Endurance Races and Myocardial Strain
Researchers in Spain are investigating the link between endurance races and elevated levels of key biomarkers that signal myocardial strain. This is particularly important for “weekend warriors” that participate in marathons without proper training. A high proportion of all exercise-induced cardiac events occur during marathons, especially in men 35 years of age and older.
WHO Dementia Guidelines
Dementia is a rapidly growing public health problem affecting around 50 million people globally, and nearly 10 million new cases every year. The disease inflicts a heavy economic burden on societies, with the costs of caring for people with dementia estimated to rise to US$ 2 trillion annually by 2030. According to new guidelines from…
Sweat’s Superpower
According to Dr. Tish Doyle-Baker at the University of Calgary, sweat has little superpower “killing invaders”. “Sweat is designed to guard against infection. It’s like a natural antibiotic and protects us from really harmful pathogens like E.coli and some strains of staph (Staphylococcus aureus).”
Athlete Burnout and Early Specialization
Research from the University of Alberta discovered athlete burnout may have more to do with the social environment than early specialization. Athlete burnout depends on many factors, including opportunities to participate in other sport and non-sport activities, confidence and engagement in skill building, the nature of relationships with coaches and teammates, and having a choice…
Developing Executive Functions and Social Emotional Learning Through Sport
This blog was adapted from a SIRCuit article written by Dr. Vicki Harber. For the full article, click here. Within Canada, there is some concern that an ethos of “winning at all costs” has infiltrated youth sport, degrading the quality of the sport experience resulting in reduced participation (Brenner, 2016) and increased injury (Jayanthi et…
Physical Activity Apps
When many of us are trying to put down our phones and get off the couch, why did ParticipACTION create a mobile app? With over 88% of Canadians subscribing to cell service, the opportunity to directly influence the health behaviours of Canadians was too good to pass up! Get the inside scoop on the development…
Outdoor Play Myths
Fear of injury and kidnapping, and a belief in the superiority of structured activities, have reduced the amount of time children engage in outdoor unstructured play. This infographic provides the evidence to debunk these common myths that are keeping kids at home on the couch, instead of outside playing.
SIRCuit – Spring 2019
The Spring 2019 SIRCuit is now available! Check out our newest collection of articles, providing timely and relevant research and insights relating to leadership, athlete development, and high performance sport: Cannabis and Sport: Perspectives from a Seat in the Canadian Senate A Positive Environment for Volunteer Coaches: The Role of Psychological Contract Gender Equity is…
Using app-based technology to influence the physical activity of Canadians
Despite the plethora of positive health outcomes associated with regular physical activity, only 18% of Canadian adults currently meet national physical activity guidelines (Statistics Canada, 2017). To help buck this concerning trend, ParticipACTION has developed an app to get Canadians active and engaged in a movement for more movement. The development of the app demonstrates…
Exercise and the Immune System
The immune system declines by about 2-3% a year from our 20s, which is why older people are more susceptible to infections, conditions like rheumatoid arthritis, and cancer. However, research from the United Kingdom has found that high levels of physical activity can stall the shrinking of the thymus gland. The thymus gland produces T…