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…

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.