The influence of self-reported total sleep time and sleep quality on physical performance in junior tennis players

Mitchell Turner; Johnny Lo; Philipp Beranek; Ian Dunican; Travis Cruickshank

doi:10.30827/Digibug.77269

Mitchell Turner School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia
Johnny Lo School of Science, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia
Philipp Beranek School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia
Ian Dunican School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia; Centre for Sleep Science, School of Human Sciences, The University of Western Australia, Perth, Australia
Travis Cruickshank School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia; Centre for Precision Health, School of Medical and Health Sciences, Edith Cowan University, Perth, Australia; Perron Institute for Neurological and Translational Sciences, Perth Australia

DOI: https://doi.org/10.30827/Digibug.77269

Keywords: Reaction time, Restfulness, Sleep efficiency, Teenager, Tennis agility

Abstract

Studies have shown the importance of sleep on tennis skill execution; however, its influence on physical performance metrics is unclear. This study aimed to examine the extent to which sleep duration and sleep quality metrics influence physical performance metrics in junior tennis players. Thirty-six junior tennis players from Australia and Germany completed the Consensus Sleep Diary over seven nights. A novel total sleep score based on current National Sleep Foundation recommendations was generated (calculated as the percentage of the average standardised sleep metrics), for each player. Players physical performance was measured using a comprehensive tennis-specific testing battery. This included sit and reach test for flexibility, counter movement jump and overhead medicine ball throw for power, 5-, 10- and 20-metre sprints for speed, tennis agility test for agility and reaction time, grip strength for strength, repeat sprint ability for anaerobic capacity and the Hit and Turn Tennis Test for aerobic capacity. Teenage (14 to 17 years of age) players reported significantly lower sleep duration (471 ± 116 min versus 543 ± 72 min; p <0.001, d = 0.83) and sleep efficiency (90% ± 11% versus 94 % ± 5%; p = 0.011, d = 0.49) metrics than school-aged players. Players with higher self-reported sleep quality had slower reaction times during a tennis agility test (r = 0.604, p = 0.011). However, players who reported feeling more rested and refreshed had faster reaction times during a tennis agility test (r = -0.579, p = 0.020). No other significant associations were present between self-reported sleep metrics and physical performance metrics. Nevertheless, feeling well-rested and refreshed, one of the primary outcomes of sleep, improves reaction time during a tennis-specific agility test. However, physical performance metrics are not significantly influenced by small variations in recommended sleep duration and sleep quality ranges.

References

Blumert, P. A., Crum, A. J., Ernsting, M., Volek, J. S., Hollander, D. B., Haff, E. E., & Haff, G. G. (2007). The acute effects of twenty-four hours of sleep loss on the performance of nationalcaliber male collegiate weightlifters. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 21(4), 1146-1154.

Carney, C. E., Buysse, D. J., Ancoli-Israel, S., Edinger, J. D., Krystal, A. D., Lichstein, K. L., & Morin, C. M. (2012). The Consensus Sleep Diary: Standardizing Prospective Sleep Self-Monitoring. Sleep, 35(2), 287-302. https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.1642

Chalder, T., Berelowitz, G., Pawlikowska, T., Watts, L., Wessely, S., Wright, D., & Wallace, E. (1993). Development of a fatigue scale. Journal of psychosomatic research, 37(2), 147-153.

Chapman, D. W., & Sheppard, J. (2011). Relibility and Interpretation of a Tennis Specific Repeated Sprint Protocol in Elite Athletes. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 25. https://journals.lww.com/nsca-jscr/Fulltext/2011/03001/Relibility_and_Interpretation_of_a_Tennis_Specific.25.aspx

Cohen, J. (2013). Statistical power analysis for the behavioral sciences. Academic press.

