Long-Haul Northeast Travel Disrupts Sleep and Induces Perceived Fatigue in Endurance Athletes

Abstract

Introduction: Long-haul transmeridian travel is known to cause disruptions to sleep and immune status, which may increase the risk of illness.Aim: This study aimed to determine the effects of long-haul northeast travel for competition on sleep, illness and preparedness in endurance athletes.Methods: Twelve trained (13.8 ± 3.2 training h/week) masters (age: 48 ± 14 years) triathletes were monitored for sleep (quantity via actigraphy and quality via self-report), mucosal immunity (salivary immunoglobulin-A) and stress (salivary cortisol) as well as self-reported illness, fatigue, recovery and preparedness. Baseline measures were recorded for 2 weeks prior to travel for all variables except for the saliva samples, which were collected on three separate days upon waking. Participants completed normal training during the baseline period. Measures were subsequently recorded before, during and after long-haul northeast travel from the Australian winter to the Hawaiian summer, and in the lead up to an Ironman 70.3 triathlon.Results: All comparisons are to baseline. There was a most likely decrease in sleep duration on the over-night flight (-4.8 ± 1.2 h; effect size; ±90% confidence limits = 3.06; ±1.26) and a very likely increase in sleep duration on the first night after arrival (0.7 ± 1.0 h; 1.15; ±0.92). After this time, sleep duration returned to baseline for several days until it was very likely decreased on the night prior to competition (-1.2 ± 1.0 h; 1.18; ±0.93). Nap duration was likely increased on the first day after arrival (36 ± 65 min; 3.90; ±3.70). There was also a likely increase in self-reported fatigue upon waking after the first night in the new destination (1.1 ± 1.6 AU; 0.54; ±0.41) and there were three athletes (25%) who developed symptoms of illness 3–5 days after arrival. There were no changes in sleep quality or mucosal measures across study.Discussion: Long-haul northeast travel from a cool to a hot environment had substantial influences on sleep and self-reported fatigue, but these alterations had returned to pre-departure baseline 48 h after arrival. Endurance athletes undertaking similar journeys may benefit from optimizing sleep hygiene, especially on the first 2 days after arrival, or until sleep duration and fatigue levels return to normal.

Effect of long-haul transmeridian travel on recovery and performance in international level swimmers

“…sIgA concentrations in the present study are higher than those reported in healthy males, 44 and male competitive judo athletes, 38 but similar to those observed in trained triathletes 45 and elite female rowers. 46 It should be noted that large within and between subject variations in sIgA have been reported in sedentary and trained individuals.…”

“…These findings are supported by a previous study which reported no change in sIgA concentrations in masters level triathletes following a LH flight in a north-westerly direction. 45 These data may suggest that suppressed immunity following LH travel is associated with suppressed sAA levels, but not reduced sIgA.…”

To Nap or Not to Nap? A Systematic Review Evaluating Napping Behavior in Athletes and the Impact on Various Measures of Athletic Performance

“…The most common form of sleep assessment was subjective, with ten (27%) studies employing self-report questionnaires 26–30 , 33 , 36 , 48 , 50 , 51 and seven (18.9%) studies employing self-report sleep diaries. 32 , 34 , 35 , 39 , 49 , 54 , 57 Thirteen (35.1%) studies utilized wrist actigraphy as an objective form of sleep assessment, 5 , 6 , 24 , 25 , 31 , 37 , 38 , 40–44 , 46 whereas six studies (16.2%) used polysomnography, the gold standard in sleep assessment. 8 , 47 , 52 , 53 , 55 , 56 One study (2.7%) did not report any form of sleep assessment, however, sleep duration was controlled in a laboratory environment.…”

“…Ten (27%) studies reported the percentage of athletes who napped at least once throughout the data collection period. 5 , 6 , 25 , 26 , 29 , 34 , 36 , 39 , 41 , 60 For example, Walsh et al 41 showed that 33% of the participants (national and international level swimmers) reported napping at least once during a rest period, 75% napped during a taper period, 92% napped during a training period, and 75% napped during the competition period. Five (13.5%) studies reported the total amount of naps taken during the data collection period.…”

Handling shifts during an overnight sailing regatta: Comparison between sleep management strategies

“…Fatigue can be defined as “the physical and/or mental weariness resulting from exertion, that is, an inability to continue exercise with the same intensity without a resultant deterioration in performance.” 3 Therefore, fatigue applies not only to the muscular effort but also to athletes' psychology. Sleep loss exerts a negative effect on perceived effort values 4 and on cognitive and neurobehavioral performance, 5,6 resulting in a reduction in the ability to encode new information and consolidate memory 7 . Sleep loss consists of insufficient sleep continuity and/or duration.…”