Habitual Sleep Efficiency and Fatigue in Czech Male Young Athletes: A Case Study
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| Year of publication | 2021 |
| Type | Conference abstract |
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| Description | INTRODUCTION: Youth athletes involved in organized sports need to deal with training and competition added to the school and home-life responsibilities altogether. These factors can affect the athlete’s sleep quality and can induce stress and fatigue. AIM: To evaluate habitual sleep efficiency and perception of fatigue in a young group of male athletes and to examine the possible difference in these variables among the sports disciplines. METHODS: A crosssectional study was conducted with 36 young male athletes belonging to cycling (n=14; 14.9 ±0.7 years old); ice hockey (n=13, 12 years old), and gymnastics (n=9, 15.3 ±1.2 years old) disciplines from the same sports club in the Czech Republic. The Czech short version of the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality was used to measure habitual sleep efficiency. Efficiency was classified as >85%, 75-84%, 65-74% and <65%. Profile of Mood State scale was used to describe the perception of fatigue. The values of fatigue ranged from 6 to 30 points. Data were collected at the end of the transition period (rest), after the sports season. Absolute and relative frequency was used to describe the responses about sleep efficiency and fatigue perception, respectively. RESULTS: Of 36 athletes, only five athletes presented sleep efficiency lower than 85%. Among these five athletes, one belongs from cycling (score 75- 84%), one from ice hockey (score 65-74%), and three from gymnastics (score 75-84%). Only 8% (n=3) presented higher score of fatigue (e.g., below 24 points), all belonged to gymnastics disciplines. CONCLUSION: Young male athletes showed to not be affected negatively in habitual sleep efficiency and fatigue after the transition period, demonstrating that the athletes are recovering well and ready for a sports season. It could be beneficial for physical adaptation and wellbeing. However, special attention should be given to gymnastic athletes, due to few athletes presented high score of fatigue. |
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