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Effects of one night's sleep deprivation on anaerobic performance the following day

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Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of one night's sleep deprivation on anaerobic performance in the morning and afternoon of the following day. Thirteen healthy males were studied twice in a balanced, randomized design. The experiment consisted of two conditions 1 week apart. In the sleep deprivation condition (SDN) subjects remained awake overnight and in the control condition (reference night, RN) the same subjects slept at home, retiring between 2230 and 2330 hours, as decided individually, and rising at 0500 hours. In both conditions, activity, sleep and diet were monitored by actimetry and daily activity and dietary diaries. Physical performance testing was carried out at 0600 hours and at 1800 hours after the one night of sleep and the one night of sleep deprivation. At each test occasion, subjects were measured for maximal power (P max), peak power (P peak) and mean power (P mean). Blood lactate concentrations were measured at rest, at the end of the force–velocity (F–V) test, just before and just after the Wingate test and again 5 min later. Oral temperatures were measured every 2 h. In both conditions, the results showed a circadian rhythm in temperature. Analysis of variance revealed a significant (sleep × time of day of test) interaction effect on P peak, P mean and P max. These variables improved significantly from morning to afternoon after RN and SDN. The reference night was followed by a greater improvement than the SDN. Up to 24 h of waking, anaerobic power variables were not affected; however, they were impaired after 36 h without sleep. Analysis of variance revealed that blood lactate concentrations were unaffected by sleep loss, by time of day of testing or by the interaction of the two. In conclusion, sleep deprivation reduced the difference between morning and afternoon in anaerobic power variables. Anaerobic performances were unaffected after 24 h of wakefulness but were impaired after 36 h without sleep.

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Acknowledgements

Research supported by a grant from the Lower Normandy Regional Council. The authors would like to express their gratitude to John Lee for his help with the English translation of the manuscript and to our subjects who generously and patiently provided their time and effort, thus allowing the successful completion of the study.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Centre de Recherche en Activité Physique et Sportive UPRES EA 2131, Université de Basse-Normandie, UFR STAPS , 14032 , Caen , Cedex, France

    Nizar Souissi, Antoine Gauthier, Jacques Larue & Damien Davenne

  2. Institut Régional de Médecine du Sport, CHU Cote de nacre, 14033 , Caen , Cedex, France

    Bruno Sesboüé

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  1. Nizar Souissi
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  2. Bruno Sesboüé
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  3. Antoine Gauthier
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  4. Jacques Larue
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  5. Damien Davenne
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Correspondence to Damien Davenne.

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Souissi, N., Sesboüé, B., Gauthier, A. et al. Effects of one night's sleep deprivation on anaerobic performance the following day. Eur J Appl Physiol 89, 359–366 (2003). https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-003-0793-7

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00421-003-0793-7

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