Key words: Lumbar Spondylolysis; Adolescent Athlete; Physical Therapy This blog summarises a study recently published in BJSM (1). Why is this study important? Lumbar spondylolysis is one of the most common causes of low back pain in adolescent athletes (2-4). Although standard care varies, many clinicians prescribe prolonged rest (1–3 months) prior to starting physical […]
Tag: physical activity
Forward Momentum: Shaping the Future of Physical Activity Support and Guidance Across Preconception, Pregnancy and Postpartum on the Island of Ireland
An upcoming all-island (Northern Ireland and the Republic of Ireland) research and stakeholder event aims to move beyond fear-based narratives, and toward evidence-informed, individualised physical activity support and guidance for women during preconception, pregnancy and postpartum. Introduction Across the island of Ireland, conversations around physical activity during preconception, pregnancy and postpartum are changing. Women increasingly […]
Do Physical Activity Programmes Really Work in Low- and Middle-Income Countries?
Keywords: physical activity, low- and middle-income countries, behaviour change, digital health, policy, systematic review The short answer is yes! The improvements are usually small, but they are real and meaningful when applied across large populations. In this blog, we discuss our recent study published in the British Journal of Sports Medicine (1). Why is this […]
Exercise for Depression and Anxiety: What Really Works?
Authors: Neil Munro, James Dimmock, Sam Teague, Klaire Somoray Why is this study important? Depression and anxiety affect millions of people worldwide. While treatments like medication and psychotherapy are effective, many people face barriers, including cost, stigma, waiting lists, and side effects. Exercise has long been promoted as a treatment option, but hundreds of studies […]
The potential outcomes of interpersonal violence for women’s artistic gymnasts
Why is this study important? Following the 2020 Netflix documentary “Athlete A,” hundreds of former elite gymnasts have come forward with accounts of psychological and physical violence, sexual harassment/abuse, and organizational neglect. While research has identified these experiences as abusive, we have lacked a comprehensive understanding of their potential long-term consequences. This study fills this […]
FitSkills: a community-based exercise program that improves participation for young people with disability
Why is this study important? Participating in physical activity has health benefits for young people with disability, but many participate in less physical activity than their peers without disability (Carlon et al 2013). Participation is ‘involvement in a life situation’ and has two components: attendance (being there) and involvement (the experience of participation). Essentially, participation […]
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 […]
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 […]
How physical activity changes over time may predict the risk of early death
Key words: Epidemiology, Health, Physical activity Why is this study important? Physical activity is known to help prevent early death.1 Current guidelines recommend 150-300 weekly minutes of moderate-intensity physical activity, or 75-150 weekly minutes of vigorous-intensity activity, or a combination of both, to achieve health benefits.2 However, most research on physical activity that supported the […]
Water or land exercise – what is better for kids with long COVID?
Subtitle: Discover which type of exercise—water-based or land-based—better helps children with long COVID Key words: child; long COVID; SARS-CoV-2, exercise What is long COVID in children? Long COVID is when children continue to feel unwell weeks or even months after recovering from COVID-19. There is no single definition, but experts agree that it includes symptoms that […]