Keywords: female athlete, menstrual cycle, performance Introduction The menstrual cycle (MC) is a central feature of female physiology. Across the MC, concentrations of sex hormones such as estrogen and progesterone fluctuate, influencing physiological systems, including cardiovascular, respiratory, metabolic and neuromuscular parameters. Subsequently, it has been hypothesised that the MC phase could affect sports performance, yet research […]
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Inside the Ropes: A Clinical Perspective from the 2025 Scottish Women’s Open
Reflections on Shadowing a Sports and Exercise Medicine Doctor in Elite Women’s Golf Introduction Given Sports and Exercise Medicine (SEM) is not currently a specialty offered in the UK Foundation Programme rotations, clinical experience must be gained during ‘taster’ days or during days off. I am very grateful to Professor Andrew Murray and Dr Emma […]
How common are injuries and illnesses during the Olympic, Youth Olympic and Paralympic Games, and who is most affected?
Why is this study important? Athletes competing at the Olympic, Youth Olympic and Paralympic Games face high demands and a risk of injury and illness (1,2) which can threaten participation, performance and long-term health (3, 4). Systematic surveillance of injuries and illnesses is crucial for athlete health promotion and has been conducted during the Games […]
Exercise snacks: small bouts, big benefits
Authors: Miguel Ángel Rodríguez, Marcos Quintana-Cepedal, Boris Cheval, Cecilie Thøgersen-Ntoumani, Irene Crespo, Hugo Olmedillas Why is this study important? Physical inactivity is one of the most pressing global health challenges of the 21st century. According to the World Health Organization (WHO), more than 1.8 billion adults are at increased risk of chronic diseases because they do not […]
Keeping with Faith: What sport medicine practitioners can learn from media narratives of elite athlete mothers
When three-time Olympic champion and mother Faith Kipyegon set out to become the first woman to break the four-minute mile, she noted it was about more than just a time barrier: It’s about sending messages to the younger generation, sending messages to women out there to know that we can expand our boundaries… we don’t […]
How much running is too much? A new take on injury risk for runners
Key words: Athletic Injuries; Running; Sporting injuries; Sports medicine This blog is based on a recently published BJSM study (1). Why is this study important? Running continues to grow in popularity worldwide—celebrated for its health benefits and accessibility. Although it also comes with a downside: the risk of injuries. Up to half of all runners […]
Alfamov: a game-changer for assessing children’s motor competence in clinical practice and physical education settings.
Name of the mobile application: Alfamov Category of the mobile application: Education Platform: iOS (iPhone and iPad 11.0 & above), Android (versions 2.3.3 & above) Cost: Free About the App How confident are you in accurately assessing a 7-year-old’s fundamental movement skills? Alfamov is a digital application designed to assess and monitor primary […]
Sideline Stories: A Guide to Sports Medicine Electives (A BJSM Blog Series) – Part 2
Explore firsthand experiences, practical insights, and expert tips from those who have already taken their Sports and Exercise Medicine (SEM) electives around the world. Key words: Sports and exercise medicine, Electives, Undergraduate education Introduction This is part two of three to the 2025 Undergraduate SEM Elective series. 1. Doha; Aspetar Hospital – Isa Waheed I […]
Development and Validation of the Wisconsin Sport Specialization Questionnaire
Key Words: Youth athlete, injury, sports This blog is based on recent research published on BJSM (1). Why is this study important? Sport participation is a common way for children and adolescents around the world to stay physically active. However, the professionalization of youth sports has led many young athletes to select a main sport […]
The domain difference: How context shapes physical activity’s mental health benefits
Why is the study important? Physical activity is well known for supporting mental health, but it’s often assumed that any movement is good. Research shows that lots of different types of physical activity – walking, running, yoga, resistance training – can help, but in reality, not all activity does. Physical activity is more than just […]