Sport and Exercise Medicine
No evidence that high-protein diet improves strength or muscle mass
A 10-week muscle-building and dietary programme involving 50 middle-aged adults found no evidence that eating a high-protein diet increased strength or muscle mass more than consuming a moderate amount of protein while training. The intervention...
Novel saliva test accurately diagnoses concussion — SCRUM study
March 31st, 2021 A University of Birmingham-led study of top-flight UK rugby players – carried out in collaboration with the Rugby Football Union (RFU), Premiership Rugby, and Marker Diagnostics – has identified a method of accurately diagnosing concussion using...
Being physically active may cut risk of instant heart attack death by up to 45%
February 17th, 2021 A moderate-to-high level of physical activity was associated with a lower risk of instant and 28-day death in relation to a myocardial infarction, found a large study in European Journal of Preventative Cardiology. Heart disease is the leading...
Exercise beneficial for low back pain but no agreement why — Clinical trial review
January 6th, 2021 Exercise is scientifically proven to provide relief from chronic low back pain (CLBP), but an Australian systematic new review found researchers are still unsure as to why. The study, published in Musculoskeletal Science and Practice, was a...Regimen improves physical and cognitive performance of airmen
Researchers studied the effects of a 12-week exercise regimen on 148 active-duty US Air Force airmen, half of whom also received a twice-daily nutrient beverage that included protein; the omega-3 fatty acid, DHA; lutein; phospholipids; vitamin D; B...
Plantar fasciitis and overuse injuries may link to toe spring in shoes — Harvard
September 23rd, 2020 Toe springs, a pervasive feature in athletic shoes especially, may contribute to weakening of the foot muscles and possibly to increased susceptibility to common pathological conditions such as plantar fasciitis, according to a Harvard study in...
Asthma drug can boost sprint and strength performance in athletes
August 12th, 2020 A type of asthma drug, known as ß2-agonists, can boost sprint and strength performance in athletes who don't have the respiratory condition, finds a review and pooled data analysis of the available evidence. The performance-enhancing qualities of...
Higher daily step counts strongly associated with lower mortality risk
April 1st, 2020 A study has found that higher daily step counts were associated with lower mortality risk from all causes. The research team, which included investigators from the National Cancer Institute (NCI) and the National Institute on Aging (NIA), both...
Electrolyte supplements don't prevent illness and may cause harm — Ultramarathon study
March 4th, 2020 Electrolyte supplements are promoted as preventing nausea and cramping caused by low salt levels, but a Stanford study based on 266 ultramarathoners found that they do not prevent illness or improve performance, and if diluted with too much water...
Paralympic rule change for 'blade runners' is contradicted by US study
February 26th, 2020 The assumptions behind a recent International Paralympic Committee rule change affecting double, below-the-knee amputees racing in prosthetic legs are contradicted by a small, first-of-its-kind US study. The unusual mandate results from a recent...'Wristwatch' monitors body chemistry to boost athletic performance, prevent injury
Engineering researchers have developed a device the size of a wristwatch that can monitor an individual's body chemistry to help improve athletic performance and identify potential health problems. The device can be used for everything from...
Skiers have 50% lower incidence of depression and vascular dementia – but not Alzheimer's
December 4th, 2019 Half as many skiers have been diagnosed with depression, a delayed manifestation of Parkinson's, a reduced risk of developing vascular dementia – but not Alzheimer's. These connections were discovered by researchers when they compared 200,000...Increased exercise helps prevent heart disease and stroke in the elderly
People over the age of 60 should do more exercise not less in order to prevent heart disease and stroke, according to findings from a study of over 1.1m elderly people. The researchers in South Korea found that people who did less moderate or...Regular exercise reduces hip fracture risk in post-menopausal women
Regular physical activity, including lighter intensity activities such as walking, is associated with reduced risk of hip and total fracture in post-menopausal women, according to new research from the University at Buffalo. The study is the most...
Running as little as 50 minutes a week significantly lowers death risk
November 6th, 2019 An Australian research review, tracking over 232,000 people for up to 35 years, found that running for as little as 50 minutes a week can significantly lower the risk of death. Research from the Institute for Health & Sport at Victoria...