Duffield, R., Murphy, A., Kellett, A., & Reid, M. (2014). Recovery from repeated on-court tennis sessions: combining cold-water immersion, compression, and sleep recovery interventions. Int J Sports Physiol Perform, 9(2), 273-282. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2012-0359

Dumortier, J., Mariman, A., Boone, J., Delesie, L., Tobback, E., Vogelaers, D., & Bourgois, J. G. (2018). Sleep, training load and performance in elite female gymnasts. European Journal of Sport Science, 18(2), 151-161. https://doi.org/10.1080/17461391.2017.1389992

Ferrauti, A., Kinner, V., & Fernandez-Fernandez, J. (2011). The Hit & Turn Tennis Test: an acoustically controlled endurance test for tennis players. J Sports Sci, 29(5), 485-494. https://doi.org/10.1080/02640414.2010.539247

Fett, J., Ulbricht, A., & Ferrauti, A. (2020). Impact of Physical Performance and Anthropometric Characteristics on Serve Velocity in Elite Junior Tennis Players. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 34(1), 192-202. https://doi.org/10.1519/jsc.0000000000002641

Fullagar, H. H., Skorski, S., Duffield, R., Hammes, D., Coutts, A. J., & Meyer, T. (2015). Sleep and athletic performance: the effects of sleep loss on exercise performance, and physiological and cognitive responses to exercise. Sports medicine, 45(2), 161-186. https://link.springer.com/content/pdf/10.1007/s40279-014-0260-0.pdf

Girard, O., & Millet, G. P. (2009). Physical determinants of tennis performance in competitive teenage players. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 23(6), 1867-1872.

Hansen, S. L., Capener, D., & Daly, C. (2017). Adolescent Sleepiness: Causes and Consequences. Pediatric Annals, 46(9), e340-344. https://doi.org/http://dx.doi.org/10.3928/19382359-20170816-01

Hirshkowitz, M., Whiton, K., Albert, S. M., Alessi, C., Bruni, O., Doncarlos, L., Hazen, N., Herman, J., Katz, E. S., Kheirandish-Gozal, L., Neubauer, D. N., O’Donnell, A. E., Ohayon, M., Peever, J., Rawding, R., Sachdeva, R. C., Setters, B., Vitiello, M. V., Ware, J. C., & Adams Hillard, P. J. (2015). National Sleep Foundation’s sleep time duration recommendations: methodology and results summary. Sleep Health, 1(1), 40-43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2014.12.010

Jarraya, S., Jarraya, M., Chtourou, H., & Souissi, N. (2014). Effect of time of day and partial sleep deprivation on the reaction time and the attentional capacities of the handball goalkeeper. Biological Rhythm Research, 45(2), 183-191. https://doi.org/10.1080/09291016.2013.787685

Knowles, O. E., Drinkwater, E. J., Urwin, C. S., Lamon, S., & Aisbett, B. (2018). Inadequate sleep and muscle strength: Implications for resistance training. Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, 21(9), 959-968. https://doi.org/https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2018.01.012

Kölling, S., Steinacker, J. M., Endler, S., Ferrauti, A., Meyer, T., & Kellmann, M. (2016). The longer the better: Sleep–wake patterns during preparation of the World Rowing Junior Championships. Chronobiology international, 33(1), 73-84. https://doi.org/10.3109/07420528.2015.1118384

Legg, J., Pyne, D. B., Semple, S., & Ball, N. (2017). Variability of Jump Kinetics Related to Training Load in Elite Female Basketball. Sports (Basel), 5(4). https://doi.org/10.3390/sports5040085

Lever, J. R., Murphy, A. P., Duffield, R., & Fullagar, H. H. K. (2021). A Combined Sleep Hygiene and Mindfulness Intervention to Improve Sleep and Well-Being During High-Performance Youth Tennis Tournaments. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 16(2), 250-258. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2019-1008

Mah, C. D., Mah, K. E., Kezirian, E. J., & Dement, W. C. (2011). The effects of sleep extension on the athletic performance of collegiate basketball players. Sleep, 34(7), 943-950. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC3119836/pdf/aasm.34.7.943.pdf

Maich, K. H. G., Lachowski, A. M., & Carney, C. E. (2018). Psychometric Properties of the Consensus Sleep Diary in Those With Insomnia Disorder. Behavioral Sleep Medicine, 16(2), 117-134. https://doi.org/10.1080/15402002.2016.1173556

