TY - JOUR
T1 - Effects of competition on the sleep patterns of elite rugby union players
AU - Shearer, David A
AU - Jones, Rhys M
AU - Kilduff, Liam P
AU - Cook, Christian J
PY - 2015/11/17
Y1 - 2015/11/17
N2 - No published research has assessed sleep patterns of elite rugby union players following match-play. The present study examined sleep patterns of professional rugby union players, prior and post-match-play, to assess the influence of competition. Twenty-eight male rugby union players (24.4 ± 2.9 years, 103.9 ± 12.2 kg) competed in one of four competitive home matches. Player's sleep behaviours were monitored continuously using an Actiwatch
® from two days before the match, until three days post-match. Repeated measures of analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant differences across the time points measured for time to bed (F = 26.425, η
2 = 0.495, p <.001), get up time (F = 21.175, η
2 = 0.440, p <.001), time spent in bed (F = 10.669, η
2 = 0.283, p <.001), time asleep (F = 8.752, η
2 = 0.245, p <.001) and percentage of time moving (F = 4.602, η
2 = 0.146 p <.05). Most notable, post hocs revealed a significant increase for time in bed the night before the match (p <.01; 95% CI = 0 : 10–1 : 28 h; 9.7 ± 13.5%) compared with the reference night sleep. Furthermore, time asleep significantly decreased post-match (p <.05; 95% CI = −0:03 to −1:59 h; −19.5 ± 19.8%) compared to two nights pre-match. Across all time points, sleep latency and efficiency for most players were considered abnormal compared to that expected in normal populations. The results demonstrate that sleep that is deprived post-match may have detrimental effects on the recovery process.
AB - No published research has assessed sleep patterns of elite rugby union players following match-play. The present study examined sleep patterns of professional rugby union players, prior and post-match-play, to assess the influence of competition. Twenty-eight male rugby union players (24.4 ± 2.9 years, 103.9 ± 12.2 kg) competed in one of four competitive home matches. Player's sleep behaviours were monitored continuously using an Actiwatch
® from two days before the match, until three days post-match. Repeated measures of analysis of variance (ANOVA) showed significant differences across the time points measured for time to bed (F = 26.425, η
2 = 0.495, p <.001), get up time (F = 21.175, η
2 = 0.440, p <.001), time spent in bed (F = 10.669, η
2 = 0.283, p <.001), time asleep (F = 8.752, η
2 = 0.245, p <.001) and percentage of time moving (F = 4.602, η
2 = 0.146 p <.05). Most notable, post hocs revealed a significant increase for time in bed the night before the match (p <.01; 95% CI = 0 : 10–1 : 28 h; 9.7 ± 13.5%) compared with the reference night sleep. Furthermore, time asleep significantly decreased post-match (p <.05; 95% CI = −0:03 to −1:59 h; −19.5 ± 19.8%) compared to two nights pre-match. Across all time points, sleep latency and efficiency for most players were considered abnormal compared to that expected in normal populations. The results demonstrate that sleep that is deprived post-match may have detrimental effects on the recovery process.
KW - Actigraphy
KW - Adult
KW - Analysis of Variance
KW - Football
KW - Humans
KW - Male
KW - Recovery of Function
KW - Sleep
KW - Time Factors
KW - Journal Article
KW - recovery
KW - monitoring
KW - fatigue
KW - actigraphy
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=84988484462&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.mendeley.com/research/effects-competition-sleep-patterns-elite-rugby-union-players
U2 - 10.1080/17461391.2015.1053419
DO - 10.1080/17461391.2015.1053419
M3 - Article
C2 - 26255667
SN - 1746-1391
VL - 15
SP - 681
EP - 686
JO - European Journal of Sport Science
JF - European Journal of Sport Science
IS - 8
ER -