Articles tagged with Sports
A new study examines the dual nature of skateboarding as both a polluting and sustainable activity. Skateboarders often navigate grey spaces with heavy air pollution, yet they also bring eco-friendly innovations like bamboo boards and hemp clothing to the sport.
Rosin powder increases friction by over 20%, reducing variation in friction between participants and pitches. A wax-like sticky substance doubles this effect, potentially increasing ball spin rates. The study suggests MLB balls could be made less slippery for improved ball control.
The Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games reported a lower overall injury rate of 8% compared to previous Games, but injuries sustained were more severe. Newly introduced sports of taekwondo and badminton had high injury rates, prompting calls for prevention measures.
The proportion of hamstring injuries and associated lay-off days among male professional European footballers has doubled over the past 20 years. Nearly one in five injuries were recurrences, occurring within two months of return to play, with most injuries being structural and resulting in more lay-off days.
The study found that COVID-19 restrictions led to decreased balance ability, higher body fat levels, and worsened lifestyle habits in Japanese children. The researchers suggest that quality of exercise, rather than quantity, was the main factor contributing to these changes.
Researchers used existing data from 72 women's international basketball games to analyze and classify ball movements. The study found that fast breaks, especially changes in direction of ball movement, contributed to higher scoring rates.
Researchers found that caffeine supplementation reduces sprint time by 0.14 seconds in the 100-meter dash, with increased explosive acceleration in the early stage of the race. Caffeine's ergogenic effects support World Athletics recommendations for athletes seeking a competitive edge.
Researchers found that football crowds can manipulate professional referees to award more red and yellow cards to away players. However, recent studies suggest that Premier League referees are less susceptible to these influences, indicating a narrowing of the gap between home and away yellow cards.
A new intelligent observer for Esports has been developed using a Mask R-CNN algorithm to learn from human spectating data. This approach overcomes limitations of existing automatic observers, which require extensive domain knowledge and cannot capture undefined events or changes in event significance.
A quarter of former Olympians suffer from osteoarthritis, with a higher risk of knee and hip osteoarthritis after sports-related injuries. Elite athletes also experience increased lower back pain and shoulder osteoarthritis.
A new survey by the European Federation of Dietitians supports moderate coffee consumption as having clear health benefits, including improved alertness and sports performance. The study involved 585 dietitians from across 26 European countries.
A recent study highlights the need for bespoke equipment in women's football, citing issues with ill-fitting boots and inadequate sports bras. Manufacturers are acknowledging the gap, but more research is needed to address the unique needs of female players.
A new study found that the use of the BAME acronym in the football industry can cause discomfort and reinforce feelings of marginalization. Researchers recommend a more inclusive approach, allowing individuals to describe their heritage and background rather than relying on tick boxes for ethnicity classification.
Researchers at University of Jyväskylä used machine learning to predict ACL injuries in elite athletes but found a low overall accuracy rate. The study analyzed the largest data set ever collected and provided valuable insights into the challenges of predicting injuries in individual athletes.
A study by University of Essex research revealed that therapeutic community gardening helped reduce loneliness and improved mental health during the COVID-19 crisis. The study found a 9% increase in self-reported life satisfaction and mental well-being among participants.
A new study by Staffordshire University reveals that women's football clubs in Europe are lacking in education on menstrual cycles, hormonal contraception, and pregnancy. The research highlights the need for more female coaches and formalized coach education to address these issues and promote player well-being.
Researchers identified barriers to optimal nutrition for para-athletes, highlighting the importance of understanding their concerns and struggles. A diet rich in vegetables was deemed ideal for improving athletic performance, but para-athletes often hesitate due to weight gain and lifestyle-related diseases.
Researchers Dr. Fabian Pels and Prof. Jens Kleinert developed an integrative group flow theory that explains the conditions for optimal group performance. The IGFT highlights the importance of interpersonal coordination, positive relationship quality, and continuous maintenance of primary and secondary fits to achieve group flow.
A new study found that electronic gaming can precipitate life-threatening cardiac arrhythmias in susceptible children with previously unrecognized predispositions. The most common underlying causes were catecholaminergic polymorphic ventricular tachycardia and congenital long QT syndrome types 1 and 2.
Research suggests e-bikes won't help users reach weekly moderate to vigorous physical activity targets due to fewer and less physically demanding trips. However, they may encourage older people to take up cycling who wouldn't otherwise do so.
