Effects of a 40-min nap on performance following evening exercise before, during, and after Ramadan fasting.

This study examined the effect of a 40-min nap (N40) the day after a night session of the Loughborough Intermittent Shuttle Test (LIST), before, during and after Ramadan. In a randomized crossover design, fifteen male soccer players completed the LIST in the evening (2100h), followed by either a N40 or no nap (N0) the next day, at 1400h. Performance on the 5-m shuttle run test (5mSRT), digit cancellation test (DCT), and subjective measures (i.

Global Industry Perspectives on Postgraduate Strength and Conditioning Degrees: An Exploratory Factor Analysis.

Purpose: This investigation sought to determine industry perceptions of postgraduate strength and conditioning (S&C) degrees to understand whether graduates are equipped for the demands of sport performance service roles.

Methods: Survey data were collected from 111 participants employed as performance staff or in a role that recruits and supervises performance staff. The survey consisted of 3 main sections: (1) perceptions of career-development opportunities in S&C, (2) perception of S&C postgraduate programs, and (3) perceptions of employability in S&C.

Higher Levels of Morning and Daytime Light Exposure Associated with Positive Sleep Indices in Professional Team Sport Athletes.

Objective: Light exposure techniques have been recommended to combat sleep issues caused by disruption to circadian regularity in the athletic population, although studies are lacking.

Methods: A total of 17 professional male Australian Football athletes (age ± SD: 22 ± 3 years) wore a wrist actigraph to measure sleep parameters, and a wearable light sensor to measure melanopic equivalent daylight illuminance (mEDI, in lux) for 14 days. Participants completed three sleep questionnaires at the end of the data collection period and completed well-being surveys 6 times.

Ramadan fasting observance is associated with decreased sleep duration, increased daytime sleepiness and insomnia symptoms among student-athletes.

Objective: To examine the relationships between Ramadan fasting observance (RFO) and sleep-wake patterns, daytime sleepiness, and insomnia levels in student-athletes.

Methods: Sleep was measured using wrist-actigraphy in 25 semi-professional student-athletes (mean ± SD; age = 22 ± 2 years, height = 182.0 ± 5.

Pairwise Comparison of Heavy Dynamic Strength and Fast Dynamic Strength Interventions on Sprint Performance: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis.

Pairwise comparison of heavy dynamic strength and fast dynamic strength interventions on sprint performance: a systematic review and meta-analysis. J Strength Cond Res 38(9): 1675-1686, 2024-Previous studies have shown that both heavy dynamic strength (HDS) and fast dynamic strength (FDS) training can be used to improve sprint performance; however, a review and meta-analysis investigating pairwise studies that compare these two training interventions have not been performed. The aims of the study were to systematically review and analyze HDS and FDS training methodologies and evaluate their effect size difference, in pairwise comparison studies to determine and compare their effects on sprint performance.

The acute effects of nonsleep deep rest on perceptual responses, physical, and cognitive performance in physically active participants.

This study aimed to examine the effect of nonsleep deep rest (NSDR) on physical and cognitive performance, as well as sleepiness, acute readiness, recovery, stress, and mood state in physically active participants. A total of 65 physically active participants (42 male, 23 female) were randomly assigned into two groups: an experimental group (NSDR, n = 34), in which participants completed a 10-min NSDR intervention, and a control group (CON, n = 31), whereby participants sat passively for 10 min. Testing measures were assessed immediately pre and 10 min post each condition and comprised completing a hand grip strength dynamometer test and a countermovement jump test on force plates, cognitive function measures via a psychomotor vigilance task (PVT-B), and a Simon task test, along with four questionnaires to assess sleep, recovery, and mood state.

Acute physiological responses of blood flow restriction between high-intensity interval repetitions in trained cyclists.

Blood flow restriction (BFR) is increasingly being used to enhance aerobic performance in endurance athletes. This study examined physiological responses to BFR applied in recovery phases within a high-intensity interval training (HIIT) session in trained cyclists. Eleven competitive road cyclists (mean ± SD, age: 28 ± 7 years, body mass: 69 ± 6 kg, peak oxygen uptake: 65 ± 9 mL · kg · min) completed two randomised crossover conditions: HIIT with (BFR) and without (CON) BFR applied during recovery phases.

