Around the world in 16 days: the effect of long-distance transmeridian travel on the sleep habits and behaviours of a professional Super Rugby team

Tim D Smithies; Peter R Eastwood; Jennifer Walsh; Kevin Murray; Will Markwick; Ian C Dunican

doi:10.1080/02640414.2021.1947617

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Around the world in 16 days: the effect of long-distance transmeridian travel on the sleep habits and behaviours of a professional Super Rugby team

Journal article

Peer reviewed

Around the world in 16 days: the effect of long-distance transmeridian travel on the sleep habits and behaviours of a professional Super Rugby team

Tim D Smithies, Peter R Eastwood, Jennifer Walsh, Kevin Murray, Will Markwick and Ian C Dunican

Journal of sports sciences, Vol.39(22), pp.2596-2602

2021

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2021.1947617

PMID: 34193014

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Abstract

Sleep

travel

performance

rugby

jet-lag

There is a scarcity of research examining the effects of long-distance transmeridian travel (LDTT) on the sleep and match performance of team sport players. To address this, 37 elite male rugby union players from a Super Rugby team undertaking LDTT were recruited. The participants completed validated sleep questionnaires and wore a wrist-worn activity monitor (Readiband™) during a Super Rugby season (including during periods of LDTT crossing 5, 6, and 13 time-zones) to ascertain objective measures of sleep. Sleep measures were compared using mixed model analysis to ascertain the effects of competition and LDTT on sleep. Total sleep time (TST) increased in the days prior to matches, and decreased following matches (accompanied by a later time at sleep onset), particularly when next-day early-morning flights were required. TST was decreased when sleep was attempted during LDTT, except for in the last travel bout where players napped in addition to achieving night-time sleep. TST was also reduced for the night immediately following LDTT, except for in Condition 3 where players delayed wake time and also achieved naps. This study exemplifies the challenges that team-sport athletes face in obtaining regular sleep when LDTT is required.

Details

Title: Around the world in 16 days: the effect of long-distance transmeridian travel on the sleep habits and behaviours of a professional Super Rugby team
Authors/Creators: Tim D Smithies - The University of Western Australia
Peter R Eastwood - The University of Western Australia
Jennifer Walsh - The University of Western Australia
Kevin Murray - The University of Western Australia
Will Markwick - Western Australia Police
Ian C Dunican - The University of Western Australia
Publication Details: Journal of sports sciences, Vol.39(22), pp.2596-2602
Identifiers: 991005592658207891
Murdoch Affiliation: Vice Chancellery
Language: English
Resource Type: Journal article

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Collaboration types: Domestic collaboration; International collaboration
Citation topics: 1 Clinical & Life Sciences; 1.137 Sleep Science & Circadian Systems; 1.137.349 Insomnia
Web Of Science research areas: Sport Sciences
ESI research areas: Clinical Medicine