Sleep is an essential tool for injury recovery, pain management, and athletic performance. Anecdotally it is often considered the most effective recovery tool for athletes and those in pain. It provides a multitude of physiological and psychological benefits. Current evidence suggests however that populations such as athletes and those in pain find it hard to maintain effective sleep patterns to most efficiently recover.
Impact of sleep deprivation
People that have a building sleep debt will experience a multitude of impairments to recovery, including:
- Reduced muscle energy repletion
- Impaired muscle damage repair
- Increased mental fatigue/mood impairments
- Impaired cognitive function including decision making
- Poor motor performance and reaction times in a sporting capacity
Sleep extension
Recommendations for hours of sleep generally sit around 7-9 hours per night, but this will vary between individuals. This is relevant for athletes and those in pain who need increased hours to optimise recovery (anywhere from 10 to 12 hours may beneficial). Studies have shown that extending your sleep hours over a period of 5-7 weeks can optimise performance in your chosen sport, reduce fatigue and increase alertness. Sleep extension is thought to be the most effective form of sleep strategy.
Sleep hygiene
Sleep hygiene refers to those techniques that promote better quality and quantity of sleep. They are generally quite simple yet those either in regular pain or perhaps training for athletic competition find it hard to maintain these habits regularly. The table lists some of the more common strategies used either before bed or in-flight.
Sleep hygiene strategies: Taken from Bird
Napping
People that exhibit signs of sleep debt/loss may find sleep supplementation in the form of napping an effective tool for recovery. Napping for thirty minutes can improve alertness and performance, provided the nap is not in the late afternoon/evening.
In a nutshell
The role of sleep in recovery is a complex issue. Sleep deprivation studies point to large effects on the neuroendocrine, immune and musculoskeletal systems, but every person will have different needs. The assessment of your sleep patterns and behaviours with a health professional may allow insight in to a faster recovery. Sleep extension, sleep hygiene and post-exercise recovery strategies should be considered to optimise recovery from injury and athletic performance.
Article by Kieran Watson
