Poor Sleep Quality’s Association With Soccer Injuries: Preliminary Data

Abstract

Purpose: To investigate the relationship between sleep quality and quantity and injuries in elite soccer players and to compare sleep–wake variables and injury characteristics. Methods: The current investigation was a prospective cohort study of 23 elite male soccer players competing for 2 teams over 6 mo in the highest-level Brazilian competition. The players’ sleep behavior was monitored for 10 d in the preseason using self-reporting sleep diaries and wrist activity monitors to determine sleep duration and quality. Furthermore, injuries were recorded by the respective club’s medical teams into a specific database. Details of injuries recorded included the type, location, and severity of each injury. The results were expressed as descriptive statistics, and the significance level was set at 5%. The Mann–Whitney U test was performed to compare the sleep variables between groups. Spearman correlation coefficient and linear-regression analysis were used. Results: The results indicated a moderate negative correlation between sleep efficiency and particular injury characteristics, including absence time, injury severity, and amount of injuries. The linear-regression analysis indicated that 44% of the total variance in the number of injuries can be explained by sleep efficiency, 24% of the total variance in the absence time after injury (days) can be explained by sleep efficiency, and 47% of the total variance in the injury severity can be explained by sleep efficiency. Conclusions: Soccer players who exhibit lower sleep quality or nonrestorative sleep show associations with increased number and severity of musculoskeletal injuries.

Relationships between Sleep, Athletic and Match Performance, Training Load, and Injuries: A Systematic Review of Soccer Players

“…Sleep might be associated with the risk for injury and illness [ 2 ]. Studies have found that soccer players with shorter sleep duration and with low-quality (nonrestorative) sleep showed increased numbers and severities of musculoskeletal injuries [ 17 , 18 ]. In addition, Laux et al [ 19 ] found that subjective sleep quality was associated with injury occurrence among elite soccer players in the month following an assessment, highlighting the role of sleep quality in the recovery process.…”

In-season training responses and perceived wellbeing and recovery status in professional soccer players

“…Additionally, it is not unreasonable to propose that some discrepancies in our training profiles may illustrate different training load demands among players' health status and playing positions [6,[9][10][11], as coaches regularly implement training drills that arrange the players according to their condition and match duties. Factors in addition to training load are likely to inhibit players' performance [17,18,21,22]. In this context, sports science literature suggests that higher sleep quality and proper fitness wellbeing may enhance players' physical and technical performance, while sleep disturbance, muscular soreness, and fatigue accumulation have been associated with performance impairment and higher musculoskeletal injury risk [17,18,21,22].…”

“…Factors in addition to training load are likely to inhibit players' performance [17,18,21,22]. In this context, sports science literature suggests that higher sleep quality and proper fitness wellbeing may enhance players' physical and technical performance, while sleep disturbance, muscular soreness, and fatigue accumulation have been associated with performance impairment and higher musculoskeletal injury risk [17,18,21,22]. Nevertheless, this study found an improbable relationship between players' wellness markers and training responses (i.e., despite cluster LOW exposed higher symptoms of muscular soreness, fatigue, and stress, [31].…”

“…Thus, considering that elite soccer is played throughout a highly congested schedule, optimal recovery strategies are required to decrease fatigue and reduce the injury risk [16]. In this regard, sleep quality and duration are considered important psychological and physiological functions that may substantially contribute to the recovery process in elite soccer players [17,18]. Sports science literature has documented that sleep disturbance increases the risk, prevalence and severity of musculoskeletal injuries and is associated with cognitive, technical and physical performance impairment; whereas healthier sleep habits may enhance physical and technical performance [17,18].…”

“…In this regard, sleep quality and duration are considered important psychological and physiological functions that may substantially contribute to the recovery process in elite soccer players [17,18]. Sports science literature has documented that sleep disturbance increases the risk, prevalence and severity of musculoskeletal injuries and is associated with cognitive, technical and physical performance impairment; whereas healthier sleep habits may enhance physical and technical performance [17,18]. Despite this evidence, elite soccer is associated with sleep performance impairment specifically through the time and schedule of training and competition events and long-haul traveling [19].…”