A Thirty-Minute Nap Enhances Performance in Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Tests during and after Ramadan Observance

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 19; no. 22; p. 14699
• Main Authors: Yagin, Fatma Hilal, Eken, Özgür, Bayer, Ramazan, Salcman, Vaclav, Gabrys, Tomasz, Koç, Hürmüz, Yagin, Burak, Eken, İsmihan
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 09.11.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Adult; Anaerobiosis; Biological clocks; Body mass; Body Mass Index; Body size; Exercise; Fatigue; Humans; Kickboxing; Laboratories; Ramadan; Sleep; Sleep disorders; Statistical analysis; Warm up (exercise); Young Adult; health; fasting; running-based anaerobic sprint test; nap; kickboxing
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192214699

The purpose of this study was to determine the impact of a 30 min nap (N30) on the Running-Based Anaerobic Sprint Test (RAST) both during and after Ramadan. Ten physically active kickboxers (age: 21.20 ± 1.61 years, height: 174.80 ± 4.34 cm, body mass: 73.30 ± 7.10 kg and body mass index (BMI): 24.00 ± 2.21 kg/m ) voluntarily performed the RAST test after an N30 and in a no-nap condition (NN) during two experimental periods: the last ten days of Ramadan (DR) and ∼3 weeks after Ramadan (AR). During each DR-NN, DR-N30, AR-NN and AR-N30 protocol, kickboxers performed RAST performance. A statistically significant difference was found between Ramadan periods (DR vs. AR) in terms of max power (W) (F = 80.93; < 0.001; = 0.89), minimum power (W) (F = 49.05; < 0.001; = 0.84), average power (W) (F = 83.79; < 0.001; = 0.90) and fatigue index (%) results (F = 11.25; = 0.008; = 0.55). In addition, the nap factor was statistically significant in terms of the max power (W) (F = 81.89; < 0.001; = 0.90), minimum power (W) (F = 80.37; < 0.001; = 0.89), average power (W) (F = 108.41; < 0.001; = 0.92) and fatigue index (%) results (F = 16.14; = 0.003; = 0.64). Taking a daytime nap benefits subsequent performance in RAST. The benefits of napping were greater after an N30 opportunity for DR and AR.