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 […]
Tag: Mental Health
Barriers to mental health help-seeking among Olympic and Paralympic coaches
This blog summarises a recently published study in BJSM investigating barriers to mental health help-seeking among Olympic and Paralympic coaches. Why is this study important? Olympic and Paralympic coaches face a range of stressors that may compromise their mental health and wellbeing. These demands may include the pressure of having to qualify for a Games, […]
Physical Activity During Childhood Improves Mental Health
In this blog, we report novel findings from a recent study on how physical activity during certain periods can protect children from developing common psychiatric conditions, such as depression, anxiety, and addiction (1). We also highlight that participation in organized sports seems to have a broad beneficial effect and then discuss explanations for this pattern, […]
Exercise and brain health: new insights on cognitive benefits
Have you ever noticed feeling mentally clearer after physical activity? That post-exercise mental clarity isn’t just your imagination – it reflects real cognitive changes. Our research team undertook a major review of the evidence to dig deeper into exactly how movement shapes our thinking. What we discovered about exercise and your brain Our analysis examined […]
Femoral Acetabular Impingement Syndrome and Its Impact on Mental Health: A Physiotherapist’s Perspective
Keywords: Femoroacetabular Impingement Syndrome (FAIS), Mental Health, Hip Arthroscopy Femoral acetabular impingement syndrome (FAIS) was a condition I knew little about. I was completely unprepared for the challenges it would bring. I boarded a 26-hour flight as a fit and active football enthusiast, but by the time I landed, I was faced with unexpected hip pain […]
Exploring the hidden link: high-performance athletes, health and abuse
Keywords: Athlete abuse, injuries, mental health, high-performance sport “Olympic level sport takes more than just your daily dedication during practice hours. And when I say that I go beyond the obvious notion of dieting, resting, and even-meditating. What starts as a child’s dream ends up becoming not just something you do, but who you are: […]
The ‘weekend warrior’ physical activity pattern: what’s good for the body is good for the mind!
Author: Gary O’Donovan (Facultad de Medicina, Universidad de los Andes, Bogotá, Colombia. Email: g.odonovan@uniandes.edu.co) Large studies have shown that the risk of cardiometabolic disease (1) and the risk of death (2,3) are reduced to similar extents in ‘weekend warriors’ who exercise once or twice per week and in the ‘regularly active’ who exercise more often. […]
Understanding Mental Health in Female Student-Athletes: What Clinicians Need to Know
Authors: Ling Beisecker, Patrick Harrison, Marzia Josephson, and J.D. DeFreese When thinking about female student-athletes, we often picture the pinnacle of strength and resilience. In reality, many female student-athletes are battling mental health challenges like depression, anxiety, and stress that can affect both their performance and well-being. A recent systematic review and meta-analysis led by […]
Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool Use: Improving Risk Identification in Elite Athletes
In 2021, the International Olympic Committee introduced the Sport Mental Health Assessment Tool (SMHAT-1) to screen athletes for mental health concerns. This tool consists of a series of steps to evaluate an athlete’s mental well-being. The first step involves completing the Athlete Psychological Strain Questionnaire (APSQ), which helps determine if further assessment is necessary. Athletes […]
From Alternative to Mainstay: the overwhelming evidence supporting physical activity as a treatment for anxiety and depression
Authors: Ben Singh, Timothy Olds, Rachel Curtis, Dot Dumuid, Rosa Virgara, Amanda Watson, Kimberley Szeto, Edward O’Connor, Ty Ferguson, Emily Eglitis, Aaron Miatke, Catherine EM Simpson, Carol Maher. In this blog, we provide an overview of our new umbrella review (which is a systematic review of systematic reviews) which was published in the British Journal […]