Knowledge Nuggets

Exercise is one way to prevent the age-related decline of memory. In fact, new research shows that aerobic exercise may enhance memory in previously inactive older adults, with the potential for high-intensity interval training (HIIT) to yield the greatest benefit.

Tell, teach, and track. Those are the 3 Ts of concussion awareness and education, according to David Hill, a program coordinator at the Castaway Wanderers Rugby Football Club. For more great tips on how to get your organization’s concussion initiatives off ground, check out the stories and ideas of community sport organizations from across Canada in...

When an athlete sustains an injury, it can impact the entire team. When this happens, coaches can maintain a positive group environment by clearly communicating role adjustments, prioritizing the injured athletes’ well-being, and keeping the injured athlete connected to the team throughout the recovery process.

Program providers don’t always have the knowledge and resources to meet the needs of children with intellectual disabilities. For this reason, researchers from the Canadian Disability Participation Project partnered with Special Olympics Canada to develop A Blueprint for Building Quality Participation in Sport for Children and Youth with Intellectual Disabilities. The Blueprint offers 30 strategies to...

Today is Commonwealth Day, an annual celebration of the Commonwealth nations. This year, the XXII Commonwealth Games will take place in Birmingham, England, from July 28 to August 8. The Birmingham 2022 competition schedule features a fully integrated Para sport program and, for the first time in Commonwealth Games history, more medal events for women...

Recovery from training can help athletes reduce injuries and enjoy longer careers, but very little is known about athlete recovery in Para sport. According to new research, collaborating with athletes, trusting athletes’ expertise about their bodies, and individualizing recovery strategies are important considerations for practitioners working with Para sport athletes.

Para athletes are frequently exposed to concussion risk, particularly in high-speed and impact type sports such as Para alpine skiing, Para ice hockey and wheelchair basketball. They’re also exposed to concussion risk in sports where the risk to the non-Para athlete would be considered low, for example, in track-wheelchair racing, where crashes happen often.

Athlete development pathways in Para sport can be varied and complex, research shows. Different classification systems, disability-specific characteristics, and individual athletes’ histories can all impact development pathways. Researchers conclude that Para sport needs its own development models that account for the complexity of Para athlete experiences.

A positive coaching environment is especially important for women athletes with disabilities, who are more likely to experience discrimination, exclusion, or harassment than men in Para sport. Interviews with women Paralympic athletes emphasize the importance of having women as coaches and role models and reinforce the need for athlete-centred coaching practices.

Project Echo is an online platform dedicated to listening to the lived experiences of persons with disabilities in sport and physical activity. Through online discussions with the Para sport community and key stakeholders, researchers hope to identify opportunities for user-informed decision-making related to programming, services, language, and infrastructure that support persons with disabilities in the...