Gabriela Guauta ( gabriela@healthmaxphysio.com ) @ 05/18/2023 8:15 pm
How biological sex and gender affect concussion risk and management
Highlights Concussion recovery depends on many factors, including biological factors (for example, anatomy) and gender-based factors (for example, societal norms in sport). Research shows that female athletes have a higher risk of concussion than male athletes, male and female athletes experience concussions in different ways, and female athletes may take longer than male athletes to…
How time of day effects performance
Although Olympic athletes are known for their meticulous pre-competition routines, many aspects of competition are out of their control. For example, research shows that Olympic swimmers have 0.32% improved performance when they race in the evening compared to in the morning—showing that time of day could be enough to make or break a podium performance.
Heat acclimatization
The Tokyo Olympic and Paralympic Games are expected to be among the hottest ever recorded. As athletes prepare for the games, researchers have found that heat acclimatization is the best measure to protect health and performance. This can include 60 to 90 minutes of daily training in the heat for one to two weeks before…
Body temperature and performance
Did you know that during training and competition, the “ideal” internal body temperature shifts from ~37°C to ~38.5°C? Research shows slightly increasing body temperature through a passive warm-up can increase muscle power by up to 5%, thus improving performance.
Space travellers
Do you ever wonder how astronauts stay fit in space? To counteract the effects of weightlessness on the heart muscle, which will atrophy over time in a gravity-free environment, short bursts of repeated high-intensity activity are recommended during longer space missions.
Preventing muscle loss after injury
New research suggests training one arm can improve strength and decrease muscle loss in the other arm — without even moving it. Study participants who performed an eccentric exercise on their active arm had just 2% muscle wastage in their immobilised arm, compared with those who did no exercise who had a 28% loss of…
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.
Perception of effort
Perception of effort – the conscious sensation of how hard, heavy, and strenuous a physical task is – is the ultimate determinant of endurance performance. Goal-setting, motivation, and self-talk are mental skills athletes can use to engage their minds to support performance before and during arduous endurance tasks.
Risk of Stress Fractures
Stress fractures are observed more frequently in female runners, compared to males. Analysis of women’s perception of risk and behaviors discovered those with a history of fractures increased their training load more quickly, and, despite knowing the benefits, they did not prioritize a balanced diet and complementary cross-training.