Effects of time-of-day and partial sleep deprivation on short-term maximal performances of judo competitors

• Published in: Journal of strength and conditioning research Vol. 27; no. 9; p. 2473
• Main Authors: Souissi, Nizar, Chtourou, Hamdi, Aloui, Asma, Hammouda, Omar, Dogui, Mohamed, Chaouachi, Anis, Chamari, Karim
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: United States 01.09.2013
• Subjects: Adolescent; Athletic Performance - physiology; Circadian Rhythm - physiology; Hand Strength - physiology; Humans; Male; Martial Arts - physiology; Muscle Strength - physiology; Sleep Deprivation - physiopathology; Time Factors
• ISSN: 1064-8011; 1533-4287
• DOI: 10.1519/JSC.0b013e31827f4792

This study assessed the effects of partial sleep deprivation on short-term maximal performances of judokas in the morning and afternoon of the following day. In a randomized design, 12 judokas completed the maximal voluntary contraction, the handgrip, and the Wingate tests before and after a judo combat. Measurements were performed at 09:00 and 16:00 hours after a reference-normal sleep night and 2 conditions of 4-hour partial sleep deprivation timed at the beginning (SDB) or at the end of the night (SDE). The results showed that muscle power and strength were significantly higher at 16:00 than 09:00 hours (p < 0.05). These diurnal variations disappeared after SDB and SDE and after the combat. In addition, SDE resulted in significant decreases of short-term maximal performance in the afternoon (p < 0.01). In conclusion, SDE decreased muscle strength and power at 16:00 hours and, therefore, might have blunted the diurnal variations of short-term maximal exercise. Thus, early rising is more detrimental than late bedtime to muscle strength and power for judo athletes when competitions are scheduled in the afternoon hours.