Articles tagged with Sports
A major review by leading experts highlights advances made in fighting doping in sport over the last 40 years. The authors emphasize the need for a strong commitment to research, smart sampling strategies, and trustworthy adjudication processes to combat doping.
A 10-year study found that middle-aged, white, and middle-class individuals are more likely to engage in sports, while younger people, particularly from lower-income backgrounds, show declining participation rates. Excess weight and socioeconomic factors also influence sporting activity.
Researchers found that tennis players perform better in tasks requiring temporal processing, such as speed discrimination and detecting motion. However, the effects were small, suggesting that these skills are also used in daily life. Training these basic perceptual tasks may lead to improved tennis performance.
A study of five Stanford University swimmers found that extra sleep improved athletic performance by 0.51 seconds faster sprint times, reaction time, and turn time. Participants also experienced reduced daytime sleepiness and improved mood with extra sleep.
A clinical trial compares Aqua-Lyte, a zero-calorie hydration beverage, to a leading sugar/calorie-containing sports drink. Subjects who consumed Aqua-Lyte showed similar hydration effects to the comparison beverage, but with no discomfort or bloating.
A large Scottish Health Survey study found that just 20 minutes of weekly physical activity, including housework, reduces the risk of stress and anxiety. The more activity a person engages in, the lower their chances of psychological distress.
A new book by Steven Small and colleagues examines how the brain functions when people participate in sports as athletes, coaches, and fans. The study reveals that professional athletes activate only critical regions of the brain, while novices have to engage multiple regions due to emotional involvement.
A study by Nationwide Children's Hospital found that more than 98,000 high school sports-related injuries were directly linked to illegal activities, with the highest rates in girls' soccer and volleyball. The research suggests that reducing illegal activity through rule enforcement and education may reduce sports-related injuries.
A University of Alberta study analyzing over 275,000 individuals found that different factors influence participation in physical activity. Walking was the most common form of exercise, with older adults more likely to participate.
A Penn State study found that male teenage football players and wrestlers are more likely to get into serious fights compared to non-athletes. The study suggests that the aggressive behavior encouraged by team sports contributes to violence among male peers.
A new study found that students who participate in high school sports or individual physical activity are less likely to smoke than their classmates, with the protective effect extending at least three years beyond graduation. However, girls do not derive the same level of protection from school sports as boys.
A new study by University of Washington researchers found that a mastery motivational climate, focusing on personal improvement and having fun, has a greater impact on young athletes than winning. Athletes who played for coaches with this approach reported higher enjoyment, better relationships with the coach, and improved skills.
A new study by the University of Exeter found that British adults now prioritize moderate activities like walking over vigorous exercise. This shift in attitudes threatens the nation's health and experts are calling for evidence-based guidelines to promote vigorous activity.
Researchers at Loughborough University are developing advanced computer models to simulate sports equipment behavior, enabling more accurate designs and better performance. The models will aid in reducing prototype manufacturing costs and increasing participation in sports, leading to improved health benefits.
A new study at WashU Medicine found that surgical repair of sports hernias using tension-free mesh, coupled with an innovative rehabilitation program, successfully returned athletes to competition in 93% of cases. The rehab protocol was developed by Ray Barile and involves a multistep, graduated approach to physical activity.
A new study finds that athletes with sports hernias can successfully return to competition using a standardized rehabilitation protocol. The protocol, developed by an athletic trainer, includes graduated activities from early ambulation to resistance and core building.
Research at the University of Minnesota found a strong association between participating in weight-related sports and unhealthy weight control behaviors, including induced vomiting and laxative use. Steroid use was also more common among teens who participated in these sports, particularly boys.
A new coaching intervention, known as the Mastery Approach to Coaching, was found to reduce sport anxiety and improve personal achievement goals in young athletes. The program, which emphasizes effort and supporting teammates over winning at all costs, also showed positive effects on academic motivation.
A study by Davy Lerouge and Luk Warlop found that familiarity with someone makes predicting their tastes more difficult due to overconfidence and ignoring contradictory cues. This leads people to pay less attention to product-specific attitude feedback, resulting in unwanted gift purchases.
Research by Oregon State University found that B-vitamins are essential for energy conversion and cell production. Athletes with marginal deficiencies may experience impaired repair and building of muscle, leading to decreased performance.
