Sleep and Athletic Performance: The Effects of Sleep Loss on Exercise Performance, and Physiological and Cognitive Responses to Exercise

Abstract

Although its true function remains unclear, sleep is considered critical to human physiological and cognitive function. Equally, since sleep loss is a common occurrence prior to competition in athletes, this could significantly impact upon their athletic performance. Much of the previous research has reported that exercise performance is negatively affected following sleep loss; however, conflicting findings mean that the extent, influence, and mechanisms of sleep loss affecting exercise performance remain uncertain. For instance, research indicates some maximal physical efforts and gross motor performances can be maintained. In comparison, the few published studies investigating the effect of sleep loss on performance in athletes report a reduction in sport-specific performance. The effects of sleep loss on physiological responses to exercise also remain equivocal; however, it appears a reduction in sleep quality and quantity could result in an autonomic nervous system imbalance, simulating symptoms of the overtraining syndrome. Additionally, increases in pro-inflammatory cytokines following sleep loss could promote immune system dysfunction. Of further concern, numerous studies investigating the effects of sleep loss on cognitive function report slower and less accurate cognitive performance. Based on this context, this review aims to evaluate the importance and prevalence of sleep in athletes and summarises the effects of sleep loss (restriction and deprivation) on exercise performance, and physiological and cognitive responses to exercise. Given the equivocal understanding of sleep and athletic performance outcomes, further research and consideration is required to obtain a greater knowledge of the interaction between sleep and performance.

Assessing sleep, travelling habits and jet lag in kite surfers according to competition level

“…Though not measured, it could have an impact on athletes' training quality, recovery, injury and illness (Halson 2014;Silva & Paiva 2015a). This may also be due to training times since early morning training and evening training may disrupt sleep (Czeisler 2015;Fullagar et al 2015). Self-reported sleep duration in SM (06:28 ± 01:05 h) was similar to that observed in 70 elite athletes from seven different sports screened by actigraphy (06:30 ± 01:24 h, Sargent et al 2014).…”

“…This factor may contribute to more extensive strategies used by SM to regulate their circadian rhythms. Kite surfers' behaviours at the new destination, such as sleeping (Halson 2008(Halson , 2014lau et al 2010;Fullagar et al 2015), eating and drinking Halson 2008Halson , 2014Fullagar et al 2015), and training (Fullagar et al 2015;Uchida et al 2012;Silva & Paiva 2015c), could be used as important "zeitgebers" (time-givers for body clock's readjustments by rhythmic cues in the environment) at the new time zone Silva & Paiva 2015a).…”

“…Sleep variability was measured by the difference in sleep duration between weekends and weekdays. Poor sleep duration was defined as a mean total sleep duration of less than 08 h 30 min per day (Fullagar et al 2015;Silva & Paiva 2015a).…”

“…Depending on their level, kite surfers normally travel to different time zones for competition; thus, not only appetite, but also their sleep and athletic performance can be negatively affected by jet lag (Halson 2014;Silva & Paiva 2015c), even though sleep, eating, drinking and training can be used as external factors to regulate the light-dark cycle and minimize jet lag effects (Halson 2014;Fullagar et al 2015). In addition, the dry air on board of airconditioned vehicles (car, bus and/or plane) can increase athletes' dehydration; thus, an increase of fluid intake is highly recommended, such as water, juices and soft drinks ).…”

Percepção De Qualidade De Sono E De Vida Em Atletas Paralímpicos: Comparação Entre Atletas Com Deficiência Física E Visual

“…Já é consolidado na literatura que a qualidade de sono está relacionada com a qualidade de vida, sendo assim, alguns estudos relatam que problemas relacionados ao sono, como dificuldades para iniciar ou manter o sono, sono não restaurador e sonolência excessiva diurna, diminuem a qualidade de vida na população geral 34,35 . Alguns estudos demonstraram que atletas possuem alto risco de ter qualidade de sono ruim e diminuição do tempo total de sono durante e após competições e em fases de treinamento intenso [36][37][38] . A principal limitação do estudo está relacionada com a variedade de tipos de deficiência do grupo DF.…”