Sleep has a significant effect on athlete’s health and performance. Nevertheless, sleep in sports often remains neglected and poorly researched. The purpose of this master's thesis is therefore to explore sleep and sleep disorders among athletes in greater detail and increase awareness of the importance of sleep in sportspeople’s performance.
In this master's thesis, we first explored sleep, describing a short history of sleep research, sleep needs, sleep measurement methods, physiology and phases of sleep, and the factors that influence these variables. We investigate the influence of chronotype and circadian rhythm on athlete’s physical performance. In addition to sleep, we investigate common sleep disorders among athletes and the factors that cause them.
In doing these research, we found that athletes often do not get enough nocturnal sleep and can have poor sleep quality. In addition to training and competitions (intensity, load, schedule, travel), athlete’s sleep is also affected by: electronic devices, environmental factors (altitude) and by menstrual cycle in female athletes. In addition to general sleep deprivation, other sleep disorders present among athletes include obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, and circadian rhythm disorders. There are several practical and affordable ways to monitor and measure athlete’s sleep. The latter include questionnaires, sleep diary and the use of applications and devices. With good sleep hygiene and by education athletes about sleep, athlete’s sleep can be improved their sleep, helping them to achieve their optimal performance. The thesis conclude with summary of recommendations for measuring, monitoring and improving sleep functions in athletes.
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