The effect of an acute sleep hygiene strategy following a late-night soccer match on recovery of players

Apr 1, 2016Chronobiology international

How a Quick Sleep Routine After a Late-Night Soccer Game May Help Player Recovery

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Abstract

Sleep duration was significantly greater in the sleep hygiene strategy (SHS) condition compared to the normal post-game routine (NSHS) on match night (P = 0.002, d = 1.50).

Players experienced significantly less sleep duration in the NSHS condition compared to their baseline sleep (P < 0.001, d = 1.95).
SHS led to a higher number of wake episodes on match night (P = 0.04, d = 1.01).
No significant differences were found between SHS and NSHS in sleep onset latency, sleep efficiency, or wake episode duration.
Physical performance and venous blood markers showed no significant differences between the two conditions (all P > 0.05).
Maximum heart rate during the YoYo Intermittent Recovery test was significantly higher in the NSHS condition at 36 hours post-match (P = 0.01; d = 0.81).
Perceptual measures of overall recovery and stress did not show significant differences between the conditions.

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Elite soccer players are at risk of reduced recovery following periods of sleep disruption, particularly following late-night matches. It remains unknown whether improving sleep quality or quantity in such scenarios can improve post-match recovery. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an acute sleep hygiene strategy (SHS) on physical and perceptual recovery of players following a late-night soccer match. In a randomised cross-over design, two highly-trained amateur teams (20 players) played two late-night (20:45) friendly matches against each other seven days apart. Players completed an SHS after the match or proceeded with their normal post-game routine (NSHS). Over the ensuing 48 h, objective sleep parameters (sleep duration, onset latency, efficiency, wake episodes), countermovement jump (CMJ; height, force production), YoYo Intermittent Recovery test (YYIR2; distance, maximum heart rate, lactate), venous blood (creatine kinase, urea and c-reactive protein) and perceived recovery and stress markers were collected. Sleep duration was significantly greater in SHS compared to NSHS on match night (P = 0.002, d = 1.50), with NSHS significantly less than baseline (P < 0.001, d = 1.95). Significant greater wake episodes occurred on match night for SHS (P = 0.04, d = 1.01), without significant differences between- or within-conditions for sleep onset latency (P = 0.12), efficiency (P = 0.39) or wake episode duration (P = 0.07). No significant differences were observed between conditions for any physical performance or venous blood marker (all P > 0.05); although maximum heart rate during the YYIR2 was significantly higher in NSHS than SHS at 36 h post-match (P = 0.01; d = 0.81). There were no significant differences between conditions for perceptual "overall recovery" (P = 0.47) or "overall stress" (P = 0.17). Overall, an acute SHS improved sleep quantity following a late-night soccer match; albeit without any improvement in physical performance, perceptual recovery or blood-borne markers of muscle damage and inflammation.

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The effect of an acute sleep hygiene strategy following a late-night soccer match on recovery of players

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