A new study from Indiana University researchers found that young athletes who participate in multidirectional sports build stronger bones, reducing the risk of bone injuries as adults. The study suggests that delaying specialization in running and focusing on 'multidirectional' sports can lead to a more robust skeleton.
The British Journal of Sports Medicine has retracted nine non-research articles authored by Dr. Paul McCrory, who was the journal's editor-in-chief from 2001 to 2008. The retraction follows an internal investigation into allegations of publication misconduct made by researcher Dr. Nick Brown.
Researchers found that drafting can increase power by about 6% and potentially save time for middle-of-the-pack runners. For elite runners like Eliud Kipchoge, drafting alone could shave off 3:42 to 5:29, while slower runners can achieve similar time savings.
Researchers found that synthetic turf football fields have a greater impact deceleration compared to natural grass, increasing the risk of injury and concussion. The study's findings suggest that considering safety in sports requires widening our view to include playing surfaces.
Adolescent athletes who had their sports cancelled during the COVID-19 pandemic experienced significant improvements in physical activity and quality of life after resuming sports. Despite this, anxiety and depression rates remained higher than pre-pandemic levels.
A new study reveals that coaches displaying authentic leadership qualities can decrease athlete aggression and increase trust, enjoyment and commitment. Researchers found athletes training with authentic coaches are less likely to act aggressively towards competitors.
Researchers developed algorithms that can predict volleyball players' actions with over 80% accuracy, combining visual data with hidden variables. The algorithms also showed promise in predicting multiple actions across sequences of up to 44 frames.
A study of 15 transgender women found they exceeded the cardiopulmonary capacity and muscle strength of their cisgender peers even after years of hormone therapy. However, their performance was lower than that of cisgender men. The findings could inform policy on transgender women's sports participation.
Research has found that former Scottish international rugby union players are at a significantly increased risk of developing neurodegenerative diseases, including dementia and motor neurone disease. The study's findings suggest that strategies to reduce head impact and traumatic brain injury in all sports are necessary.
Researchers found that calf muscle stiffness contributes to passive ankle joint stiffness, especially when dorsiflexed. The study suggests that exercises to relieve triceps surae stiffness can improve joint flexibility and reduce injury risk.
Research suggests that regularly exercising with weights is associated with a lower risk of death from any cause, excluding cancer. A weekly combination of weights and aerobic exercise appears to have an additive effect on mortality risk.
The Healthy-Day-App assesses time use patterns in children and predicts outcomes on body fat percentages, wellbeing, and academic performance. Shifting screen time to physical activity results in improved health outcomes, including 4.2% lower body fat and 2.5% better wellbeing.
Elite sports schools offer a balance between academic work and sports development, while regular sports-friendly schools pose more challenges. Students who attend elite sports programs have an easier schedule and better development opportunities.
A new mathematical approach to grouping theory uses math to determine the most effective way to organize individuals to maximize learning. The research found that like-skilled tiered grouping is better than cross-sectional or random grouping, when the end goal is improving learning for all individuals.
A study by PLOS analyzed Australian race yards and found no significant difference in performance between male and female jockeys. The research suggests that the sex of the jockey does not impact the physiology or performance of the racehorse.
Despite progress in women's participation and equal pay, sexist scheduling of major mixed-sex sporting fixtures perpetuates unequal opportunities for female athletes. Experts call for a rethink to enable women and girls to realize their full potential on and off the sports field.
A study by University of Kansas faculty member Daniel Thomas III founds Black male teacher-coaches in predominantly white private schools employ unique civic-oriented practices to counter historical anti-Blackness. They engage students and athletes in social activism, community service, and critical civic engagement.
Researchers found a lower concussion rate in Florida, where headgear was mandated, compared to states without. The rate was 0.39 concussions/1000 athlete exposures with mandatory headgear, vs 0.44 without. This suggests that headgear may be worth considering for high schools and other levels of play.
Research suggests that regular physical activity is linked to a lower risk of COVID-19 infection and severity, including hospital admission and death. Adults who engaged in at least 500 MET minutes per week had a significant reduction in risk, with the highest protective effect observed at this threshold.
