Examining the use of socialization tactics in team sports

Project summary Sport team membership provides people with opportunities to work together toward a common goal and build supportive social relationships. Quite simply, being a member of a sport team is associated with a host of psychosocial benefits. However, joining a new sport team can be a stressful experience because of the uncertainty surrounding an…

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.

Skeletal Muscle Loss

McMaster University researchers studying the mystery of why some weightlifters’ muscles grow much more quickly than others’ have found new answers through a novel experiment in which subjects worked out one leg and immobilized the other. By comparing the genetic responses of the muscles to exercise, the research team identified a set of 141 genes…

Tradition or Tech? Either Way, Keep It Representative

Some coaches rely on de facto drills that seem to be an essential part of their sport as a foundation for their practices; others turn to the latest gadgets and technology to drive their practice plans. Before integrating tradition or tech, coaches should evaluate their drills and innovative tools based on their contribution to skill…

Heat-Stress and Performance

Hot summer temperatures combined with long training or competition sessions can raise athletes’ body temperature, with devastating effects on performance. Strategies to maintain optimal body temperature for performance including cooling before exercise (e.g. with cold water immersion or ice vests) or during exercise (e.g. by drinking cold water or using cold water spray); or through…

Return to Sport for Athletes

Returning to sport after months of isolation can take a mental toll on athletes. Athletes can expect to move through three phases of emotional challenges: managing the emotions associated with losing their bearings; making sense of the situation and giving meaning to the necessary change; and mobilizing energy and efforts to adapt to the new…

Cycle Sprinting

Whether you’re racing for the finish line at the UCI World Tour event or your Sunday café ride, sprinting velocity is key to success. Research shows adopting a forward standing position during a sprint could give riders a speed boost of up to 5kph.