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Lockdown Duration and Training Intensity Affect Sleep Behavior in an International Sample of 1,454 Elite Athletes

Authors :
Mohamed Romdhani
Hugh H. K. Fullagar
Jacopo A. Vitale
Mathieu Nédélec
Dale E. Rae
Achraf Ammar
Hamdi Chtourou
Ramzi A. Al Horani
Helmi Ben Saad
Nicola Luigi 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
Nizar Souissi
Khaled Trabelsi
Jad Adrian Washif
Johanna Weber
Piotr Zmijewski
Lee Taylor
Sergio Garbarino
Karim Chamari
Source :
Frontiers in Physiology, Vol 13 (2022)
Publication Year :
2022
Publisher :
Frontiers Media S.A., 2022.

Abstract

Objective: To investigate the effect of 1) lockdown duration and 2) training intensity on sleep quality and insomnia symptoms in elite athletes.Methods: 1,454 elite athletes (24.1 ± 6.7 years; 42% female; 41% individual sports) from 40 countries answered a retrospective, cross-sectional, web-based questionnaire relating to their behavioral habits pre- and during- COVID-19 lockdown, including: 1) Pittsburgh sleep quality index (PSQI); 2) Insomnia severity index (ISI); bespoke questions about 3) napping; and 4) training behaviors. The association between dependent (PSQI and ISI) and independent variables (sleep, napping and training behaviors) was determined with multiple regression and is reported as semi-partial correlation coefficient squared (in percentage).Results: 15% of the sample spent < 1 month, 27% spent 1–2 months and 58% spent > 2 months in lockdown. 29% self-reported maintaining the same training intensity during-lockdown whilst 71% reduced training intensity. PSQI (4.1 ± 2.4 to 5.8 ± 3.1; mean difference (MD): 1.7; 95% confidence interval of the difference (95% CI): 1.6–1.9) and ISI (5.1 ± 4.7 to 7.7 ± 6.4; MD: 2.6; 95% CI: 2.3–2.9) scores were higher during-compared to pre-lockdown, associated (all p < 0.001) with longer sleep onset latency (PSQI: 28%; ISI: 23%), later bedtime (PSQI: 13%; ISI: 14%) and later preferred time of day to train (PSQI: 9%; ISI: 5%) during-lockdown. Those who reduced training intensity during-lockdown showed higher PSQI (p < 0.001; MD: 1.25; 95% CI: 0.87–1.63) and ISI (p < 0.001; MD: 2.5; 95% CI: 1.72–3.27) scores compared to those who maintained training intensity. Although PSQI score was not affected by the lockdown duration, ISI score was higher in athletes who spent > 2 months confined compared to those who spent < 1 month (p < 0.001; MD: 1.28; 95% CI: 0.26–2.3).Conclusion: Reducing training intensity during the COVID-19-induced lockdown was associated with lower sleep quality and higher insomnia severity in elite athletes. Lockdown duration had further disrupting effects on elite athletes’ sleep behavior. These findings could be of relevance in future lockdown or lockdown-like situations (e.g., prolonged illness, injury, and quarantine after international travel).

Details

Language :
English
ISSN :
1664042X
Volume :
13
Database :
Directory of Open Access Journals
Journal :
Frontiers in Physiology
Publication Type :
Academic Journal
Accession number :
edsdoj.8bc93f0a2a0448b8af28933056a937b
Document Type :
article
Full Text :
https://doi.org/10.3389/fphys.2022.904778