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Sleep problems in elite football
Elite athletes have been found to have poorer quality and quantity of sleep in comparison to the general population, despite the fact that they often require more sleep due to their high training loads and physical demands. This discrepancy is likely due to the unique demands and stressors that come with being a professional athlete, including intense training schedules, travel, pre-competition anxiety, and discomfort from injuries. The average sleep duration of elite soccer players during the competitive season (in English Premier League and French Ligue 1) was found to be around 6.5 hours per night. After night matches (Kick Off > 18:00) players slept 4-5 hours, which was considerably less than their usual sleep duration and their sleep need.
Consequences of bad sleep on the brain
Sleep deprivation and poor sleep quality is leading to a reduction in white matter integrity in the brain. These injuries of the brain fibers, results in negative effects on cognitive function, including reaction time, attention, and decision-making. Unlike physical injuries like muscle fiber injuries, damage to brain fibers as a result of poor sleep quality are not accompanied by physical pain. This makes it difficult for athletes to recognize the importance of getting adequate sleep and the potential consequences of not doing so.
Medical Team FC Barcelona
Every football action includes a cognitive element.
Jupp Heynckes
Much more is decided in the brain than with the feet.
Johan Cruyff
Football is a game you play
with your brain.
Brain responsible for testosterone
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Not just the frontal part of the brain is affected by bad sleep, also the brain regions responsible for the secretion of Testosterone, Growth Hormone one and Cortisol (through hypothalamus and pituitary gland) is strongly sensitive to sleep. Testosterone and growth hormone (GH) are both crucial hormones for muscle growth and repair; young men who slept for only 5 hours per night for one week had a decrease in testosterone levels to those of men who are 10 years older. Poor sleep can like that negatively impact the body's ability to repair and rebuild muscle tissue, affecting directly muscle performance (especially in congested weeks) - which also is visible in increased injury risks.
