Performance Area > Peer Reviewed Studies Discussion

Sleep, Biological Rhythms, & Stress - its effect on performance

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adarqui:
nah, those studies are just showing you that reaction time/performance etc is not as effected by sleep deprivation as we might think.. and when you factor caffiene into the equation, performance level can be near optimal.

as for #7, it's saying that taking a nap could decrease the effect of only having 4 hours sleep.

it's never good to not sleep at all when you have a performance test/event the day after... but, if you are somehow unable to sleep, just have the confidence that a shitload of caffeine will help you perform at near optimal levels ;)


edit: i mean how many times have you been so excited about the next day, that your sleep suffers? it's great to know that you can still perform... it happens to me every time I have something big planned the next day, like trying to for some PR dunks.. once I started telling myself "it doesn't matter if i sleep or not, i'll still jump good", it got out of my head... and studies like this have only help me sleep better because I stop worrying about it ;) alot of these studies are from my huge notes file hehe..

peace

adarqui:
Physical performance responses during 72 h of military operational stress.

APPLIED SCIENCES
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 34(11):1814-1822, November 2002.
NINDL, BRADLEY C.; LEONE, CARA D.; J. THARION, WILLIAM; JOHNSON, RICHARD F.; W. CASTELLANI, JOHN; PATTON, JOHN F.; MONTAIN, SCOTT J.

Abstract:
NINDL, B. C., C. D. LEONE, W. THARION, R. F. JOHNSON, J. CASTELLANI, J. F. PATTON, and S. J. MONTAIN. Physical performance responses during 72 h of military operational stress. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 34, No. 11, pp. 1814-1822, 2002.

Purpose: To characterize the impact of prolonged work, underfeeding, and sleep deprivation (i.e., sustained operations; SUSOPS) on physical and occupational related performance during military operational stress.

Methods: Ten male soldiers were tested on days 1 (D1), 3 (D3), and 4 (D4) of a control and an experimental week that included prolonged physical work (total daily energy expenditure ~4500 kcal[middle dot]d-1), underfeeding (~1600 kcal[middle dot]d-1), and sleep deprivation (~2 h[middle dot]d-1). Body composition was measured with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Ballistic power was assessed by 30 repetitive squat jumps and bench-press throws. Military-relevant occupational performance was evaluated with a 10-min box lift, obstacle course, grenade throw, rifle marksmanship, and a 25-min wall-build task.

Results: Fat-free mass (-2.3%) and fat mass (-7.3%) declined (P <= 0.05) during SUSOPS. Squat-jump mean power (-9%) and total work (-15%) declined (P <= 0.05) during SUSOPS. Bench-press power output, grenade throw, and marksmanship for pop-up targets were not affected. Obstacle course and box-lift performances were lower (P <= 0.05) on D3 but showed some recovery on D4. Wall building was ~25% lower (P <= 0.05) during SUSOPS.

Conclusion: Decrements in performance during SUSOPS are primarily restricted to tasks that recruit muscles that are over-utilized without adequate recovery. General military skill tasks and occupational physical performance tasks are fairly well maintained.

Joe:

--- Quote from: adarqui on June 07, 2009, 04:54:15 pm ---Physical performance responses during 72 h of military operational stress.

APPLIED SCIENCES
Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise. 34(11):1814-1822, November 2002.
NINDL, BRADLEY C.; LEONE, CARA D.; J. THARION, WILLIAM; JOHNSON, RICHARD F.; W. CASTELLANI, JOHN; PATTON, JOHN F.; MONTAIN, SCOTT J.

Abstract:
NINDL, B. C., C. D. LEONE, W. THARION, R. F. JOHNSON, J. CASTELLANI, J. F. PATTON, and S. J. MONTAIN. Physical performance responses during 72 h of military operational stress. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 34, No. 11, pp. 1814-1822, 2002.

Purpose: To characterize the impact of prolonged work, underfeeding, and sleep deprivation (i.e., sustained operations; SUSOPS) on physical and occupational related performance during military operational stress.

