Sleep deprivation athletic training

Athletic performance includes not only the competitive event itself, but also optimal training and avoidance of injuries prior to and during the event. Therefore, in addition to reviewing the effects of sleep deprivation on athletic performance measures, this chapter will also examine similar observations on athletic training and injuries. 

Athletic injuries impair performance, prolong training and, at worst, end careers or even lives. Avoiding injury is critical to athletic performance, except in those extremely rare examples where the adversity of injury propels an athlete beyond even his/her own personal best. Sleep deprivation is commonly cited as a precipitating or causal factor in accidents and injuries (see Chaps. 10, 12, 14, and 15). It is therefore curious to discover that there is essentially no scientific research on sleep deprivation and athletic injury. Lund (75) followed 12 volleyball players over 61 hr of sleep deprivation. There were 29 minor injuries, which seemed elevated, but there was no control group for comparison. 

Illness is not considered injury, but it shares similar adverse effects on athletic training and performance. It is doubtful any athlete would choose to have the flu during competition. Sleep deprivation and human immune function has been extensively researched and reviewed (79). Significant detrimental effects on immune function have been demonstrated after both complete and partial sleep deprivation (56,79). The interactions are complex. Some sleep deprivation and strenuous exercise may even enhance certain aspects of immune function (80). This represents yet another area of much-anticipated research and potential impairment to athletic performance. 

Both partial and complete sleep deprivation have plausible adverse effects on athletic performance, training, and injuries. Research conclusions range widely from no effects to very significant effects, with the absence of any study describing beneficial effects after sleep deprivation. Therefore, an optimal sleep strategy clearly represents a potential performance advantage for athletes. 

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