Recovery
B · Reasonable confidenceHow training and competition affect the sleep of elite athletes
Subject: Effect of training and competition on the sleep of elite athletes
What this means
On competition night, elite athletes slept 60 minutes less than on previous nights, and 80 minutes less after night competitions. They often fell short of sleep recommendations.
Roberts SSH, Teo WP, Warmington SA · 2019 · British Journal of Sports Medicine 53(8):513-522
What does this rating mean?
A solid systematic review with caveats, or consistent indications with a limited scope.
Findings
Intensive training periods are associated with worse sleep.
Who this applies to
Elite athletes, during training periods and around competitions.
Size of the research
Fifty-four observational studies; the number of participants is not reported.
What to keep in mind
These are observational studies. They show what went together with poorer sleep; cause and effect have not been established.
Practical conclusion for REZA
Sleeping worse during a heavy period is a signal to review the load, not something to train through.
View method and source
Methodology
Systematic review with meta-analysis
Limitations
Conducted in elite athletes. The direction is usable, the size of the effect doesn't transfer directly to recreational athletes.
Original source
DOI: 10.1136/bjsports-2018-099322 · PMID: 30217831
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.