Sleep and Fatigue of Elite Circus Student-Artists During One Year of Training

Abstract

AIMS: The development of elite circus artists requires extensive technical and artistic training, as well as a commensurate level of physical preparation in readiness for a demanding professional career as a performance artist. While sport research has identified the importance of monitoring sleep and fatigue in athletes to optimize performance and to prevent illness and injury, not a single study of circus artists exists. This study provides a longitudinal examination of sleep and fatigue in elite circus student-artists. METHODS: 92 student-artists (60 male, 32 female) were analyzed at 4 strategic time points over a preparatory year. At each time point, sleep parameters (duration, quality and latency), ratings of perceived exertion (RPE), wakefulness, and fatigue were obtained using questionnaires. RESULTS: Student-artists attained an average nightly sleep of 8 hours, 27 minutes, exceeding the recommended durations for general populations and those self-reported in athletes. The majority of the artists also indicated acceptable sleep latency (87%) and quality (83%) scores. Sleep parameters remained consistent throughout the year despite significant variations in training load and fatigue. Sleep parameters were not substantial predictors of overall fatigue. Fatigue covaried with yearly variation in sessional training loads. CONCLUSIONS: Although improvement in sleep could be postulated as a means to mitigate fatigue, it is likely that strategies aimed at optimizing the loading profile and additional recovery techniques be a first line approach.

Supporting Holistic Wellbeing for Performing Artists During the COVID-19 Pandemic and Recovery: Study Protocol

“…A prospective longitudinal design with retrospective comparison to temporally matched data from a pre-pandemic school year, since previous research showed differences between circus students and the general population, as well as the existence of temporal variation in psychological characteristics within the school training year ( Decker, 2020 ).…”

“…Additionally, prior to the pandemic, when compared to age- and sex-matched peers, a similar percentage of circus students were classified as having severe psychological distress (9 versus 10–13.6% normative), yet a substantially higher percentage were classified in the moderate distress category (42 versus 24–31% normative; Decker, 2020 ). Given the high proportion of circus students in the moderate category, the added stressors of the pandemic have the potential to shift them into the severe category, thus increasing their risk of mental distress.…”

Considerations for the Medical Management of the Circus Performance Artist and Acrobat

“…3 Hence, the use of a subjective wellness and preparation questionnaire, such as a multi-item Likert scale which provides ratings for general fatigue, muscle soreness, emotional states, coping resources, and sleep quality, can be used to assess perceived recovery from previous training as well as readiness for same-day participation. [43][44][45] Training plans can be effectively developed and planned according to show volume and context, act and cue rotations, and "stage" or training area availability each week, rather than over the course of an entire tour plan due to the spontaneous and ever-changing nature of the circus environment. Input provided from a multidisciplinary team of stage managers, artistic coaches, performer-coaches, show directors, technicians and medical providers can promote a transdisciplinary approach in managing training and show load exposures not just within individual performance acts but across the performance cast as a whole.…”

The Effect of Student Fatigue on Teaching Quality: A Prospective Cohort Study Based on One University

“…Daya Z [19] studied the effectiveness of mindfulness intervention in alleviating psychological distress of undergraduate medical students. Decker A [20] studied the sleep and fatigue of 92 art school students (60 males, 32 females) during training, and believed that although sleep could reduce fatigue, the strategy of optimizing load curve and other recovery techniques might be A better method. Van Laethem M, et al [21].…”