Methods: Ten male soldiers were tested on days 1 (D1), 3 (D3), and 4 (D4) of a control and an experimental week that included prolonged physical work (total daily energy expenditure ~4500 kcal[middle dot]d-1), underfeeding (~1600 kcal[middle dot]d-1), and sleep deprivation (~2 h[middle dot]d-1). Body composition was measured with dual-energy x-ray absorptiometry (DEXA). Ballistic power was assessed by 30 repetitive squat jumps and bench-press throws. Military-relevant occupational performance was evaluated with a 10-min box lift, obstacle course, grenade throw, rifle marksmanship, and a 25-min wall-build task.

Results: Fat-free mass (-2.3%) and fat mass (-7.3%) declined (P <= 0.05) during SUSOPS. Squat-jump mean power (-9%) and total work (-15%) declined (P <= 0.05) during SUSOPS. Bench-press power output, grenade throw, and marksmanship for pop-up targets were not affected. Obstacle course and box-lift performances were lower (P <= 0.05) on D3 but showed some recovery on D4. Wall building was ~25% lower (P <= 0.05) during SUSOPS.

Conclusion: Decrements in performance during SUSOPS are primarily restricted to tasks that recruit muscles that are over-utilized without adequate recovery. General military skill tasks and occupational physical performance tasks are fairly well maintained.

--- End quote ---


Not eating enough makes you lose weight and become weaker? NO WAY!

adarqui:
bench press and coordination tasks somehow stayed the same though..

"Decrements in performance during SUSOPS are primarily restricted to tasks that recruit muscles that are over-utilized without adequate recovery.".. so maybe they didn't fatigue their chest/tricep muscles too much, and bench didn't go down.

you would think that one would obviously go down with how much lean mass/fat mass/sleep deprivation they lost.


if bench didnt go down and they lost all that mass, they just increased relative strength bigtime ;)

peace

adarqui:
Circadian variation in sports performance.
Atkinson G, Reilly T.

Centre for Sport and Exercise Sciences, School of Human Sciences, Liverpool John Moores University, England.

Chronobiology is the science concerned with investigations of time-dependent changes in physiological variables. Circadian rhythms refer to variations that recur every 24 hours. Many physiological circadian rhythms at rest are endogenously controlled, and persist when an individual is isolated from environmental fluctuations. Unlike physiological variables, human performance cannot be monitored continuously in order to describe circadian rhythmicity. Experimental studies of the effect of circadian rhythms on performance need to be carefully designed in order to control for serial fatigue effects and to minimise disturbances in sleep. The detection of rhythmicity in performance variables is also highly influenced by the degree of test-retest repeatability of the measuring equipment. The majority of components of sports performance, e.g. flexibility, muscle strength, short term high power output, vary with time of day in a sinusoidal manner and peak in the early evening close to the daily maximum in body temperature. Psychological tests of short term memory, heart rate-based tests of physical fitness, and prolonged submaximal exercise performance carried out in hot conditions show peak times in the morning. Heart rate-based tests of work capacity appear to peak in the morning because the heart rate responses to exercise are minimal at this time of day. Post-lunch declines are evident with performance variables such as muscle strength, especially if measured frequently enough and sequentially within a 24-hour period to cause fatigue in individuals. More research work is needed to ascertain whether performance in tasks demanding fine motor control varies with time of day. Metabolic and respiratory rhythms are flattened when exercise becomes strenuous whilst the body temperature rhythm persists during maximal exercise. Higher work-rates are selected spontaneously in the early evening. At present, it is not known whether time of day influences the responses of a set training regimen (one in which the training stimulus does not vary with time of day) for endurance, strength, or the learning of motor skills. The normal circadian rhythms can be desynchronised following a flight across several time zones or a transfer to nocturnal work shifts. Although athletes show all the symptoms of 'jet lag' (increased fatigue, disturbed sleep and circadian rhythms), more research work is needed to identify the effects of transmeridian travel on the actual performances of elite sports competitors. Such investigations would need to be chronobiological, i.e. monitor performance at several times on several post-flight days, and take into account direction of travel, time of day of competition and the various performance components involved in a particular sport. Shiftwork interferes with participation in competitive sport, although there may be greater opportunities for shiftworkers to train in the hours of daylight for individual sports such as cycling and swimming. Studies should be conducted to ascertain whether shiftwork-mediated rhythm disturbances affect sports performance. Individual differences in performance rhythms are small but significant. Circadian rhythms are larger in amplitude in physically fit individuals than sedentary individuals. Athletes over 50 years of age tend to be higher in 'morningness', habitually scheduling relatively more training in the morning and selecting relatively higher work-rates during exercise compared with young athletes. These differences should be recognised by practitioners concerned with organising the habitual regimens of athletes.






