Knowledge Nuggets

Athletes in winter sports recognize climate change impacts but often engage in low-risk advocacy actions. Their concerns include inadequate climate knowledge, fear of public perception, and feeling powerless within sports structures. Research shows empowering scholarly activism and building athlete communities may encourage stronger climate action within sports, challenging industry norms for sustainability.

While physical activity typically strengthens the immune system, high-intensity training can weaken it, leaving some high performance athletes more susceptible to upper respiratory infections. Discover key nutritional strategies to stay healthy and perform at your best!

On top of physical benefits, engaging in sports has many mental health benefits for adults. Research shows that adults who engage in both team and individual sports show increased psychological well-being, like higher self-esteem, and improved social outcomes, like improved interpersonal communication skills, which contribute to improved mental health. These findings highlight the importance of...

Athletes’ body composition results from a mix of genetics, sport demands, diet, and training. Metrics like fat and muscle mass play a significant role in athlete health and performance, influencing factors such as injury risk and recovery.

Social support, for example, from coaches and teammates, has many benefits for athletes with disabilities. Research shows that athletes with disabilities with greater support systems have higher levels of engagement in their sports and are better able to deal with adversity. With that in mind, it is important to prioritize supportive environments in disability sports.

Research shows that teen athletes’ anxiety levels can drastically affect their motivation and performance. Lower anxiety levels often correlate with higher motivation, highlighting the importance of managing anxiety for optimal athletic outcomes. This research emphasizes the need for psychological support and coaching attention to help athletes navigate anxiety-related challenges and enhance their competitive drive.

While exercising during pregnancy was once considered taboo for expecting mothers, that’s no longer the case. Research shows that regular physical activity during pregnancy can improve cardiovascular health and mitigate the risks of gestational diabetes and hypertension. The Canadian Guideline for Physical Activity Throughout Pregnancy recommends that pregnant women accumulate at least 150 minutes of...

Being an elite athlete comes with many stressors throughout training and competition. A study done on various Swedish national teams found that lifetime prevalence of mental health problems was reported by more than half of the athletes, with 19.5% of athletes meeting the diagnostic criteria for anxiety and/or depression.

Women bring vital skills to coaching but are often underrepresented in disability sport. Attracting qualified women coaches in disability sport enhances inclusivity and athlete success. Flexible coach training opportunities, mentorship programs, and communities of practice for women are all ways to increase the number of women in coaching roles.

Stretching is a common practice among athletes across sports. Long-term daily stretching has been shown to have a significant impact on gains in muscle strength, size, and flexibility, with research suggesting it may offer similar benefits to other forms of strength training.