Knowledge Nuggets

Combat sport athletes often use rapid weight loss strategies, also known as weight cutting, before competitions, but these methods can cause harm. Dehydration and extreme dieting raise the risk of kidney stress and long-term damage.

While physical activity typically strengthens the immune system, high-intensity training can weaken it, leaving some high performance athletes more susceptible to upper respiratory infections. Discover key nutritional strategies to stay healthy and perform at your best!

Stretching is a common practice among athletes across sports. Long-term daily stretching has been shown to have a significant impact on gains in muscle strength, size, and flexibility, with research suggesting it may offer similar benefits to other forms of strength training.

Cold water immersion is a newer recovery method used by many athletes. In a survey of 111 respondents, many reported perceived benefits of cold water immersion despite solid evidence supporting its scientific benefits.

Higher testosterone levels are linked to faster sprint times in young male athletes, offering a potential edge in performance. While female athletes showed no correlation, males with higher testosterone ran significantly faster in 20 m and 30 m sprints.

Physical activity is essential for maintaining health, but intense training can result in immune dysfunction and muscle damage. Recent research points to meat as a potent recovery aid, rich in bioactive compounds that support muscle repair and optimize performance.

A popular myth is that after a concussion, an athlete should be prescribed strict rest until their symptoms resolve. However, research shows that light physical and cognitive activity in the first 48 hours after injury can improve concussion outcomes in athletes. Explore the full article for more information on rest and exercise after a concussion.

In today’s digital era, it’s easy to overlook the importance of physical activity in our daily lives. New data from the WHO show that nearly one third (31%) of adults worldwide did not meet the recommended levels of physical activity in 2022, increasing the risk of certain diseases and health conditions. However, nearly half of...

Chronic alcohol misuse causes muscle weakness and atrophy, while problematic drinking impairs muscle function and athletic performance. This study shows that alcohol consumption hinders muscle recovery and function, potentially reducing sport performance, especially in men.

As technology continues to advance, athletes are increasingly using devices to enhance their performance and overall health. Wearable sweat sensors have become one of these key tools for health tracking. Here are recent developments in sweat loss measuring devices and how they contribute to improved tracking and monitoring of overall body health.