Recovery
C · Interpret with cautionWhat a period of excessive endurance training does to sleep
Subject: Endurance-training overload and its effects on sleep
What this means
After a period of short-term overload from endurance training, measured sleep efficiency fell by about 2 percentage points. How well participants felt they slept did not change.
Murphy C, Svansdottir SA, Dupuy O, Louis J · 2024 · PLoS One 19(5):e0303748
What does this rating mean?
Limited, mixed or hard-to-translate evidence. Useful as direction, not as a rule.
Findings
The relationship between a period of deliberate overload in endurance training and sleep quality.
Who this applies to
Endurance athletes who deliberately trained too hard for a short period, including cycling, rowing, triathlon, running and swimming.
Size of the research
Fourteen studies. Three were pooled for measured sleep and eight for self-rated sleep.
What to keep in mind
None of the studies had a low risk of bias. Sleep was measured with a movement tracker in only three studies, and the training periods lasted 6 to 28 days.
Practical conclusion for REZA
Supports the idea that sleep is a usable signal for excessive load. Not used as a hard criterion.
View method and source
Methodology
Systematic review with meta-analysis
Limitations
Focused on endurance sport. Limited transferability to strength training.
Original source
DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0303748 · PMID: 38809828
View on PubMed →This information is general education about scientific research. It is not personal medical advice and does not replace diagnosis or treatment by a doctor or other healthcare professional. If you have symptoms, a medical condition or take medication, consult your GP or treating professional before changing your training or nutrition.