Knowledge Nuggets

For years, youth sports have relied on positive youth development (PYD) and life skills approaches. With social justice movements gaining momentum, it’s time to look at youth sports through a new lens. This study explores how we can reshape PYD and life skills to address social justice issues like racism and gender inequality.

Smartphone addiction and its effects on academic performance have received widespread attention from researchers, teachers, parents and more in recent years. In hopes of mitigating its effects, a recent study, done on 250 undergraduate students, found that physical activity can be used as a preventative factor to mitigate smartphone addiction.

Ultra-endurance running (UER) is an extreme sport that is becoming increasingly popular. UER athletes run races that are longer than marathons, sometimes exceeding 6 hours in a day. Although rare, a recent study highlights the potential adverse effects of such activity that may lead to long-term health problems.

Static stretching is a core part of staying injury free with its ability to increase range of motion in joints. A recent study finds that beyond just increasing range of motion, stretching seems to provide the benefits of decreased muscle stiffness after 3-12 weeks of static stretching compared to those that did not.

Poor sleep and recovery can negatively impact training for many athletes causing an increase in the risk of injury and worsening sport performance. With many athletes looking for ‘functional food’ to aid in recovery and sleep, a recent study highlights kiwifruits potential benefits for sleep in athletes.

Despite Norway’s reputation for gender equality, disparities exist in sports ambitions among young boys and girls. A recent study examines whether young teens share equal aspirations of becoming professional athletes. Researchers found that, while boys often aspire to pursue professional athleticism, girls tend to prioritize skill development over professional ambitions. This underscores the influence of...

Stretching is a common practice used to warm up and increase range of motion before physical activity. A recent study finds that there is little evidence that pre-exercise stretching decreases all-cause injury risk, but there is stronger evidence for a static stretch-induced reduction in strain type injuries, particularly in running-based sport.

Physical activity is key in maintaining both physical and mental well-being, playing a pivotal role in promoting overall health. Recent research finds specific benefits of participation in organized sports, such as weight loss, promoting bone health, and positive psychological and social health benefits.

In the ongoing discussions about sport management, most of the focus is given to revenue generation through sport. However, this new study sheds light on using sport as a platform for coaches and athletes to be activists, driving societal change. Through exploring the factors shaping this activism and its impacts, this study offers insights for...

Excessive gestational weight gain poses risks, yet adherence to healthy diet and physical activity during pregnancy remains low. Through 20 focus groups involving 66 women from the Be Healthy in Pregnancy trial, this study explores women’s views on nutrition and physical activity, revealing barriers such as competing priorities, limited information access, and pregnancy symptoms. Findings...