Why teen athletes need to prioritize sleep

It can be difficult for teenaged athletes to get enough sleep amid rigorous training schedules and competition stress, which can negatively impact health and performance. Research shows that structured sleep schedules and monitoring for signs of sleep disturbances are ways that tends can prioritize rest and maintain overall well-being.

Sport related shoulder injury

Shoulder injuries are common across sports and require tailored return-to-play plans after injury. A recent study highlights the challenges of shoulder injuries, providing insights on preventing injuries, rehab practices, and guiding athletes back to play safely. From risk factors to return-to-play decisions, it offers support for managing shoulder injuries in athletes.

Nutrition and muscle recovery

Recovery strategies are key for athletes to combat fatigue from increased metabolism during physical activity. Nutrients like proteins, amino acids, and vitamins are crucial for supporting muscle recovery and reducing post-exercise damage.

The psychology of rest in athletes

Despite the critical role that rest plays in athlete performance and well-being, researchers and practitioners have paid little attention to the psychological aspects of rest. This study highlights that recovery doesn’t just involve recovering physically; it also involves recovering psychologically. Psychological recovery can be in part achieved through high-quality sleep, wakeful resting, and psychological detachment…

Rapid Eye Movement (REM) sleep

Optimal sleep plays a pivotal role in health and recovery for athletes. Throughout the night we traverse through different sleep stages including the crucial Rapid Eye Movement (REM) phase. A recent study underscores the significant functional contributions of REM sleep, shedding light on its role in human and athlete development.

Sleep issues among concussed youth athletes

Concussions among athletes represent a significant concern in the world of sport and medicine. Sleep disturbances are common among those who have experienced concussions, particularly among pediatric patients, and are linked to more severe symptoms within 2 weeks of the injury. With melatonin being a common sleep aid, a recent study looked into prescriptions of…

Getting rid of muscle stiffness with stretching

Static stretching is a core part of staying injury free with its ability to increase range of motion in joints. A recent study finds that beyond just increasing range of motion, stretching seems to provide the benefits of decreased muscle stiffness after 3-12 weeks of static stretching compared to those that did not.

Kiwifruit for better recovery

Poor sleep and recovery can negatively impact training for many athletes causing an increase in the risk of injury and worsening sport performance. With many athletes looking for ‘functional food’ to aid in recovery and sleep, a recent study highlights kiwifruits potential benefits for sleep in athletes.

Stretching and strain injury reduction

Stretching is a common practice used to warm up and increase range of motion before physical activity. A recent study finds that there is little evidence that pre-exercise stretching decreases all-cause injury risk, but there is stronger evidence for a static stretch-induced reduction in strain type injuries, particularly in running-based sport.

Holistic approach to injury interventions

Interventions that are evidence informed and co-created with end-users are more likely to be effective, but injury prevention programs have typically been developed by experts only. In the quest to reduce injuries among young handball players, researchers have developed a holistic injury prevention intervention that puts the end-users, including players, coaches, and club administrators, at…