Study finds that optimized built environments for athlete training, engagement, and accessibility could drive athletes to peak performance levels
Ishikawa, Japan -- The field of sports science has gained significant momentum in recent years, with the primary goal of research being directed towards optimizing athletic performance. However, achieving this goal is currently challenging, primarily due to the presence of various factors such as physical workouts, mental attention, nutrition, and resilience, which all play crucial roles. Gaining insights into such a multifaceted challenge requires moving beyond a sole muscle- or equipment-centered approach towards performance improvement. Instead, an interdisciplinary perspective is essential to devise effective strategies for performance optimization.
Looking at this challenge from an urban design perspective provides a unique view of thinking about how buildings, parks, and stadiums can help athletes perform better. Studies have also shown that the design of these spaces affects people’s health behaviors, influencing the way they exercise or the food that they consume. However, the impact of built environment design on athletes’ performance is not well understood.
Recently, researchers from the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) identified three key factors in built environment design that could enhance athletes’ performance. Led by Associate Professor Mohammad Javad Koohsari from JAIST, who is also an adjunct researcher at Waseda University and an honorary associate fellow at Deakin University (Australia), the study team included Associate Professor Andrew T. Kaczynski from the University of South Carolina and Professor Motohiko Miyachi and Professor Koichiro Oka from Waseda University. Their study was published online on 14 March, 2024
in
BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine.
To this end, Dr. Koohsari and his team reviewed existing literature to underpin the potential of built environment design in athletes’ performance optimization. He explains,
“We have discussed how creating personalized training areas, getting fans and the community more involved, and making it easier for athletes to access things like health care and transportation can really boost their performance.”
Studies have revealed the connection between indoor built environment features, such as shade and air quality, and the mental health of residents. Similarly, researchers suggest that training arenas equipped with open-air lounges, comfortable furniture, and plants could improve the mental well-being of athletes. These spaces could also allow them to take breaks and recharge between training sessions. Furthermore, such built environments could also have unique spatial designs for each type of athlete, for example, swimmers diving in adjustable pools and runners training on multifaceted indoor tracks.
A study conducted during the 2013 FIFA Confederations Cup in Brazil revealed fascinating insights into how accessible and pedestrian-friendly built environments influence fans’ walking preferences. The researchers argue that accessible transportation around the stadiums and urban centers could encourage more fans to attend sports events. Dr. Koohsari emphasizes,
“Support from fans and the community is a key motivator for athletes and can significantly boost their performance. If designed optimally, built environments could also become incredible catalysts for driving fan and community engagement.”
In addition to transportation, the researchers also discuss improving accessibility by establishing sports facilities near healthcare centers. Such immediate access to medical centers could ensure streamlined attention to athletes’ injuries and facilitate timely recovery. Similarly, if sports stadiums are placed within urban city centers, it could be less isolating for athletes and fans and boost the local economy and property values.
Overall, these insights can be of importance for policymakers, offering them consideration when integrating urban design elements with sports facilities. However, despite the proposed impact of built environment design on athletes’ performance, Dr. Koohsari notes,
“Lack of subjects related to built environments in sports science curricula is holding back the progress in this area. As a result, this could limit awareness about the potential of built environments on sports performance. It is, therefore, crucial for researchers from sports science, urban design, and environmental psychology to collaborate and address this challenge collaboratively.”
In summary, combining urban design with sports science can improve athletes’ performance and well-being, benefiting their overall health and community involvement.
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Reference
| Title of original paper: |
Building on Muscles: How Built Environment Design Impacts Modern Sports Science |
| Authors: |
Mohammad Javad Koohsari, Andrew T. Kaczynski, Motohiko Miyachi, and Koichiro Oka |
| Journal: |
BMJ Open Sport & Exercise Medicine |
| DOI: |
10.1136/bmjsem-2024-001908 |
About Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Japan
Founded in 1990 in Ishikawa prefecture, the Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology (JAIST) was the first independent national graduate school in Japan. Now, after 30 years of steady progress, JAIST has become one of Japan’s top-ranking universities. JAIST counts with multiple satellite campuses and strives to foster capable leaders with a state-of-the-art education system where diversity is key; about 40% of its alumni are international students. The university has a unique style of graduate education based on a carefully designed coursework-oriented curriculum to ensure that its students have a solid foundation on which to carry out cutting-edge research. JAIST also works closely both with local and overseas communities by promoting industry–academia collaborative research.
About Associate Professor Mohammad Javad Koohsari from Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology, Japan
Dr Koohsari is an Associate Professor at Japan Advanced Institute of Science and Technology in Japan. He also is an Adjunct Researcher with the Faculty of Sport Sciences at Waseda University, Japan, and an Honorary Associate Fellow with the School of Exercise and Nutrition Sciences at Deakin University, Australia. He obtained his PhD in Urban Design from the University of Melbourne, Australia, and another PhD in Health and Sport Sciences from Waseda University, Japan. His research focuses on how built environment science can contribute to population health, especially in the context of super-aged societies. Dr Koohsari has a publication record with over 115 refereed journal articles (such as at Nature Reviews Cardiology). In 2020, 2021, and 2022, he was recognised in the top 2% of most influential researchers worldwide across all scientific disciplines (Stanford University & Elsevier). He is also included in the 'Top Scientists' list in the field of 'Social Science & Humanities' for the year 2022 (Research.com). He is an editorial board member of several international journals, such as Landscape & Urban Planning, Heart & Mind, Clinical eHealth, and Journal of Architectural & Planning Research.
Funding information
Mohammad Javad Koohsari is supported by the JSPS KAKENHI (grant 23K09701). Koichiro Oka is supported by the JSPS Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research program (grant 20H04113).