Knowledge Nuggets

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...

A common byproduct of moderate to rigorous physical activity is water loss from sweating. As little as 3-4% water loss can lead to worsened athletic performance. In order to supplement this loss many athletes turn to sports drinks in order to keep hydration levels balanced. This recent study finds that drinking electrolyte drinks continuously during...

Have you ever been on a run and suddenly started experiencing pain in the side of your abdomen? Many people refer to this as a side stich, but the proper name is exercise-related transient abdominal pain (ETAP). To help decrease the chances of ETAP, don’t eat a large meal an hour before your run, avoid...

Stretching helps keep your muscles flexible, strong and healthy. Research shows that a lack of stretching puts you at risk for joint pain, strains and muscle damage. Aim to stretch daily or at least three to four times per week.

Low adherence to rehabilitation after a sports injury is a common problem. According to research, there are many person-specific factors that influence adherence including motivation, confidence/self efficacy, coping, social support, coping, and psychological skills. Athletes should find a strategy that works best for them.

Research demonstrates that it’s important for older adults to engage in all four types of exercise including endurance, strength, balance, and flexibility as each one provides its own benefits. Endurance exercises improve the health of your heart and lungs, and strength exercises can help maintain independence and prevent falls. While balance exercises can help prevent...

Approximately 50% of individuals with spinal cord injuries lack sufficient physical activity. Researchers studied behavior-change interventions and found that providing practical support, individualization, and monitoring had a greater impact on promoting physical activity compared to group-based approaches. By targeting behavior change, using behavior change frameworks, and specific techniques, these interventions effectively encourage physical activity in...

Researchers at the University of Cambridge found that 11 minutes a day (75 minutes per week) of moderate-intensity physical activity would be sufficient to lower the risk of many diseases such as heart disease and cancer. They used a brisk walk as an example of an easy moderate-intensity activity to do every day