Circadian rhythms in two types of anaerobic cycle leg exercise: force-velocity and 30-s Wingate tests.
Souissi N, Gauthier A, Sesboüé B, Larue J, Davenne D.

Centre de Recherches en Activités Physiques et Sportives UPRES EA 2131, Université de Basse-Normandie, UFR STAPS 14032 Caen Cedex, France.

Previous studies investigating the impact of circadian rhythms on performance during anaerobic cycle leg exercise have yielded conflicting results. The purpose of the present investigation was firstly, to determine the effect of the time of day on anaerobic performance during a force-velocity test on a cycle ergometer (F-V) and the Wingate test and secondly, to relate any changes in anaerobic performance to the circadian rhythm in oral temperature. Nineteen subjects volunteered to take part in the study. In a balanced and randomized study design, subjects were measured for maximal power (P (max)) (force-velocity test), peak power (P (peak)) and mean power (P (mean)) (Wingate test) on six separate occasions. These were at 02 : 00, 06 : 00, 10 : 00, 14 : 00, 18 : 00 and 22 : 00 hours on separate days. There was an interval of 28 h between two successive tests. Oral temperature and body mass were measured before each test. Body mass did not vary during the day but a significant time of day effect was observed for the oral temperature with an acrophase at 18 : 22 +/- 00 : 34 hours. A significant circadian rhythm was found for P (max) with an acrophase at 17 : 10 +/- 00 : 52 hours and an amplitude of 7 %. A time-of-day effect was significant for F (0) and V (0). Also a significant circadian rhythm was observed for P (peak) with an acrophase at 17 : 24 +/- 00 : 36 hours and an amplitude of 7.6 % and for P (mean) with an acrophase at 18 : 00 +/- 01 : 01 hours and an amplitude of 11.3 %. The results indicated that oral temperature, P (peak), P (mean) and P (max) varied concomitantly during the day. These results suggest that there was a circadian rhythm in anaerobic performance during cycle tests. The recording of oral temperature allows one to estimate the time of occurrence of maximal and minimal values in the circadian rhythm of anaerobic performance.





Sports, Sleep, and Circadian Rhythms : Circadian Rhythms and Enhanced Athletic Performance in the National Football League

http://www.journalsleep.org/Articles/200507.pdf






Diurnal Rhythm of the Muscular Performance of Elbow Flexors During Isometric Contractions

The influence of time of day on elbow flexion torque was studied. Thirteen physical education students, 7 males and 6 females, made maximal and submaximal isometric contractions at 90° of elbow flexors using a dynamometer. The torque developed was measured on each contraction. The myoelectric activity of the biceps muscle was also measured at the same time by surface electromyography (EMG) and quantified from the root mean square (RMS) activity. Torque and surface EMGs were measured at 6:00, 9:00, 12:00, 15:00, 18:00, 21:00, and 24:00 h over the same day. Oral temperature before each test session was measured on each occasion after a 30-min rest period. We observed a diurnal rhythm in elbow flexor torque with an acro-phase at 18:00 h and a bathyphase at 6:00 h, in phase with the diurnal rhythm in oral temperature. However, the diurnal rhythm of temperature did not appear to have any influence on the torque. Links between neuromuscular efficiency and RMS/torque ratio were evaluated by measuring muscle activity along with torque. We also assessed variations in the level of maximal activity of the muscle under maximal voluntary contraction. Neuromuscular efficiency fluctuated during the day, with maximal and minimal efficiency at 18:00 h and 9:00 h, respectively, whereas activation level was maximal at 18:00 h and minimal at 9:00 h. The diurnal rhythm of torque was accounted for by variations in both central nervous system command and the contractile state of the muscle.



