, and adults’...

Stretching and getting warmed up plays a key part in athlete recovery and injury prevention. A recent study found favourable effects of foam rolling on performance compared to static stretching, when applied to some muscles such as quadriceps.

Team sports are incredibly effective in creating positive relationships and fostering camaraderie between teammates. A recent study also found that team sport participation was associated with decreased odds of smoking and tobacco use, alcohol and drug use, as well as depression and anxiety.

A relatively unexplored area of athlete psychology is the relationship between attachment styles and its relationship to mental health. A recent study dives into the role of attachment relationships to significant others (for example, parents or sports coaches) in influencing psychological needs.

Despite still being in early stages of development, Artificial Intelligence (AI) advances in scope and capabilities every day. Through this development there are more opportunities to implement it in various avenues of life. A recent study highlights the relevance of AI applications to physical educational technology.

The relationship between sport and the environment is important to keep in mind as climate change increasingly affects all areas of life. A recent review highlights the impacts of climate change on organized competitive sport entities.

Creating safer spaces to promote belonging and community, particularly among Black women, helps address feelings of isolation and otherness. Offering opportunities for knowledge exchange can prevent the loss of notable talent and stimulate peak performance and retention. Safer spaces, sponsorships and platforms for dialogue all help promote diverse and equitable coaching spaces.