You asked, IB writers did! TOP 110 IB Sports, Exercise and Health Science (SEHS) Extended Essay research questions, as always – grouped into five categories:

• ✅ 25 Simple but Interesting
• ✅ 25 Unique and Not Overused
• ✅ 25 Complex and Challenging
• ✅ 25 Current and Up-to-Date
• ✅ 10 Fun and Unusual

Each question is crafted in line with IB EE criteria — clear, focused, investigable, and ideally supported by either practical experimentation, data analysis, or scientific literature in the context of sports science, health, physiology, biomechanics, nutrition, or psychology.

🟩 25 Simple but Interesting SEHS Extended Essay Topics

(accessible, measurable, great for school-level labs or field testing)

1. To what extent does stretching before exercise reduce the risk of muscle strain in high school athletes?
2. How does hydration level affect reaction time in adolescent soccer players?
3. To what extent does body mass index (BMI) affect vertical jump height?
4. How does caffeine consumption affect the sprint performance of non-athlete students?
5. How does the type of warm-up (dynamic vs. static) affect 20-meter sprint time?
6. To what extent does music tempo influence perceived exertion during aerobic exercise?
7. How does shoe type affect running performance over 100 meters?
8. How does time of day affect grip strength performance?
9. To what extent does fatigue impact accuracy in basketball free throws?
10. How does gender influence resting heart rate in high school athletes?
11. To what extent does sleep duration affect agility performance?
12. How does carbohydrate intake influence performance in a 5 km run?
13. How does pre-exercise meal composition affect VO₂ max performance?
14. To what extent does hand dominance affect reaction time?
15. How does the surface (turf vs. concrete) affect sprint speed over 40 meters?
16. How does listening to music influence push-up endurance in teenagers?
17. To what extent does dynamic warm-up improve vertical jump height compared to no warm-up?
18. How does ambient temperature affect heart rate recovery after exercise?
19. How does water immersion affect post-exercise muscle soreness?
20. How does age affect balance ability in adolescent vs. adult subjects?
21. To what extent does sugar consumption before exercise affect short-term endurance?
22. How does core strength affect running economy in middle-distance athletes?
23. How does skipping breakfast affect reaction time in morning workouts?
24. To what extent does training with resistance bands improve jump height over 6 weeks?
25. How does dehydration impact decision-making speed in team sport athletes?

🟦 25 Unique and Not Overused Sport Science EE Questions

(creative angles, less common in typical school investigations)

26. How does mental imagery training affect free throw success in novice basketball players?
27. To what extent does socioeconomic status influence participation in organized youth sports?
28. How does arch height affect injury prevalence in runners?
29. To what extent does plant-based dieting affect muscle recovery in amateur weightlifters?
30. How does limb dominance affect one-legged vertical jump height?
31. To what extent does the presence of a crowd affect heart rate variability during performance?
32. How does mindfulness meditation impact resting heart rate in adolescent athletes?
33. To what extent does compression garment use affect post-sprint lactate removal?
34. How does shoulder flexibility affect serve speed in recreational tennis players?
35. How do menstrual cycle phases affect aerobic endurance in trained female athletes?
36. How does ankle taping affect agility test performance in soccer players?
37. How does overtraining impact sleep quality in competitive swimmers?
38. To what extent does sleep tracking influence sleep duration in teenage athletes?
39. How does barefoot running affect stride length in habitual vs. non-habitual barefoot runners?
40. How does pre-performance visualization affect performance in penalty kicks?
41. How does training in polluted air affect peak expiratory flow rate?
42. To what extent does yoga improve flexibility and injury prevention in high school athletes?
43. How do fitness influencers affect exercise motivation in teenage girls?
44. To what extent does altitude training improve sea-level performance in runners?
45. How does footwear cushioning affect impact force during landing from a vertical jump?
46. How does daily step count correlate with cardiovascular fitness in non-athletes?
47. To what extent does proprioception training reduce ankle injury risk in volleyball players?
48. How does social media use affect perceived body image among young athletes?
49. To what extent does team bonding influence perceived motivation in adolescent athletes?
50. How does morning vs. evening training affect power output in resistance-trained individuals?