Studies show that when objects share a common color, people can focus on more than three items simultaneously. This ability is crucial in various activities like sports, poker games, and even organizing events.
A study found rodeo athletes recover from whiplash injuries faster and report fewer symptoms compared to spectators, suggesting a different attitude toward injury. The team plans to investigate why rodeo athletes can continue working despite being trampled by bulls.
A leading sports scientist and a top marathon coach have identified major problems in WADA's practices and procedures, including a lack of scientific evidence and protocol. This flawed system will drive innocent athletes out of sport due to its false premises.
The Female Athlete Triad combines disordered eating, absent menstrual periods, and bone loss, particularly affecting elite athletes struggling with eating disorders. The International Olympic Committee's new position statement prioritizes athlete health over performance.
A large-scale study found a significant inverse association between time spent walking and risk of ischemic stroke, as well as an inverse relationship between sports participation and coronary heart disease risk in Asian countries. Regular physical activity was associated with reduced risk of cardiovascular disease mortality.
The study found that adolescents and young adults involved in competitive sports had a two and a half times higher risk of sudden death. ECG screening identified vulnerable young people, reducing sports-related sudden death from hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.
A study monitored 2640 competitive athletes with arrhythmias, finding that 62 reported cardiac arrests and 38 were resuscitated. Illicit drugs, particularly anabolic steroids, increase the risk of lethal arrhythmias in athletes. Monitoring and treatment are crucial for young athletes and elite competitors.
Regular aerobic exercise training is safe and beneficial for cardiac patients, even those with reduced left ventricular function. Appropriate screening and controlled exercise intensity are crucial to minimize risk. Athletes with coronary artery disease can participate in low-intensity competitive sports under supervision.
Experts discuss scientific and regulatory aspects of sports doping, including 'gene doping' that uses genetic elements to enhance athletic performance. The U.S. Anti-Doping Agency is also highlighted as a key player in fighting sports doping through testing, education, and research.
A new expert panel recommends that children spend at least an hour a day in moderate to vigorous physical activity. This can be achieved through appropriate school programs, parental influence, and community support.
Research analyzed emergency medical treatment for assaults during international rugby and football matches in Cardiff. The results showed a significant increase in assault cases on match days, with the highest rates observed when Wales won its matches.
A European Society of Cardiology consensus report recommends regular physical examination, detailed medical history investigation, and a 12-lead ECG for all young athletes involved in organized sport. This could potentially cut sports-related cardiac deaths by 50%-70% if implemented across Europe.
A team-centered program called ATHENA was effective in reducing disordered eating behaviors among female high school athletes. The program, which focused on promoting healthy nutrition and exercise training, showed positive changes in athletes' dietary habits and reduced use of diet pills and other unhealthy substances.
The European Society of Cardiology provides recommendations for athletes with cardiovascular disease, balancing risks and benefits of competitive sport. The panel aims to inform physicians and cardiologists about safe sport activities for candidates with cardiovascular abnormalities.
The study group report emphasizes the need for systematic screening by 12-lead ECG to identify hypertrophic cardiomyopathy and other lethal cardiovascular diseases. The consensus document advocates for a common European screening protocol based on 12-lead ECG to prevent sports-related sudden death.
A recent study investigated the effects of Enhanced External Counterpulsation (EECP) treatments on physiological functions predicting athletic performance. The results showed no significant enhancement in endurance-related parameters, contradicting anecdotal reports of improved endurance during exercise.
Concussions are linked to depression and confusion in athletes after injury. The study found that emotional changes disappeared within three weeks of recovery.
A study suggests that genetic enhancement can increase muscle mass and strength in rats, which could benefit elite athletes, patients with muscle wasting, and elderly individuals. The research also highlights the need for regulatory bodies to distinguish between allowed and banned endurance enhancement practices.
ATLAS reduces anabolic steroid use among male adolescent athletes in schools nationwide. ATHENA aims to reduce eating disorders and drug use among young female sport teams. Both programs have been designated national models and are easy to implement.
The study found that school sports participation was associated with lower odds of currently smoking cigarettes. However, both chewing tobacco and snuff use were higher among athletic adolescents, indicating that sports do not help keep students away from less incendiary forms of tobacco.
