What research says about acute sleep deprivation and physical performance

Everyone has a bad night sometimes. But what does that do to your training the next day? A systematic and meta-analytic review (Craven et al., 2022) pooled the evidence on acute sleep deprivation — one night or a short period of insufficient sleep — and physical performance.

The key finding is that a night or short period of insufficient sleep is associated with a measurable decrease in physical performance. That group-level result does not predict exactly what one person will experience on a given day. The source also does not diagnose or treat sleep disorders.

The finding makes sleep relevant context when discussing physical performance, but it does not prescribe a specific training adjustment. This article does not diagnose or provide medical advice. Discuss persistent sleep problems with a qualified healthcare professional.