Sleep quantity and quality in elite swimmers: competition vs.training
DOI:
https://doi.org/10.15359/mhs.23-1.21987Keywords:
sleep, swimming, athletic performanceAbstract
Objective: This study aims to analyze sleep patterns in elite swimmers during periods of competitive stress compared to periods of non-competitive training. Methodology: Observational, comparative, and longitudinal study. 23 swimmers (11 men and 12 women) participated. The Oura Ring Gen3 device was used to analyze sleep patterns during a national championship and the training period in January of the same year. The variables collected were: total sleep score, total sleep duration, total time in bed, sleep efficiency, sleep latency, bedtime, and wake-up time. Data normality was assessed using the Kolmogorov-Smirnov test, and comparisons between periods were performed using paired Student’s t-tests, calculating effect sizes (Cohen’s d) and 95% confidence intervals. Results: Swimmers slept an average of 7:10±0.5 hours during the competitive period (C) vs. 7:00±0.4 hours during the training period (E), spending a total of 8:10±0.6 hours in bed (C) vs. 7:55±0.6 (E). The total sleep score was 74.9±6.1 points (C) vs. 73.8±5.7 points (E), respectively. Sleep efficiency was 87.1%±2.7 (C) vs. 87.1%±2.4 (E), and sleep latency was 00:19:50±5.6 minutes
(C) vs. 00:22:00±4.9 minutes (E). The average bedtime was 23:40±0.6 hours (C) vs. 24:00±0.5 hours (E), and the average wake-up time was 08:00±0 hours in both conditions. No statistically significant differences were found between the analyzed periods. Conclusions: Elite swimmers maintained stable and normative sleep values in both periods, suggesting that, under controlled conditions, competition does not significantly compromise sleep quality.
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