Effects of Inadequate Sleep in Athletes

Athletes are always looking for ways to improve performance and take goals to the next level. Efforts for doing just that are often limited to waking hours: nutrition, hydration, recovery protocols, supplement routine, and, of course, training itself.

Despite all this, research shows that, on average, athletes neglect a critical performance tool: sleep. So how does a bad sleep schedule affect athletic performance? Interestingly, the oversight of sleep can impact performance, both directly and indirectly, and the effects largely differ by sport.

The impact of sleep quality on overall health

Before moving into the impact of sleep on performance, it is important to understand how sleep affects overall health and wellness. Both the amount and quality of sleep impact our mood and energy levels, our metabolism, and our immune system health.

Inadequate quality sleep can be linked to a variety of serious health problems, including an increased risk of depression, obesity, type II diabetes, and cardiovascular disease. It can even increase an individual's risk for illness and infection. [1, 2]

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The importance of sleep for athletes

Adequate rest and recovery are considered key components of improving athletic performance and preventing sleep disturbances commonly reported in overtraining syndrome. Sleep allows the body to rest from both the physiological and cognitive stressors many athletes face throughout the day. [3]

However, despite substantial evidence supporting the benefits of sleep in athletes and its potential to alleviate fatigue, athletes frequently overlook the duration and quality of their sleep.

It is well-reported that, on average, athletes do, in fact, get less than seven hours of sleep per night, often of poor quality. [4, 5] This falls below the recommended eight hours to combat the negative effects that come with a lack of sleep.

Despite some research limitations, the British Journal of Sports Medicine's consensus statement on the topic states that sleep deprivation does affect recovery, training, and performance in elite athletes and that these athletes as a population do not get enough sleep. [5]

Athletes are, in general, a highly motivated group—the type of people who may willingly restrict sleep to fit more activities into waking hours.

But even if you're someone who 'gets by just fine' on a restricted sleep schedule, such a lifestyle can have immediate detrimental effects; evidence shows that restricting sleep to six hours per night for just four consecutive nights can impair cognitive performance and mood, glucose metabolism, appetite regulation, and immune function. [4]

Effects of sleep deprivation on different types of athletes

Before we jump into the research on the effects of sleep deprivation in athletes, a disclaimer: Despite the recognized importance of sleep in athletes' routines, the research on sleep in athletic populations is sparse at this time. The available research on this topic has specific limitations, including the underrepresentation of female subjects, inconsistent research methods across studies, and small sample size. [5]

Now, the science. Current research does show many potential performance implications of poor sleep that should be considered in both endurance and power sport athletes. Here are some findings of the effects sleep deficiency can have on athletes:

• Individual sports athletes: They appear to be more susceptible to sleep deficiency and have poorer sleep quality than their team sports counterparts. [4]
• Weightlifters: 24 hours of no sleep didn't show a difference in performance tasks, training load, or intensity, but there was a significant difference in mood state, including fatigue and confusion. [4, 6]
• Power athletes: Limited direct evidence, but potential cognitive impairments and mood disturbances due to sleep deprivation.
• Endurance athletes: Physical effects of sleep deprivation indicate that subjects ran fewer miles in the same amount of time as well-rested athletes but with the same perception of effort. [7]

Athletes should also be mindful of the non-direct consequences of sleep deprivation on their performance including but not limited to metabolism, hormone regulation, immune health, and limiting recovery. Each individual will have different sleep requirements. These requirements may also vary depending on phase or training season, sex, training volume, intensity, and type of sport. [5]

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3 biomarkers related to sleep and performance in athletes

1. Cortisol

Adequate sleep helps to regulate cortisol levels, and inadequate sleep can cause cortisol levels to rise above optimized levels. Cortisol is a catabolic steroid hormone that breaks down muscle, so chronically elevated cortisol can directly combat progress to become stronger or faster in our athletic performance.

2. Testosterone

Sleep also helps to regulate testosterone levels. This hormone is anabolic, meaning it helps build muscle (the opposite of cortisol). But, as you might have guessed, insufficient sleep can reduce testosterone levels.

3. hsCRP

Research shows that sleep deprivation can also cause chronic inflammation, as indicated by high hsCRP levels. As athletes, inflammation and muscle damage are to be expected with any training—after all, we need to cause slight damage to our muscles to make them stronger. But chronic inflammation, the kind that’s caused by overtraining or insufficient rest, can leave an athlete prone to poor performance, illness, and injury.

Aside from sleep-related blood biomarkers, InsideTracker has also integrated sleep physiomarkers to help users track their sleep quality and cycle. By tracking and optimizing your sleep cycle and phases, InsideTracker provides key insights and actionable recommendations to help you maximize the benefits of the hours you spend in bed—and take a meaningful step towards improving your health and wellness.



How to improve sleep for athletes

While the benefits of adequate sleep are well-documented in healthy individuals, the research specific to athletes and different athlete types continues to emerge. That being said, there are well-established actions you can take right now to improve your sleep. Here are some actions to optimize your sleep habits:

• If you have trouble getting the recommended amount of sleep at night, consider taking regular naps. [4]
• Begin tracking your sleep with a wearable activity tracker. While research has displayed varying accuracy of these devices for sleep management, they can help you establish a healthy and regular bedtime routine. [8] InsideTracker's iOS app turns sleep data from your activity tracker into actionable recommendations to improve sleep.
• Work on implementing good sleep habits or a bedtime routine that reduces stress and promotes a good sleeping environment. [5]
• Consider adjusting your exercise routine and incorporate more rest and active recovery in times of sleep deprivation or high-life stress to help support your overall health and prevent injury or illness.

Maximizing athletic performance

Adequate sleep isn't just a supplement to an athlete's routine—it's a cornerstone of peak performance and well-being. Not getting enough quality sleep time affects mood, cognitive function, and physical abilities, amplifying the risk of overtraining and injury. Understanding the tailored sleep needs of each athlete, optimizing sleep hygiene, and leveraging technology for sleep monitoring can be the differential factor in achieving athletic excellence while safeguarding long-term health.

Integrating tools like InsideTracker offers holistic insights, not just on sleep but on broader aspects of health and wellness, empowering athletes to excel in their fitness journey.

» Learn more about blood testing for athletes to improve performance

References:

[1] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/26118561/

[2] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5605599/

[3] https://journals.lww.com/nsca-scj/Fulltext/2016/02000/The_Importance_of_Sleep_for_Athletic_Performance.9.aspx

[4] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/24993935/

[5] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18076267/

[6] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/18076267/

[7] https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/19543909/

[8] https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7603649/