Effects of sports training on sleep characteristics of Asian adolescent athletes

Abstract

Adolescents are predisposed to poorer quality of sleep and experience shortened sleep durations, with these trends being more pronounced amongst Asians. Even though sleep is crucial for athletic recovery, there is a dearth of literature on the sleep patterns of Asian adolescent athletes. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of different intensities of sports training on sleep patterns in adolescent athletes, and to describe novel sleep data and daytime sleepiness amongst Asian adolescents who were high-level athletes. Those athletes (age 14.8 ± 0.9 years) in higher-intensity sports showed significantly more deep sleep, less light sleep and wake time after sleep onset. Actigraphically determined bedtimes and waketimes were significantly delayed on weekends, when mean total sleep time was also significantly longer. There was a large effect for an increased daytime sleepiness in high-intensity sport athletes. These findings highlight the phenomenon of social jet lag in Asian adolescent student-athletes.

The Somnolent Youth-Sleep and the Influence of Exercise: A Narrative Review

“…In this study, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity only accounted for 11 min per day, which could explain the ambiguous findings, and highlights the potential need for greater durations and higher intensities of exercise to elicit positive changes in adolescent sleep patterns. In agreement with the previous findings in studies on adolescent athletes by Brand and colleagues, Suppiah and colleagues [125] identified that high-level adolescent athletes who participated in the higher intensity sport of badminton (more time in 61%-90% at maximal heart rate zone) have less light sleep and WASO, and more deep sleep when compared to high-level adolescent athletes who partook in the lower intensity sport of bowling. These comparative studies between low and high exercising adolescents seemingly add weight to the dose dependent relationship between exercise and adolescent sleep changes.…”

Association Between Sleep Quality and Physical Fitness Components among 13-14 Years Male Students

“…In agreement with this findings, Suppiah et al (2015) identified that high level adolescent athletes who participated in the higher intensity sport of badminton have less light sleep and more deep sleep when compared to high level adolescent athletes who partook in the lower intensity sport of bowling (Suppiah et al, 2015). This study detected the relationship significantly between physical fitness components test scores; step-test, curl-up and sit and reach, exception push-up test, and overall sleep quality among the subjects.…”

Interrelationship between Sleep and Exercise: A Systematic Review

“…Athletes, if training and eating properly, should have already achieved a high level of fitness therefore exposing a difference in the interrelationship. Suppiah et al examined the effects of different intensities of exercise in adolescent athletes [58]. The authors found that a group of athletes who engaged in a low-intensity sport, bowling, exhibited significant differences in EEG sleep patterns following days of training compared to a different group of athletes who practiced a high-intensity sport, badminton.…”

“…The authors found that a group of athletes who engaged in a low-intensity sport, bowling, exhibited significant differences in EEG sleep patterns following days of training compared to a different group of athletes who practiced a high-intensity sport, badminton. Specifically, Suppiah et al concluded that the athletes in the high-intensity group achieved a greater amount of deep sleep and decreased WASO than the low-intensity group [58]. However, in a related study by the same investigators comparing high- and low-intensity athletes, contrasting results were obtained.…”