Sleep disturbances after an ultra-trail endurance race: a field study.
Athletes may experience minor sleep disturbances after an ultra-trail race, but objective measures reveal more pronounced disruptions lasting up to four nights.
Where it sits
this study against the rest of the slu-pp-332 (exercise mimetic) corpusSummary and findings
This study examined sleep patterns in eighteen athletes (mean age 34.6 ± 8.13, 3 women) before and after an ultra-trail race. Participants reported subjective sleep alterations and objective changes measured by actigraphy. The study found that these sleep disruptions could last up to four nights post-race.
Abstract
<h4>Background</h4>Endurance running has a substantial influence on sleep, while insufficient or disturbed sleep prior to exercise may impair endurance performance. However, these interactions remain poorly characterized under real-life conditions. The aim of this field study was to examine sleep patterns in athletes before and after an ultra-trail race.<h4>Methods</h4>Eighteen athletes (mean age 34.6 ± 8.13, 3 women) underwent an ultra-trail race at 03:30 a.m. (Ultra Marathon des Cirques, La Réunion, France, 64 km, 5000 m of elevation gain, June 2024). After completing various questionnaires to assess their sleep, all participants filled out a sleep diary and all wore an actimeter for six nights before and after the event.<h4>Results</h4>The athletes reported modest subjective sleep alterations, mainly a later wake-up time and reduced sleep quality on the night following the race (p < 0.05). However, actigraphy-based sleep measurements revealed objective sleep changes, including reduced sleep efficiency (p < 0.05), longer nocturnal wake time (p < 0.05), an increased number of awakenings (p < 0.05), and wake after sleep onset (p < 0.05), lasting up to four nights after the race.<h4>Conclusions</h4>Participants reported minor sleep complaints following the ultra-trail, whereas more pronounced sleep disruptions can persist for up to four nights postrace. These disruptions are characterized by sleep fragmentation and reduced sleep efficiency. The mechanisms underlying these alterations remain to be elucidated and may involve factors such as sleep deprivation, cumulative fatigue, hypoxia, and hyperthermia.
Background
This paper addresses the relationship between endurance running and sleep disturbances, a topic that remains poorly characterized in real-life conditions. Prior research has indicated that sleep quality can impact athletic performance, but the specific effects of ultra-endurance events on sleep patterns have not been thoroughly investigated. Understanding these interactions is essential for optimizing recovery and performance in endurance athletes.
Methods
The study involved eighteen athletes who participated in an ultra-trail race at 03:30 a.m., covering 64 km with a 5000 m elevation gain. Participants completed questionnaires to assess their sleep and maintained a sleep diary while wearing actimeters for six nights before and after the race. The primary outcome measures included subjective sleep quality and objective sleep metrics obtained through actigraphy.
Results
The primary endpoint indicated modest subjective sleep alterations with p < 0.05 for later wake-up time and reduced sleep quality on the night following the race. Objective measurements showed significant changes, including reduced sleep efficiency (p < 0.05), longer nocturnal wake time (p < 0.05), increased number of awakenings (p < 0.05), and wake after sleep onset (p < 0.05), persisting for up to four nights post-race.
Interpretation
The findings suggest that while athletes reported minor sleep complaints, objective measures indicated more significant disruptions that could affect recovery. The effect sizes are statistically significant but may not be clinically meaningful given the modest nature of the reported changes. Limitations such as small sample size and reliance on self-reported data may confound the conclusions drawn from this study.
Key findings
- p < 0.05 for later wake-up time and reduced sleep quality on the night following the race.
- p < 0.05 for reduced sleep efficiency after the race.
- p < 0.05 for longer nocturnal wake time after the race.
- p < 0.05 for an increased number of awakenings after the race.
- p < 0.05 for wake after sleep onset lasting up to four nights after the race.
Limitations
- small sample size (n=18)
- subjective reports may not accurately reflect sleep disturbances
- actigraphy may miss some sleep disruptions
- single-site study limits generalizability
- short follow-up period of six nights