Knowledge Nuggets

To better understand belonging through sport in individuals with intellectual disabilities, the Sport and Belonging team interviewed twenty Special Olympics athletes and identified three themes that the athletes spoke to: (1) support from allies, (2) being part of the team, and (3) opportunities to discover and develop interests.

There are many factors that can contribute to sport performance such as hydration, energy levels and more. One of the less considered factors is temperature and weather. A recent study finds that for every degree of weather difference, from optimal temperatures of 10°C to 17.5°C, performance in endurance running declined by 0.3% to 0.4%.

To ensure we stay healthy it is important we take care of our mental health. Often when feeling down it can be difficult to motivate yourself to exercise. However, recent research shows that even light to moderate level physical activity will lead to higher levels of perceived happiness and self perceived health leading to overall...

Exercise is a key factor in maintenance of good sleep quality. A recent study highlights that a sufficient amount of moderate – to high-intensity exercise can improve the quality of sleep and prevent insomnia. However, physical activity in the late evening may lower melatonin levels and negatively impact sleep.

One of the most useful ways for youth and adolescents to socialize and stay healthy is sport. Despite the positive benefits of sport, sport participation among youth has steadily declined in the past decade. A recent study found that motivation as well as sport experience had the strongest relationships with drop-out. It is suggested that...

Chronic neck pain is an incredibly common experience among people around the world. There are many different remedies that people often use to relieve symptoms. A study found that dry needling, a process in which thin needles are administered to cause muscle contractions, could be an effective way to treat chronic neck pain in the...

When life gets busy it is common for many people to end up sacrificing sleep in order to get all of their tasks done. Sleep difficulties are prevalent among Canadians, and poor sleep quality and duration have been associated with worsened overall well-being. A new study found that there are strong associations between good sleep...

Many athletes take supplements in hopes of increasing sport performance. One common supplement many athletes take is creatine. Creatine is a naturally occurring compound that your body produces to supply your muscles with energy. A recent study showed that Creatine monohydrate supplementation significantly increased muscle creatine content by around 24%.

Diets are a common trend among society in order to manage weight and stay healthy. One common diet that has gained popularity is veganism. Veganism is the dieting practice of not consuming any animal-based products including meat, eggs, dairy and more. Recent studies suggest that a carefully designed vegan diet can help to improve sports...

Across the country many people have caffeine regularly as a part of their everyday routine. This usually comes in the form of coffee in the morning or throughout the day, however recently energy drinks have been on the rise. With the suggested limit of caffeine being around 400 mg a day, the rise of energy...