title: A novel sleep optimisation programme to improve athletes' well-being and performance.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  To improve well-being and performance indicators in a group of Australian Football League (AFL) players via a six-week sleep optimisation programme.
  
  
  METHODS
  Prospective intervention study following observations suggestive of reduced sleep and excessive daytime sleepiness in an AFL group.
  
  
  METHODS
  Athletes from the Adelaide Football Club were invited to participate if they had played AFL senior-level football for 1-5 years, or if they had excessive daytime sleepiness (Epworth Sleepiness Scale [ESS] >10), measured via ESS. An initial education session explained normal sleep needs, and how to achieve increased sleep duration and quality. Participants (n = 25) received ongoing feedback on their sleep, and a mid-programme education and feedback session. Sleep duration, quality and related outcomes were measured during week one and at the conclusion of the six-week intervention period using sleep diaries, actigraphy, ESS, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index, Profile of Mood States, Training Distress Scale, Perceived Stress Scale and the Psychomotor Vigilance Task.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Sleep diaries demonstrated an increase in total sleep time of approximately 20 min (498.8 ± 53.8 to 518.7 ± 34.3; p < .05) and a 2% increase in sleep efficiency (p < 0.05). There was a corresponding increase in vigour (p < 0.001) and decrease in fatigue (p < 0.05).
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Improvements in measures of sleep efficiency, fatigue and vigour indicate that a sleep optimisation programme may improve athletes' well-being. More research is required into the effects of sleep optimisation on athletic performance.
authors: a Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, A Flinders Centre of Research Excellence, Repatriation General Hospital , Daw Park , South Australia , Australia.
authors: Emer
authors: E
authors: Van Ryswyk
authors: a Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, A Flinders Centre of Research Excellence, Repatriation General Hospital , Daw Park , South Australia , Australia.
authors: Richard
authors: R
authors: Weeks
authors: a Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, A Flinders Centre of Research Excellence, Repatriation General Hospital , Daw Park , South Australia , Australia.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Bandick
authors: a Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, A Flinders Centre of Research Excellence, Repatriation General Hospital , Daw Park , South Australia , Australia.
authors: Michaela
authors: M
authors: O'Keefe
authors: a Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, A Flinders Centre of Research Excellence, Repatriation General Hospital , Daw Park , South Australia , Australia.|b NHMRC Centres of Research Excellence CIRUS and NEUROSLEEP, Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, The University of Sydney , Sydney , Australia.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Vakulin
authors: a Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, A Flinders Centre of Research Excellence, Repatriation General Hospital , Daw Park , South Australia , Australia.
authors: Peter
authors: P
authors: Catcheside
authors: c Harvard Medical School, Division of Sleep and Circadian Disorders, Brigham and Women's Hospital , Boston , MA , USA.
authors: Laura
authors: L
authors: Barger
authors: d Adelaide Football Club , West Lakes , South Australia , Australia.
authors: Andrew
authors: A
authors: Potter
authors: d Adelaide Football Club , West Lakes , South Australia , Australia.
authors: Nick
authors: N
authors: Poulos
authors: d Adelaide Football Club , West Lakes , South Australia , Australia.
authors: Jarryd
authors: J
authors: Wallace
authors: a Adelaide Institute for Sleep Health, A Flinders Centre of Research Excellence, Repatriation General Hospital , Daw Park , South Australia , Australia.
authors: Nick A
authors: NA
authors: Antic
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D056352:Athletes / Q000706:statistics & numerical data*; D054874:Athletic Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008297:Male; D008499:Medical Records; D018763:Muscle Fatigue / Q000502:physiology; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D013177:Sports / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: Fatigue; education; lifestyle; team sport