1. Ramadan Observance Exacerbated the Negative Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown on Sleep and Training Behaviors: A International Survey on 1,681 Muslim Athletes
- Author
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Mohamed Romdhani, Achraf Ammar, Khaled Trabelsi, Hamdi Chtourou, Jacopo A. Vitale, Liwa Masmoudi, Mathieu Nédélec, Dale E. Rae, Ramzi A. Al Horani, Helmi Ben Saad, Nicola Bragazzi, Gürhan Dönmez, Ismail Dergaa, Tarak Driss, Abdulaziz Farooq, Omar Hammouda, Nesrine Harroum, Bahar Hassanmirzaei, Karim Khalladi, Syrine Khemila, Leonardo Jose Mataruna-Dos-Santos, Imen Moussa-Chamari, Iñigo Mujika, Hussein Muñoz Helú, Amin Norouzi Fashkhami, Laisa Liane Paineiras-Domingos, Mehrshad Rahbari Khaneghah, Yoshitomo Saita, Maher Souabni, Nizar Souissi, Jad Adrian Washif, Johanna Weber, Piotr Zmijewski, Lee Taylor, Sergio Garbarino, and Karim Chamari
- Subjects
confinement ,pandemic ,religious fasting ,sleep-wake pattern ,training load ,Nutrition. Foods and food supply ,TX341-641 - Abstract
ObjectiveDisrupted sleep and training behaviors in athletes have been reported during the COVID-19 pandemic. We aimed at investigating the combined effects of Ramadan observance and COVID-19 related lockdown in Muslim athletes.MethodsFrom an international sample of athletes (n = 3,911), 1,681 Muslim athletes (from 44 countries; 25.1 ± 8.7 years, 38% females, 41% elite, 51% team sport athletes) answered a retrospective, cross-sectional questionnaire relating to their behavioral habits pre- and during- COVID-19 lockdown, including: (i) Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI); (ii) insomnia severity index (ISI); (iii) bespoke questions about training, napping, and eating behaviors, and (iv) questions related to training and sleep behaviors during-lockdown and Ramadan compared to lockdown outside of Ramadan. The survey was disseminated predominately through social media, opening 8 July and closing 30 September 2020.ResultsThe lockdown reduced sleep quality and increased insomnia severity (both p < 0.001). Compared to non-Muslim (n = 2,230), Muslim athletes reported higher PSQI and ISI scores during-lockdown (both p < 0.001), but not pre-lockdown (p > 0.05). Muslim athletes reported longer (p < 0.001; d = 0.29) and later (p < 0.001; d = 0.14) daytime naps, and an increase in late-night meals (p < 0.001; d = 0.49) during- compared to pre-lockdown, associated with lower sleep quality (all p < 0.001). Both sleep quality (χ2 = 222.6; p < 0.001) and training volume (χ2 = 342.4; p < 0.001) were lower during-lockdown and Ramadan compared to lockdown outside of Ramadan in the Muslims athletes.ConclusionMuslim athletes reported lower sleep quality and higher insomnia severity during- compared to pre-lockdown, and this was exacerbated by Ramadan observance. Therefore, further attention to Muslim athletes is warranted when a circadian disrupter (e.g., lockdown) occurs during Ramadan.
- Published
- 2022
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