Recovery
B · Reasonable confidenceSleep in athletes: causes of sleep loss, tracking and interventions
Subject: A Narrative Review of the Impact of Sleep on Athletes: Sleep Restriction Causes and Consequences, Monitoring, and Interventions
What this means
Sleep problems are common in athletes, for example due to competition schedules and travel across time zones. According to the authors, too little sleep was linked to lower strength and endurance.
Hatia M, Loureiro N, Ribeiro J, Moeda F, Melo M, Tocha J, Schonenberger A, Correia C · 2024 · Cureus
What does this rating mean?
A solid systematic review with caveats, or consistent indications with a limited scope.
Findings
This narrative review summarises research on sleep in athletes. Sleep problems are common among athletes, due to competition schedules, psychological stress and travel across time zones. Inadequate sleep is associated with reduced strength and endurance, poorer cognitive function and higher injury risk. Sleep extension, sleep hygiene and, where needed, medical treatment are described as effective interventions.
Who this applies to
Athletes in general; age, level and sex are not specified in the abstract.
Size of the research
Narrative overview of various types of research; the number of studies and participants is not reported.
What to keep in mind
This is a narrative review without pooled figures. The abstract does not state how large the effects of sleep loss or of the interventions are.
Practical conclusion for REZA
Supports why REZA routinely discusses sleep with clients focused on performance and recovery: sleep extension is the single most effective, low-barrier intervention available.
View method and source
Methodology
Evidence overview
Population
Athletes; case studies, observational studies, randomised trials and reviews up to July 2024
Intervention
N/A (narrative review)
Outcome measures
Performance, recovery, injury risk, cognitive function
Limitations
Narrative review, not systematic; no formal quality assessment.
Original source
DOI: 10.7759/cureus.76635 · PMID: 39886718
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.