Evidence of sub-optimal sleep in adolescent Middle Eastern academy soccer players which is exacerbated by sleep intermission proximal to dawn? |
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| Authors: | Peter M Fowler Darren J Paul Gustavo Tomazoli Abdulaziz Farooq Richard Akenhead Lee Taylor |
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| Institution: | 1. ASPETAR – Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Athlete Health and Performance Research Centre, Doha, Qatarpeter.fowler@aspetar.com;3. Football Excellence Project, ASPETAR – Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Doha, Qatar;4. ASPETAR – Orthopaedic and Sports Medicine Hospital, Athlete Health and Performance Research Centre, Doha, Qatar;5. School of Sport, Exercise and Health Sciences, Loughborough University, Loughborough, UK |
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| Abstract: | The purpose was to assess sleep patterns, quantity and quality in adolescent (16.2?±?1.2 yr) Middle Eastern academy soccer players (n?=?20) and the influence of an intermission upon these characteristics. On a 17-day training camp (located one time zone west of home) including three discrete matches, sleep was assessed pre- (PRE) and post-match (POST) via wrist actigraphy. Retrospective actigraphy analysis identified sleep characteristics, including if players experienced a sleep intermission (YES) or not (NO) proximal to dawn, and bedtime (hh:mm), get-up time (hh:mm), time in bed (h), sleep duration (h) and sleep efficiency (%). Within YES two bouts were identified (BOUT1 and BOUT2). No differences were seen between PRE and POST, nor between BOUT1 and BOUT2 (p?>?.05). Overall players did not meet National Sleep Foundation (NSF) guidelines (7:04?±?1:16?h vs. recommended 8–10?h for 14–17 yr). Sleep duration was significantly reduced (～ ?13% or ?1:06) in YES compared to NO (6:33?±?1:05 vs. 7:29?±?1:17, p?<?.01). Despite players in YES waking earlier due to an intermission, they did not compensate for this with a later wake time, rising significantly earlier compared to NO (09:40?±?00:38 vs. 10:13?±?00:40, p?<?.05). These players on average do not obtain sufficient sleep durations relative to NSF guidelines, with decrements increased by an intermission proximal to dawn. High inter- and intra-individual variance in the players sleep characteristics indicates the need for individualized sleep education strategies and interventions to promote appropriate sleep. |
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| Keywords: | Team sport ethnicity health recovery youth |
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