Sleep restriction between consecutive days of exercise impairs sprint and endurance cycling performance

• Published in: Journal of sleep research 2023-10, Vol.32 (5), p.e13857-e13857
• Main Authors: Dean, Blake, Hartmann, Tegan, Wingfield, Georgia, Larsen, Penelope, Skein, Melissa
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• ISSN: 0962-1105; 1365-2869
• DOI: 10.1111/jsr.13857

The study aim was to determine the effect of sleep restriction (3 h) between consecutive days of exercise on sprint and endurance cycling performance, wellness, and mood. A total of 10 well-trained males performed 2 consecutive-day trials separated by a normal night sleep (control [CONT]; mean [SD] sleep duration 3.0 [0.2] h) or sleep restriction (RES; mean [SD] sleep duration 3.0 [0.2] h). Experimental trials included a 90-min fixed-paced cycling bout and the respective sleep conditions on Day 1, followed by two 6-s peak power (6-s PP) tests, a 4- and 20-min time trial (TT) on Day 2. Profile of Mood States (POMS) and wellness questionnaires were recorded on Day 1 and Day 2. Blood lactate and glucose, heart rate (HR), and rating of perceived exertion were recorded throughout Day 2. Power output (PO) was significantly reduced for RES in the 6-s PP trial (mean [SD] 1159 [127] W for RES versus 1250 [186] W for CONT; p = 0.04) and mean PO during the 20-min TT (mean [SD] 237 [59] W for RES versus 255 [58] W for CONT; p = 0.03). There were no differences for HR, lactate and glucose, or POMS between CONT and RES in all experimental trials (p = 0.05-0.89). Participants reported a reduction in overall wellness prior to exercise on Day 2 following RES (mean [SD] 14.5 [1.6] au) compared to CONT (mean [SD] 16 [3.0] au; p = 0.034). Sleep restriction and the associated reductions in wellness, reduce cycling performance during consecutive days of exercise in a range of cycling tests that are relevant to both track and road cyclists.