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Published (Version of Record)CC BY V4.0, Open Access
Journal article
Sleep patterns and alertness in an elite Super Rugby team during a game week
Journal of human kinetics, Vol.67(1), pp.111-121
2019
PMCID: PMC6714368
PMID: 31523310
Abstract
Sleep is a vital component of preparation, performance and recovery for a Super Rugby game. The purpose of this study was to quantify sleep behaviours and alertness of professional rugby union players during training and a game. Thirty-six rugby union players from a Super Rugby team wore a wrist-activity device (Readiband (TM)) to measure sleep for 3 days before, 3 days after and on the night of an evening game. Players were separated into those selected to play the game (n = 23) and those who were not (n = 13). Alertness was assessed for all training and game times using bio-mathematical modelling. Alertness measures <= 90% were considered to reflect impaired reaction time. Those selected to play in the game progressively increased sleep duration over the nights prior to the game (by 92 min p <= 0.05) by delaying wake time. Players went to bed later after the game (02:20 +/- 114 min vs 22:57 +/- 60 min; p <= 0.001) which resulted in decreased sleep duration on game night compared to pre-game nights (296 +/- 179 min vs 459 +/- 78 min; p <= 0.05). Four players did not achieve any sleep on game night. Sleep duration appeared to be truncated by early morning training sessions (before 08:00) on the second and third mornings after the game. Alertness was similar to>90% for all training and game times for all players. In conclusion, in the days leading into a Super Rugby game, players delay morning time at wake and consequently increase sleep duration with post-game sleep reduced in some.
Details
- Title
- Sleep patterns and alertness in an elite Super Rugby team during a game week
- Authors/Creators
- Ian C. Dunican - The University of Western AustraliaCharles C. Higgin - Western Australia PoliceKevin Murray - The University of Western AustraliaMaddison J. Jones - The University of Western AustraliaBrian Dawson - The University of Western AustraliaJohn A. Caldwell - Coastal Carolina UniversityShona L. Halson - Australian Sports CommissionPeter R. Eastwood - The University of Western Australia
- Publication Details
- Journal of human kinetics, Vol.67(1), pp.111-121
- Publisher
- Sciendo
- Number of pages
- 11
- Grant note
- 513704 / NHMRC Senior Research Fellowship; National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) of Australia
- Identifiers
- 991005592646507891
- Copyright
- © 2019 Ian C Dunican, Charles C Higgin, Kevin Murray, Maddison J Jones, Brian Dawson, John A Caldwell, Shona L Halson, Peter R Eastwood
- Murdoch Affiliation
- Vice Chancellery
- Language
- English
- Resource Type
- Journal article
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- 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