Knowledge Nuggets

Does training time affect performance? This study found that while training at a preferred time didn’t significantly boost performance, it did enhance motivation and make workouts feel easier.

Engaging in exercise throughout adulthood is essential for supporting health and wellbeing. Research shows that young, middle-aged and older adults who participate in physical activity report increased happiness and life satisfaction compared to those with more sedentary lifestyles. This emphasizes the importance of staying active regardless of your age.

Endurance athletes rely on self-regulatory skills like knowing, listening to, and respecting their bodies to optimize recovery between intense workouts. According to new research, elite athletes demonstrate greater skill in adapting recovery to their stress levels compared to non-elite athletes, offering insights into personalized approaches to prevent injury and burnout.

In a study exploring how anxiety levels differed among athletes in individual versus team sports, individual sport athletes reported higher levels of anxiety compared team sport athletes. Female athletes also reported higher levels of anxiety than male athletes. The results of this study point to the importance of tailored mental health supports for athletes based...

Recent updates to exercise guidelines now include recreational athletes during pregnancy and postpartum, but guidance on safe training is limited. A study of recreational active women who followed a rehabilitation program focused on core and pelvic floor strength showed significant improvements in pain, urinary dysfunction, and pelvic floor strength, showing the benefits of physical therapy...

There is a significant gap in race and ethnicity reporting in concussion research. A recent review revealed that out of 854 articles, only 15.5% reported race, 7.6% reported ethnicity, and 84.4% did not report either. To better understand the impact of concussions across diverse populations, researchers should include diverse participants in their studies and accurately...

Many Indigenous athletes move away from home to pursue competitive sport opportunities. This can come with many challenges including culture shock and disconnection from home. Indigenous-engaged research shows that building a social support network that spans athletes’ home and host communities and maintaining a connection to culture are important ways to foster positive experiences for...

An athlete’s level of commitment and passion can be influenced by many factors. National-level athletes have been shown to exhibit more obsessive passion than non-national athletes. Additionally, a strong coach-athlete relationship is positively linked to higher levels of sport passion.

Elite athletes are competing at older ages, but advancing age can challenge peak performance. A training model for extended-career athletes should balance age-related decline with expertise, incorporating strength training, individualized load management, injury prevention, and tailored recovery protocols. Monitoring and avoiding large training load peaks are essential for sustaining performance and promoting long-term health.

Cost is a significant barrier to sport participation, and the data shows it. A recent study from the US showed that students from affluent families had 3 times higher odds of meeting physical activity recommendations (middle schoolers) and ever participating in sports (high schoolers) than students from the least affluent families. Collaboration, funding, and policy...