🟥 25 Complex and Challenging Questions for IB Sports EE

(for top-level students — theory-heavy, data-driven, or long-term)

51. How does long-term high-intensity interval training (HIIT) affect VO₂ max in adolescent athletes?
52. To what extent does genetic variation in ACTN3 affect sprinting ability in high school athletes?
53. How does creatine supplementation affect peak power output in strength-trained adolescents?
54. To what extent does muscle fiber composition influence fatigue rate in repeated sprint exercise?
55. How does motor unit recruitment change with increasing intensity in EMG data analysis?
56. To what extent does overreaching affect performance in a six-week mesocycle of resistance training?
57. How do biomechanical differences in running gait affect ACL injury risk?
58. How does lactate threshold correlate with 5 km race performance in cross-country runners?
59. To what extent does VO₂ max predict performance in rowing?
60. How does the oxidative stress response differ between trained and untrained individuals post-exercise?
61. How do eccentric vs. concentric muscle contractions influence delayed onset muscle soreness (DOMS)?
62. How does age affect maximal oxygen uptake in endurance athletes across a 10-year range?
63. To what extent do plyometric training protocols influence lower limb explosive power?
64. How does cardiac output vary between trained and untrained individuals during submaximal exercise?
65. How does dehydration affect plasma volume and thermoregulation during exercise?
66. To what extent can periodization improve performance in competitive cycling?
67. How does core stability training affect injury rates in contact sports over a competitive season?
68. How does beta-alanine supplementation affect anaerobic performance in repeated sprint tests?
69. How do resting hormone levels (e.g. cortisol/testosterone) influence recovery post-resistance training?
70. How does neuromuscular fatigue impact rate of force development in the lower limbs?
71. To what extent does stride frequency impact running economy in elite middle-distance runners?
72. How does proprioception training affect neuromuscular control post-ACL reconstruction?
73. How does cross-training in swimming impact cardiovascular adaptation in non-swimmers?
74. To what extent does limb length affect mechanical advantage in compound lifts (e.g., deadlift)?
75. How does intermittent fasting affect peak anaerobic performance?

🟨 25 IB SEHS EE – Current and Up-to-Date Questions

(relevant to today’s sport science topics — tech, health, psychology, etc.)

76. How has the COVID-19 pandemic impacted cardiorespiratory fitness in high school athletes?
77. To what extent do wearable fitness trackers affect step count and motivation in teenagers?
78. How does consistent mask-wearing during workouts affect performance and recovery in indoor gyms?
79. How does screen time affect sleep quality and subsequent athletic performance?
80. How do concussion protocols affect return-to-play times in contact sports?
81. How does creatine monohydrate use among adolescents align with safe supplementation guidelines?
82. To what extent do esports athletes experience physiological stress similar to traditional athletes?
83. How do wellness apps affect recovery behavior in young athletes?
84. To what extent do athletes adopt plant-based diets due to social media influence?
85. How does social isolation during COVID lockdown affect perceived athletic performance?
86. How does resistance to vaccine mandates affect team dynamics in professional sports?
87. How has the rise of TikTok fitness trends changed adolescent exercise routines?
88. To what extent does VR-based physical training affect balance in older adults?
89. How does smartwatch accuracy compare to lab-based VO₂ max testing?
90. To what extent does climate change (heatwaves) affect athlete hydration strategies?
91. How does body positivity media affect self-image in female weightlifters?
92. How does prolonged mask use impact perceived exertion during HIIT sessions?
93. How does the rise of influencer-led workout challenges affect injury risk in non-athletes?
94. To what extent does Blue Zone lifestyle research influence endurance athlete routines?
95. How do high school coaches adapt training sessions to increasing awareness of mental health?
96. How does microdosing psychedelics relate to performance enhancement claims in elite sports?
97. How does menstrual cycle tracking influence training strategies in female athletes?
98. How have post-COVID respiratory symptoms affected aerobic performance in recovered youth athletes?
99. To what extent has technology affected officiating fairness and athlete behavior in elite competitions?
100. How does cold plunge therapy trend on social media align with current scientific evidence?

🟪 10 Fun and Unusual Questions for Your Sports Exercise and Health Science Extended Essay

(quirky, playful, and still rooted in real SEHS science)

101. To what extent does chewing gum improve sprint performance?
102. How does playing music with different tempos influence core workout adherence?
103. To what extent do superhero poses improve perceived power output before exercise?
104. How does posture affect mood and performance during team warm-ups?
105. Can watching motivational sports movies before a match enhance athletic output?
106. How does laughter yoga affect resting heart rate and recovery in teenage athletes?
107. To what extent does color of sports clothing influence perceived effort in endurance tasks?
108. How do fantasy sports leagues impact exercise motivation in young adults?
109. To what extent does training with dogs improve fitness consistency in recreational runners?
110. How do barefoot beach workouts affect ankle proprioception compared to gym sessions?