Ohayon, M., Wickwire, E. M., Hirshkowitz, M., Albert, S. M., Avidan, A., Daly, F. J., Dauvilliers, Y., Ferri, R., Fung, C., Gozal, D., Hazen, N., Krystal, A., Lichstein, K., Mallampalli, M., Plazzi, G., Rawding, R., Scheer, F. A., Somers, V., & Vitiello, M. V. (2017). National Sleep Foundation's sleep quality recommendations: first report. Sleep Health, 3(1), 6-19. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2016.11.006

Peacock, C., Mena, M., Sanders, G., Silver, T., Kalman, D., & Antonio, J. (2018). Sleep Data, Physical Performance, and Injuries in Preparation for Professional Mixed Martial Arts. Sports, 7(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.3390/sports7010001

Reilly, T., & Edwards, B. (2007). Altered sleep–wake cycles and physical performance in athletes. Physiology & behavior, 90(2-3), 274-284.

Reilly, T., & Piercy, M. (1994). The effect of partial sleep deprivation on weight-lifting performance. Ergonomics, 37(1), 107-115. https://doi.org/10.1080/00140139408963628

Reyner, L. A., & Horne, J. A. (2013). Sleep restriction and serving accuracy in performance tennis players, and effects of caffeine. Physiol Behav, 120, 93-96. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2013.07.002

Riederer, M. F. (2020). How Sleep Impacts Performance in Youth Athletes. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 19(11), 463-467. https://doi.org/10.1249/jsr.0000000000000771

Roetert, P., Garrett, G. E., Brown, S. W., & Camaione, D. N. (1992). Performance profiles of nationally ranked junior tennis players. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 6(4), 225-231.

Schwartz, J., & Simon, R. D., Jr. (2015). Sleep extension improves serving accuracy: A study with college varsity tennis players. Physiol Behav, 151, 541-544. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physbeh.2015.08.035

Sinnerton, S., & Reilly, T. (1992). Effects of sleep loss and time of day in swimmers. Biomechanics and medicine in swimming: swimming science VI, 399-404.

Skein, M., Duffield, R., Edge, J., Short, M. J., & Mundel, T. (2011). Intermittent-sprint performance and muscle glycogen after 30 h of sleep deprivation. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 43(7), 1301-1311.

Suppiah, H. T., Swinbourne, R., Wee, J., Tay, V., & Gastin, P. (2021). Sleep Characteristics of Elite Youth Athletes: A Clustering Approach to Optimize Sleep Support Strategies. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 16(9), 1225-1233. https://doi.org/10.1123/ijspp.2020-0675

Temesi, J., Arnal, P. J., Davranche, K., Bonnefoy, R., Levy, P., Verges, S., & Millet, G. Y. (2013). Does central fatigue explain reduced cycling after complete sleep deprivation. Med Sci Sports Exerc, 45(12), 2243-2253.

Tucker, A. M., Whitney, P., Belenky, G., Hinson, J. M., & Van Dongen, H. P. (2010). Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Dissociated Components of Executive Functioning. Sleep, 33(1), 47-57. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/33.1.47

Ulbricht, A., Fernandez-Fernandez, J., Mendez-Villanueva, A., & Ferrauti, A. (2016). Impact of fitness characteristics on tennis performance in elite junior tennis players. The Journal of Strength & Conditioning Research, 30(4), 989-998.

Vitale, J., Bonato, M., Petrucci, L., Zucca, G., La Torre, A., & Banfi, G. (2021). Acute Sleep Restriction Affects Sport-Specific But Not Athletic Performance in Junior Tennis Players. International Journal of Sports Physiology and Performance, 1(aop), 1-6.

Wahlstrom, K. L., Berger, A. T., & Widome, R. (2017). Relationships between school start time, sleep duration, and adolescent behaviors. Sleep Health, 3(3), 216-221. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleh.2017.03.002

Watson, A. M. (2017). Sleep and Athletic Performance. Current Sports Medicine Reports, 16(6), 413-418. https://doi.org/10.1249/jsr.0000000000000418