Do elite athletes sleep well?

Abstract

Introduction

The objective of the study was to evaluate sleep, circadian rhythms and neurocognitive status of high performance athletes during the usual period of training, competitions and studies.

Materials and methods

A team of 12 high-performance basketball players (women, 15–17 years old) concentrated in a sports residence was evaluated. Sleep was studied through polysomnography, circadian rhythms using ambulatory circadian monitoring sensors, and neurocognitive status using s battery of questionnaires.

Results

Athletes sleep 6:57 ± 0.02 h, nocturnal activity of 201.1 ± 33.7% is above normal range (65–135%), regularity of schedules, 72.6 ± 9.2% is also out of range (75–125%). The sleep depth of 85.1 ± 2.6% (normal values between 85 and 100%) is reduced, and the peripheral temperature during the day, of 33.4 ± 0.9 °C (normal values between 31 and 33 °C) indicates drowsiness.

Conclusions

Our sample of athletes sleep less than the necessary hours, their sleep quality is low due to muscle fatigue and poor habits, and their irregular schedule deteriorates the circadian system. All of this influences both physical and mental performance. It is essential to raise awareness of the importance of improving these sleep habits in order to maintain optimum physical performance.