Mask wearing

As gyms and sport facilities resume their operations, Canadians are wondering about the impact of masks on their performance. Researchers from the University of Saskatchewan found that wearing a mask does not affect performance and has minimal effect on blood and muscle oxygenation.

Relative Energy Deficiency in Sport: What Coaches Need to Know

Mary Cain, a former record-breaking phenom, made a different type of headline when she spoke up about the pressure she faced to lose weight that caused her to disappear from the running scene (Cain, 2019). Cain’s willingness to speak up started a social media movement that brought to the public’s attention the cost of under-fuelling…

Self-Compassion in Sport 101

If you have been involved in the coaching or administrative side of competitive sport, chances are you have seen athletes experience emotionally difficult setbacks. These setbacks can range from devastating performance failures (e.g., “choking” during an important competition), to facing harsh, negative evaluations by others (e.g., spectators, teammates, competitors, parents) and/or themselves (the self-critic is…

Team-based incentives

Participants using a physical activity app with team-based incentives accumulated more steps per day during a 12-week intervention period compared to matched controls. The findings offer further evidence that even very small incentives (users earned on average $3.60 CAD over 12 weeks) can be used to influence behaviour change and increase physical activity.

New Year’s Resolutions

Is getting active part of your New Year’s resolutions? Goals are a great way to stay motivated. Set a physical activity goal and create a detailed plan for when, where, and how you will achieve it. Review your goal on a weekly or bi-weekly basis to celebrate progress, increase the challenge, or adjust expectations (too…

Tips to engage adults with intellectual and developmental disability in sport and physical activity

Exercise leads to many benefits for individuals with intellectual and developmental disability (IDD), including those diagnosed with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). These include improved physical and mental health, increased community engagement, and, amongst individuals with ASD, a decrease in repetitive behaviours that often result in functional and social impairment. The Adapted Physical Exercise (APEX) Research…

Walking speed predicts dementia

A progressive decline in walking speed may be linked with a higher likelihood of developing dementia, according to a new study. Dual decliners – those who experience a decline in gait speed and cognition – have about a 50% risk of progression to dementia. The researchers recommend dual decliners be prioritized for interventions to reduce…

Uninterrupted sleep

According to the Canadian 24-Hour Movement Guidelines, children (ages 5-13) require 9 to 11 hours of uninterrupted sleep per night and youth (ages 14-17) require 8 to 10 hours per night. Check out this infographic for tips to encourage a good night’s sleep in your family such as encouraging regular wake-up times on the weekend…

Exercise as therapy

Individuals living with two or more chronic conditions – known as multimorbidity – might need to reconsider their prescriptions. A review of the literature suggests exercise therapy can be safe and beneficial for their physical and psychosocial health, and has a lower risk of negative side effects compared to pharmacological treatments.

Pandemic Silver Linings in Canadian Sport

This article is the second in a special series that explores how Canadian sport leaders are adapting and innovating to safeguard the wellbeing of athletes preparing for the Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games and other Major Games during a global pandemic. Read the first article here. The challenges facing Canada’s top summer athletes have never…