A recent Mayo Clinic study has found a significant increase in forearm fractures among adolescents, with the rate rising by 42% over two decades. The study, which analyzed data from 1969-1971 and 1999-2001, found that girls between 8 and 11 and boys between 11 and 14 had higher fracture rates than all other age groups studied.
A study of elite male athletes found that about one in five believed they weren't sufficiently muscular and wanted to gain weight. The findings showed that 17.5% of athletes in lean sports exhibited symptoms of eating disorders compared to 9.2% in non-lean sports.
adidas introduces the JETCONCEPT bodysuit, which uses riblets to channel water and reduce drag, resulting in up to 3% increase in swimming performance. The suit was developed using technology from commercial aircraft, focusing on form drag rather than friction drag.
A University of Pittsburgh Medical Center study found that high school athletes recover from concussion slower than age-matched college athletes. High school athletes showed significant memory impairment at day 7 post-injury, while college athletes displayed commensurate performance with control subjects by day 3.
A new survey demonstrates that perceptions of physical activity do not match the reality, with many adults and teenagers overestimating their exercise levels. The study highlights the importance of finding effective ways to educate parents and teens about the need for regular physical activity.
A study conducted by the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign reveals that adolescent immigrants from Korea, Mexico, and Poland face distinct issues in the US. The research highlights how sports promote assimilation and materialism among these young immigrants, with varying degrees of emphasis depending on their cultural background.
Recent studies found no link between intense training and stunted growth or maturation in young female athletes. Instead, body size seems to be appropriate for the sport, with parents of gymnasts being shorter than average. Further research is needed to understand the effects of training on growth.
Research suggests that air pollution from vehicle emissions may cause new cases of asthma in children who participate in team sports, especially in communities with high ozone levels. This is contrary to conventional wisdom that air pollution worsens existing asthma but does not trigger it.
Researchers have created a new way to calculate 'magic numbers' in sports leagues, taking into account all possible future games. The new method can be applied to multiple sports like hockey and European soccer, providing more accurate predictions of team outcomes.
A study found that young athletes are more prone to sudden death due to cardiovascular diseases, with a higher risk of 2.5 times compared to non-athletes. Enhanced pre-participation screening methods, including electrocardiograms, are recommended to identify affected athletes.
Two studies suggest that environment plays a significant role in whether youth benefit from sports participation. In one study, urban youth showed positive influences on self-esteem and social competence, while rural African American girls found sports involvement may increase delinquent behaviors and substance use. The findings highli...
A study by Steven M. Ortiz finds that athlete wives develop coping strategies to deal with the stress of infidelity, often using humor or changing boundaries of trust. The wives who marry athletes for glamour and money may be more accepting of their husbands' affairs.
A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that injuries among rugby union players have almost doubled since the sport turned professional. Protective equipment worn by players is likely a contributing factor, according to the authors.
The program aims to connect kids with both sports and academics, helping them learn math and science while participating in sports. The Sport Science program will expand over the next three years to include 540 sixth-, seventh-, and eighth-grade girls from six Philadelphia schools.
A new University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study found six high school football players died from brain injuries in 1999. The deaths were attributed to improper tackling techniques and inadequate precautions, leading to a focus on coach education and player safety measures.
A study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine found that sports massage has little effect on muscle power and blood lactate levels, contradicting its long-held use as a recovery aid. However, participants who received massage reported feeling significantly better than those who rested.
A recent study by the American Psychological Association found that psychological factors, such as loving to play the sport and having a positive attitude, are more important than physical gifts in achieving athletic success. Coaches also cited criticism and pressure as the most harmful forces on young athletes' development.
A University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill study highlights the dangers of heatstroke in football and recommends shorter practices, non-contact drills, and regular cooling breaks. Coaches are urged to prioritize player safety and prevent tragedies.
A recent study by the American Heart Association found that physical activity significantly reduces the risk of stroke in individuals aged 45-64. Those who were more active at work had a 49% lower risk, while those with high levels of sports activity had a 23% reduced risk.
A study suggests that adding 4 cents to ticket prices in professional sports venues could cover the cost of automated external defibrillators and training staff, potentially saving thousands of lives. The estimated annual attendance at major league football, basketball, baseball, and hockey games is over 120 million.