Circadian performance differences between morning and evening 'types'

Two groups of subjects identified as either morning (M) or evening (E) types, determined by a self-assessment questionnaire, were measured for performance efficiency at a simulated production-line inspection task given for 15 sessions at different times of the waking day. Systematic fatigue and practice effects were minimised by a random presentation of these sessions over a series of days. Although there were no significant within- or between-group changes with circadian trends for items erroneously rejected, significant differences were apparent with the number of items correctly rejected. M types' correct rejection levels were significantly better than E types' in the morning, whereas they were worse during the evening. Whilst E types showed a steady improvement throughout the day, M types showed a general decline. A post-lunch dip in performance was quite evident for M types, but not for E types. In addition, the circadian trends in correct rejection levels and body temperature were highly positively correlated for E types, but a significant negative relationship between these parameters was found for M types. These findings are discussed.





CIRCADIAN RHYTHMS IN HUMAN MUSCULAR EFFICIENCY: CONTINUOUS PHYSICAL EXERCISE VERSUS CONTINUOUS REST. A CROSSOVER STUDY

This study deals with the influence of time of day on neuromuscular efficiency in competitive cyclists during continuous exercise versus continuous rest. Knee extension torque was measured in ultradistance cyclists over a 24h period (13:00 to 13:00 the next day) in the laboratory. The subjects were requested to maintain a constant speed (set at 70% of their maximal aerobic speed obtained during a preliminary test) on their own bicycles, which were equipped with cyclosimulators. Every 4h, torque developed and myoelectric activity were estimated during maximal isometric voluntary contractions of knee extensors using an isokinetic dynamometer. Mesenteric temperature was monitored by telemetry. The same measures were also recorded while the subjects were resting awake until 13:00 the next day. During activity, torque changed within the 24h period (p < .005), with an acrophase at 19:10 and an amplitude of 7.8% around the mean of 70.7%. At rest, a circadian rhythm was observed in knee extensor torque (p < .05), with an acrophase at 19:30 and an amplitude of 6% around the mean of 92.3%. Despite the standardized conditions, the results showed that isometric maximal strength varied with time of day during both a submaximal exercise and at rest without prior exercise. The sine waves representing these two rhythms were correlated significantly. Although at rest the diurnal rhythm followed muscular activity (i.e., neurophysiological factors), during exercise, this rhythm was thought to stem more from fluctuations in the contractile state of muscle. (Chronobiology International, 17(5), 693-704, 2000)




Circadian rhythms have no effect on cycling performance

The aim of this research was to determine if circadian rhythms have an effect on time trial cycling performance of 15 min duration. Seven males (Mean±SD) : age, 22.3±4.9yr ; height 179.0±7.9cm, body mass 74.5±15.5 kg; VO2max 68.0 ± 5.7 ml x kg-1 x min-1 who were all competitive cyclists or triathletes with previous experience in laboratory testing procedures volunteered to participate in this study. Each of the seven subjects underwent a series of four tests; one VO2 max test, and three 15 min maximal performance tests, at varying times during a 24hr period. Testing times were at 08.00-10.00; 14.00-16.00 and 20.00-22.00 hours. Heart rate was recorded during the last 10-15 seconds of each minute and blood lactate levels were taken at 5 and 10 min during exercise and again immediately post-exercise. O2 consumption was measured continuously using open circuit spirometry. RPE was measured using the Borg scale at 5 and 10 min during, and again immediately following the completion of testing. Resting oral temperature was the only variable to show a significant time of day effect (p<0.05). Oral temperature during the afternoon was higher than both morning and evening results by 0.76°C and 0.09°C respectively. Total work (kJ) and average power output (W) were recorded at their highest during the morning session and reached a trough during the afternoon session, but these differences were not significant (p =0.9997 and 0.9972 respectively). The results obtained in this study indicate that while certain biological rhythms are present, they appear to have no effect on this type of cycling performance. Although athletic performance may be enhanced by training programs that are compatible with an individuals body clock, the ability to perform and train at various times has an adaptive response which appears to over-ride these naturally inherent rhythms.