Sink or Swim? Sleep Patterns in Highly Trained Adolescent Swimmers during the In-Season Phase of Training.

 The aim of this study was to investigate the sleeping patterns of highly-trained adolescent swimmers. Further objectives were to compare subjective and objective measures of sleep and to evaluate the relationship between electronic device use and sleep in this cohort.  Fifteen national-level swimmers (age: 16.

Routine, Routine, Routine: Sleep Regularity and its Association with Sleep Metrics in Professional Rugby Union Athletes.

Background: Maintaining a consistent sleep and wake time is often reported as a key component of circadian rhythmicity and quality sleep. However, the impact of sleep onset and offset time variability on overall sleep outcomes are underreported in elite athlete populations. This study investigated the relationship between sleep onset and offset time variability using the sleep regularity index (SRI) and measures of sleep and well-being in professional rugby union athletes.

Adapting the athlete sleep behavior questionnaire (ASBQ) for Arabic-speaking populations: Translation, reliability testing, and validation using classical theory and item response theory.

Sleep is essential for athletes' physical performance as well as their general health, well-being, and quality of life. To assess athletes' sleep behaviors, the Athlete Sleep Behavior Questionnaire (ASBQ) was developed in the English language. However, a validated Arabic-version of the ASBQ is lacking.

The Development of a Resting Metabolic Rate Prediction Equation for Professional Male Rugby Union Players.

Determining resting metabolic rate (RMR) is an important aspect when calculating energy requirements for professional rugby union players. Prediction equations are often used for convenience to estimate RMR. However, the accuracy of current prediction equations for professional rugby union players remains unclear.

Comparing Perceived Sleep Quality, Practices, and Behaviors of Male and Female Elite Rugby Union Athletes with the Use of Sleep Questionnaires.

 To evaluate the differences in subjective sleep quality, quantity, and behaviors among male and female elite rugby union athletes through two common sleep questionnaires.  A sample of 38 male and 27 female elite rugby union athletes filled out the Athlete Sleep Behavior Questionnaire (ASBQ) and the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Global scores and individual items for each questionnaire were compared to assess differences between sexes.

Evaluating the effect of sports compression tights on balance, sprinting, jumping and change of direction tasks.

Compression garments are commonly used during athletic tasks. However, the effect of compression garments on balance, sprinting, jumping and change of direction performance requires further investigation. In the current study, 24 recreationally active participants (12 males, 12 females, age 27 ± 3 years) completed single-leg balance tasks, countermovement jumps, drop jumps, 10 m straight line sprints and change of direction tasks wearing either compression tights (COMP) or regular exercise tights (CON).

Fundamentals or Icing on Top of the Cake? A Narrative Review of Recovery Strategies and Devices for Athletes.

The sport and athletic performance industry has seen a plethora of new recovery devices and technologies over recent years, and it has become somewhat difficult for athletes, coaches, and practitioners to navigate the efficacy of such devices or whether they are even required at all. With the increase in recovery devices and tools, it has also become commonplace for athletes to overlook more traditional, well-established recovery strategies. In this narrative review, we discuss recovery strategies in relation to the hierarchy of scientific evidence, classifying them based on the strength of the evidence, ranging from meta-analyses through to case studies and reports.

The relationship between cardiorespiratory fitness and blood pressure among airline pilots: a mediation analysis of body composition.

Objective: Blood pressure (BP), cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF), and body composition are independently associated with health outcomes, yet the relationship between these variables has not been explored among airline pilots. The aim of this study was to evaluate the relationship between CRF and BP, and further examine whether the relationship is mediated by body composition.

Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted among 356 airline pilots in New Zealand.

The impact of a 40-min nap on neuromuscular fatigue profile and recovery following the 5-m shuttle run test.

This study aims to investigate the impact of a 40-min nap opportunity on perceived recovery, exertion, and maximal voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) following the 5-m shuttle run test (5SRT), after 1 night of normal sleep. In a randomised, counterbalanced, cross-over design, 17 trained men (mean [SD] age 20 [3] years, height 173 [6] cm, body mass 68 [6] kg) performed a 5SRT under two conditions: a 40-min nap opportunity and no-nap condition. After both conditions, electromyography signals during a 5-s isometric knee extension were recorded before and immediately after the 5SRT.

