title: The effect of an acute sleep hygiene strategy following a late-night soccer match on recovery of players.
abstract: Elite soccer players are at risk of reduced recovery following periods of sleep disruption, particularly following late-night matches. It remains unknown whether improving sleep quality or quantity in such scenarios can improve post-match recovery. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the effect of an acute sleep hygiene strategy (SHS) on physical and perceptual recovery of players following a late-night soccer match. In a randomised cross-over design, two highly-trained amateur teams (20 players) played two late-night (20:45) friendly matches against each other seven days apart. Players completed an SHS after the match or proceeded with their normal post-game routine (NSHS). Over the ensuing 48 h, objective sleep parameters (sleep duration, onset latency, efficiency, wake episodes), countermovement jump (CMJ; height, force production), YoYo Intermittent Recovery test (YYIR2; distance, maximum heart rate, lactate), venous blood (creatine kinase, urea and c-reactive protein) and perceived recovery and stress markers were collected. Sleep duration was significantly greater in SHS compared to NSHS on match night (P = 0.002, d = 1.50), with NSHS significantly less than baseline (P < 0.001, d = 1.95). Significant greater wake episodes occurred on match night for SHS (P = 0.04, d = 1.01), without significant differences between- or within-conditions for sleep onset latency (P = 0.12), efficiency (P = 0.39) or wake episode duration (P = 0.07). No significant differences were observed between conditions for any physical performance or venous blood marker (all P > 0.05); although maximum heart rate during the YYIR2 was significantly higher in NSHS than SHS at 36 h post-match (P = 0.01; d = 0.81). There were no significant differences between conditions for perceptual "overall recovery" (P = 0.47) or "overall stress" (P = 0.17). Overall, an acute SHS improved sleep quantity following a late-night soccer match; albeit without any improvement in physical performance, perceptual recovery or blood-borne markers of muscle damage and inflammation.
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine , Saarland University , Saarland University Campus, Saarbrucken , Germany.|b Sport & Exercise Discipline Group , University of Technology Sydney , Lindfield , Australia.
authors.forename: Hugh
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Fullagar
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine , Saarland University , Saarland University Campus, Saarbrucken , Germany.
authors.forename: Sabrina
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Skorski
authors.affiliation: b Sport & Exercise Discipline Group , University of Technology Sydney , Lindfield , Australia.
authors.forename: Rob
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Duffield
authors.affiliation: a Institute of Sports and Preventive Medicine , Saarland University , Saarland University Campus, Saarbrucken , Germany.
authors.forename: Tim
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Meyer
mesh_terms: D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D002940:Circadian Rhythm / Q000502:physiology*; D015444:Exercise / Q000502:physiology*; D006339:Heart Rate / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D010465:Perception / Q000502:physiology; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D000070263:Sleep Hygiene / Q000502:physiology*; D012916:Soccer
keywords: Exercise; football; regeneration; sleep quality; team sports