Time-of-day dependence of isokinetic leg strength and associated interday variability.

J P Wyse, T H Mercer and N P Gleeson

Division of Sport, Health and Exercise, School of Sciences, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent, UK.

The purpose of this study was to assess the interday variability and time-of-day effects on selected isokinetic leg strength indices. Nine adult collegiate sportsmen (mean(s.e.) age 19.6(0.5) years; mean(s.e.) height 1.81(0.02) m; mean(s.e.) body mass 76.5(3.1) kg) completed a series of nine test sessions, organized so that each subject was tested three times within a day (08.00-09.00 hours; 13.00-14.00 hours; 18.00-19.30 hours), on three occasions, each separated by a minimum of 7 days. Gravity-corrected indices of extension peak torque (EPT), flexion peak torque (FPT), and the peak torque ratio (PTR), at contraction velocities of 1.05 rad s-1 and 3.14 rad s-1, were calculated for each subject using an isokinetic dynamometer. Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance of coefficient of variation (V%) scores revealed no significant differences in performance variability across within-subject factors of time-of-day and performance index (P > 0.05). Overall mean(s.e.) V% for scores across experimental conditions were 3.97(0.72)% at 1.05 rad s-1 and 5.98(1.23)% at 3.14 rad s-1, suggesting that similar levels of measurement error occur between 08.00-19.30 hours. One-way repeated measures analysis of variance of absolute strength indices (EPT, FPT and PTR) revealed that significantly higher scores were achieved during session 3 (18.00-19.30 hours), with mean(s.e.) values of 249.1(40.0) N m, 149.0(32.3) N m, 59.5(5.0)% at 1.05 rad s-1, and 172.1(38.7) N m, 121.3(27.7) N m, 71.1(6.2)% at 3.14 rad s-1, respectively (P < 0.05). This finding appears to be consistent with current knowledge about time-of-day effects on the assessment of muscular strength. Thus for stable and maximal values to be obtained during isokinetic leg testing, the use of multiple-trial protocols is recommended, with testing occurring as close to 18.00-19.30 hours as possible. In addition, the observed significant time-of-day effect suggests that appropriate comparison of maximal isokinetic leg strength can only be achieved based on data obtained within 30 min of the same time of day.




Effects of one night's sleep deprivation on anaerobic performance the following day

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of one night's sleep deprivation on anaerobic performance in the morning and afternoon of the following day. Thirteen healthy males were studied twice in a balanced, randomized design. The experiment consisted of two conditions 1 week apart. In the sleep deprivation condition (SDN) subjects remained awake overnight and in the control condition (reference night, RN) the same subjects slept at home, retiring between 2230 and 2330 hours, as decided individually, and rising at 0500 hours. In both conditions, activity, sleep and diet were monitored by actimetry and daily activity and dietary diaries. Physical performance testing was carried out at 0600 hours and at 1800 hours after the one night of sleep and the one night of sleep deprivation. At each test occasion, subjects were measured for maximal power (P  max), peak power (P  peak) and mean power (P  mean). Blood lactate concentrations were measured at rest, at the end of the force–velocity (F–V) test, just before and just after the Wingate test and again 5 min later. Oral temperatures were measured every 2 h. In both conditions, the results showed a circadian rhythm in temperature. Analysis of variance revealed a significant (sleep × time of day of test) interaction effect on P  peak, P  mean and P  max. These variables improved significantly from morning to afternoon after RN and SDN. The reference night was followed by a greater improvement than the SDN. Up to 24 h of waking, anaerobic power variables were not affected; however, they were impaired after 36 h without sleep. Analysis of variance revealed that blood lactate concentrations were unaffected by sleep loss, by time of day of testing or by the interaction of the two. In conclusion, sleep deprivation reduced the difference between morning and afternoon in anaerobic power variables. Anaerobic performances were unaffected after 24 h of wakefulness but were impaired after 36 h without sleep.

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