The Impact of Daytime Napping Following Normal Night-Time Sleep on Physical Performance: A Systematic Review, Meta-analysis and Meta-regression.

Background: Daytime napping is used by athletes as a strategy to supplement night time sleep and aid physical performance. However, no meta-analytical overview regarding the impact of napping following a night of normal sleep (7-9 h) on physical performance is available.

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of daytime napping following normal night-time sleep on physical performance in physically active individuals and athletes.

Healthy Nutrition, Physical Activity, and Sleep Hygiene to Promote Cardiometabolic Health of Airline Pilots: A Narrative Review.

Background: Airline pilots experience unique occupational demands that may contribute to adverse physical and psychological health outcomes. Epidemiological reports have shown a substantial prevalence of cardiometabolic health risk factors including excessive body weight, elevated blood pressure, poor lifestyle behaviors, and psychological fatigue. Achieving health guidelines for lifestyle behavior nutrition, physical activity, and sleep are protective factors against the development of noncommunicable diseases and may mitigate the unfavorable occupational demands of airline pilots.

Under the Gun: Percussive Massage Therapy and Physical and Perceptual Recovery in Active Adults.

Context: Handheld percussive massage devices (ie, massage guns) are a relatively new and under-researched recovery tool. These tools are intended to increase range of motion and reduce muscle soreness by delivering targeted vibration to soft tissues. Empirical knowledge about the potential influence of these devices on perceptual recovery and the recovery of performance characteristics after exercise is scarce.

Daytime naps improve afternoon power and perceptual measures in elite rugby union athletes-a randomized cross-over trial.

Daytime naps are used by elite athletes in both training and match-day settings. Currently, there are limited interventional studies on the efficacy of napping on physical performance in elite team-sport athletes. Therefore, the objective was to investigate the effect of a daytime nap (<1 hour) on afternoon performance of peak power, reaction time, self-reported wellness, and aerobic performance in professional rugby union athletes.

Operation early-bird: Investigating altered light exposure in military barracks on sleep and performance-a placebo-controlled study.

The manipulation of light exposure in the evening has been shown to modulate sleep, and may be beneficial in a military setting where sleep is reported to be problematic. This study investigated the efficacy of low-temperature lighting on objective sleep measures and physical performance in military trainees. Sixty-four officer-trainees (52 male/12 female, mean ± SD age: 25 ± 5 years) wore wrist-actigraphs for 6 weeks during military training to quantify sleep metrics.

Heating Up to Keep Cool: Benefits and Persistence of a Practical Heat Acclimation Protocol in Elite Female Olympic Team-Sport Athletes.

Purpose: Although recommendations for effective heat acclimation (HA) strategies for many circumstances exist, best-practice HA protocols specific to elite female team-sport athletes are yet to be established. Therefore, the authors aimed to investigate the effectiveness and retention of a passive HA protocol integrated in a female Olympic rugby sevens team training program.

Methods: Twelve elite female rugby sevens athletes undertook 10 days of passive HA across 2 training weeks.

Pyjamas, Polysomnography and Professional Athletes: The Role of Sleep Tracking Technology in Sport.

Technological advances in sleep monitoring have seen an explosion of devices used to gather important sleep metrics. These devices range from instrumented 'smart pyjamas' through to at-home polysomnography devices. Alongside these developments in sleep technologies, there have been concomitant increases in sleep monitoring in athletic populations, both in the research and in practical settings.

A Contactless App-Based Intervention to Improve Health Behaviors in Airline Pilots: A Randomized Trial.

Introduction: There is a need for enhanced preventive health care among airline pilots to mitigate the prevalence of cardiometabolic health risk factors.

Study Design: A randomized, waitlist-controlled trial was utilized to evaluate the effectiveness of a smartphone-based app intervention for improving health behaviors and cardiometabolic health parameters.

Setting/participants: A total of 186 airline pilots (aged 43.