Knowledge Nuggets

The Paralympic Games have put a global spotlight on the disability community. In the workplace, building welcoming and inclusive spaces starts by hiring people with disabilities. In fact, new research suggests that employees with disabilities tend to have higher performance ratings and lower turnover rates, helping companies and organizations thrive.

ParticipACTION’s Report Card on Physical Activity for Adults states that 56% of adults living in Canada get at least 3 hours of light physical activity (LPA) each day. What is LPA and why does it matter? LPA is any activity that requires using up low levels of energy such as walking for leisure, standing work...

Do you like to sip a cup of coffee before a big game or match, or hitting the gym? A new study of combat sport athletes showed that caffeine ingestion enhances upper-body strength endurance and increases handgrip strength. This is particularly beneficial for grappling athletes competing in judo or jiu-jitsu.

The number of concussions reported among Canadian youth has increased annually by 10.3% between 2004 and 2015. Even so, many concussions go unreported. To improve concussion reporting and health outcomes for youth, consider how youths’ social networks influence their behaviour, and explore new ways of enabling youth to help each other learn about concussion.

Did you know that women often experience concussions differently than men, including worse symptoms and longer recovery time? Using magnetoencephalography (MEG), researchers from RENITA Medical and the Hospital for Sick Children are scanning the brains of women to learn more about the effects of concussion on women. MEG offers an objective way to diagnose concussions...

Through evaluation, sport organizations can gain insights and solicit feedback about their programs. Evaluation can also inform decision-making, guide program improvements and build stakeholders’ value and advocacy for programming. In the SIRC blog, discover three recommendations for sport organizations to enhance evaluation: stakeholder engagement, evaluative thinking and sharing data through storytelling.

Having a shared understanding of terms like systemic racism, unconscious bias and microaggressions is important for sport organizations working to create safe, welcoming and inclusive spaces. Respect Group offers definitions and resources to help sport organizations promote diversity and inclusion, while making sure everyone is on the same page.

Concussion reporting is a necessary component of concussion care and safety, and according to new research, it’s something to be celebrated. Athletes are more likely to report a concussion when coaches encourage and celebrate concussion reporting. Coaches that facilitate regular, open conversations about concussions help athletes feel supported and comfortable when reporting an injury.

SIRC’s Researcher/Practitioner Match Grants are designed to support the implementation of research into practice through collaborations between sport organizations and researchers. Last year, researchers from the University of Waterloo partnered with the Township of Woolwich to pilot an 8-week co-participation swim program for mothers and daughters. Read about their findings in the SIRC blog.

Up to 35% of elite mental athletes experience mental health concerns, including anxiety, depression, and eating disorders. To manage mental health conditions in sport, the International Olympic Committee recommends taking an individualized and interdisciplinary approach, optimizing the training and competition environment, and making mental health resources and supports both accessible and commonplace.