A study at University of Jyväskylä found that recreational runners who trained based on their recovery status improved their 10 km running time by twice as much as those in a traditional program. This approach reduced the risk of low training response and showed better performance outcomes.
Researchers found that NYC park users prioritized outdoor activities like walking, jogging, and biking during the pandemic. Social media data revealed concerns about social distancing, crowds, and mask-wearing, as well as specific incidents that reflected broader societal issues.
Intravenous (IV) nutrition is being used by professional athletes as a regular routine, despite lack of scientific evidence supporting its effectiveness and potential risks. The 'food first' approach is crucial to avoid normalization of unproven treatments.
A new study from Edith Cowan University found that exercising six times a day for five days can increase muscle strength by over 10% and improve muscle thickness. The research suggests that daily exercise is more beneficial for maintaining muscle mass and strength, rather than infrequent, longer workouts.
A new study revisits a deadly 2021 ultramarathon event in China, highlighting the need for ultra-high-resolution forecasts in mountainous terrain. The model accurately recreated the storm conditions and offered greater insight into what may have happened that day.
Children are at risk of heat-related health problems due to obesity and physical inactivity. Fitter adults can better tolerate high temperatures, but research suggests children need daily physical activity to build fitness.
A recent study investigated the relationship between passive muscle mechanical properties and dynamic performance in athletes. The research found a positive correlation between the shear modulus of the vastus lateralis muscle and performance outcomes during high-speed activities, suggesting that passive muscle properties are essential ...
Adults who played sports in youth scored higher on grit scale than those who didn't; even brief sports participation in adulthood showed improvement. Grit is key to achieving long-term goals and persevering through obstacles.
Research found professional athletes show better individual attacking performance in matches against their former clubs. Emotions, rather than knowledge of opponents' tactics, contribute significantly to their success. Coaches and sports managers can benefit from this understanding, while bookmakers may adjust betting odds.
A major public health concern, consumer product-related traumatic brain injuries have increased significantly in school-aged children, peaking in 2012 and declining in boys but increasing substantially among girls. The study highlights the need for awareness and training on screening and treatment of TBI in children.
A University of Essex study found that three-quarters of professional footballers experienced general fatigue for 37 days and muscle fatigue for 38 days after recovering from COVID-19. Despite no drop in lung capacity, GPS data showed a four per cent decline in match performance.
A study analyzing FIFA voting data from 2010-2016 suggests cultural similarity biases results. Captains were found to be more biased than coaches, while media people were the least biased.
The England Men's Cricket Team has become leaner and fitter over the past seven years, with a significant drop in body fat and substantial improvements in fitness levels. The study found players have 18% less body fat and increased cardiovascular capability.
A study of 11,500 athletes found that about 8% experienced persistent symptoms after contracting COVID-19, which can affect training and competing. The study highlights the need for personalized assessment before resuming training and competition in athletes.
A study by University of Otago's Department of Tourism found that the reduced number of event-related personnel attending the Olympics due to Covid-19 resulted in lower CO2 emissions. The study estimates a reduction of 129,686 tCO2 from expected levels.
A new wearable technology project aims to empower older women to continue participating in sports and exercise without fear of pain or injuries. The project, MISFIT, will develop smart textiles and footwear insoles to monitor injury risk and provide personalized advice to health professionals.
A study by Stephen T. Casper examines how sports slang, such as 'punch-drunk,' influenced the conceptualization and treatment of brain injuries. The research reveals a culture that stigmatized sufferers and normalized male violence, making it difficult for medical professionals to diagnose and treat neurodegenerative disease.
A study found that individual factors such as education level and health status are more influential on leisure-time physical activity than municipal resources. Commuting physical activity is also lower in rural municipalities due to longer distances and limited public transport.
A newly developed wearable sensor patch worn on the neck may predict concussion risk in high-impact sports like American football or judo. The device detects sudden neck strain, such as whiplash, and has shown a strong positive correlation with results from sensors inside a test dummy.
A decade-long analysis of hockey penalties reveals no evidence that in-game fighting reduces undesirable violence. The study challenges claims suggesting fighting serves as a deterrent, instead indicating it may contribute to more aggressive behavior.
A new study by Ohio State University researcher Michael Betz found that fighting in the NHL does not reduce violent penalties, but rather increases them. Fights lead to more penalties, not less, contradicting league officials' arguments for keeping fighting in the game.