Effect Of Sleep Extension On Athletic Performance Of Collegiate Basketball Players

Objectives: To investigate the effects of sleep extension over multiple weeks on specific measures of athletic performance as well as reaction time,mood,and daytime sleepiness of collegiate basketball athletes.Methods: Nineteen healthy collegiate basketball students on the Central South University men’s basketball team(mean age 19.4 ± 1.4years).Subjects maintained their habitual sleep-wake schedule for a 2-4week baseline followed by a 4 weeks sleep extension period.Subjects obtained as much nocturnal sleep as possible during sleep extension with a minimum goal of 10 h in bed each night.Measures of athletic performance specific to basketball were recorded after every practice including a timed sprint and shooting accuracy.Reaction time,levels of daytime sleepiness,and mood were monitored via the Psychomotor Vigilance Task(PVT),Epworth Sleepiness Scale(ESS),and Profile of Mood States(POMS),respectively.Results: Total objective nightly sleep time increased during sleep extension compared to baseline by 110.9 ± 79.7 min(P < 0.001).Subjects demonstrated a faster timed sprint following sleep extension(16.2 ± 0.61 sec at baseline vs.15.5 ± 0.54 sec at end of sleep extension,P < 0.001).Shooting accuracy improved,with free throw percentage increasing by 9%and 3-point field goal percentage increasing by 9.2%(P < 0.001).Mean PVT reaction time and Epworth Sleepiness Scale scores decreased following sleep extension(P < 0.01).POMS scores improved with increased vigor and decreased fatigue subscales(P < 0.001).Subjects also reported improved overall ratings of physical and mental well-being during practices and games.Conclusions: Improvements in specific measures of basketball performance after sleep extension indicate that optimal sleep is likely beneficial in reaching peak athletic performance.