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…

Back to basics: Recovery techniques for athletes

Effective athletic recovery combines proven methods like foam rolling, compression garments, and cryotherapy with fundamental practices of good sleep, nutrition, and training. While new gadgets like massage guns and recovery boots are tempting, they often lack strong evidence of efficacy. Before investing in the latest device, prioritize the basics, keep an eye on what science…

Injury and gender across sports

In the realm of sports, the potential for injury looms large, with varying degrees of risk across different athletic endeavours. A recent study reveals that, overall, soccer has the highest head impact rate among both boys and girls. However, when examining male and female sports separately, male high school soccer, basketball, and lacrosse teams exhibit…

How much sleep do high performance athletes need?

Elite or high-performance athletes often demand an immense focus on health factors outside of sport, such as nutrition and recovery. A recent study conducted on male and female high-performance athletes found that approximately 8.3 hours of sleep were necessary to feel rested. Despite this, an overwhelming majority, 71%, fail to meet this requirement.

Does massage therapy impact sport performance?

Massage therapy is a highly popular practice among modern athletes, ranging from the community to professional level. Despite its popularity, a recent study found that its application had no significant negative or positive effects on motor performance, except for enhancing flexibility. However, there may still be benefits for various psychological states, including decreases in depression,…

Napping and increased performance

Sleep plays a crucial role in all aspects of activity, particularly in sports. A recent study on 291 adult male participants revealed that combining a regular night of sleep with a nap resulted in enhanced cognitive and physical performance, as well as reduced perception of fatigue.

Rest and injury

Rest and sleep are key parts of maintaining physical health and recovering from potential injuries. This is true even outside of competition season, a recent study done on preseason rugby athletes found that longer sleep duration during the preseason may assist in enhancing physical qualities including aerobic capacity and body composition.

Machine learning and injury

Injuries are common in sports and can have significant physical, psychological and financial consequences. A recent study found that current machine learning methods can be used to identify athletes at high risk of injury and be helpful to detect the most important injury risk factors.

Foam rolling for recovery

Stretching and getting warmed up plays a key part in athlete recovery and injury prevention. A recent study found favourable effects of foam rolling on performance compared to static stretching, when applied to some muscles such as quadriceps.