Your weekly physical activity bulletin

03 December 2024

We are working towards improving the health and wellbeing of the nation through sport, exercise and physical activity. For more information on our work visit our website or follow us on X @NCSEM_PAnews

Research reveals health risks caused by swimmers’ core body temperatures during open water competitions

A study led by Loughborough University has revealed divergent challenges caused by swimmers’ core body temperatures during elite open water swimming competitions.

Elite open water swimming competition is conducted within a broad water temperature range (World Aquatics water temperature range: 16-31°C), where heat (hyperthermia) and cold (hypothermia) related medical events, including fatalities, and race dropouts occur.

The project, delivered in partnership with European Aquatic’s medical committee, showed that within the same race (and water temperature), clinical hypothermia – the body being too cold – and mild hyperthermia – the body being too hot – can co-present in the same elite cohort.

Led by Loughborough PhD Researcher Kate Markey under the supervision of Dr Lee Taylor, participating athletes ingested a telemetric pill prior to competition which transmitted core temperature data via radio frequency back to a monitor.

Experts in Sport: The long-term problems of sports participation and how to solve them

The Experts in Sport podcast is a regular series that brings together experts from across Loughborough University with external thought leaders to discuss the latest research and hot topics in sport and academia with new episodes launched regularly. 

In the latest episode, host Martin Foster is joined by Professor Paul Downward to discuss the UK’s low levels of sport participation.

The podcast includes discussions on government policy and its impact on participation rates, and what needs to change to encourage more people to become active.

Funding available for facilities damaged by extreme weather

Community organisations affected by the recent impact of Storms Bert and Conall can apply to Sport England's Movement Fund to recover quickly.

Supporting emergency relief and helping with costs during a crisis, like flood damage from extreme weather, is catered for by the Movement Fund – with its goal being to get more people active in England.

Latest findings on sector's digital maturity revealed

Sport England and ukactive have released the Digital Futures 2024 report, marking a successful fourth year of the consultation.

The report provides a measure of how the UK sport and physical activity sector – including fitness and leisure operators, national governing bodies, active partnerships, sports clubs and other providers – is embracing digital and the next steps required for growth.

This year saw 117 eligible UK fitness, leisure and sport organisations complete the consultation, representing 1,600 sites and around four million members nationwide.

Setting the standard for today and tomorrow

With a new Government in place and housebuilding and planning reform at the top of the agenda there has been a lot of commentary on the role of green space over the last six months. Pressure to protect existing spaces, pressure to make sure new developments have access to sufficient green space and making sure that in navigating these issues the interests of people and the environment are fully aligned. Since the 1930s Fields in Trust’s Standards have existed to help address these challenges and so a reinterpretation at this moment is both timely and necessary.

The original Six Acre Standard was created to provide a benchmark for the amount of open space required to meet the needs of local communities. Over time these standards have changed to reflect changing policy requirements but the need to deliver a quantum of space has been consistent.

The weekly physical activity bulletin in a summary of news stories that appear across the physical activity sector. The National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine is not responsible for the content of external sites.

You are receiving this email because you signed up to receive it either via the SSEHS Active website or the National Centre for Sport and Exercise Medicine (East Midlands) website. Read our privacy policy.