Effect of Partial Sleep Deprivation After Strenuous Exercise on Muscular Strength and Endurance Capacity

Abstract

Sleep deprivation has been shown to decrease endurance capacity. However, influence of partial sleep deprivation after strenuous exercise on recovery of exercise performance remains unclear. PURPOSE:The purpose of the present was to determine the effect of partial sleep deprivation after prolonged, strenuous exercise on muscular strength and physiological responses during running on the following morning. METHODS: Seven active males (20.6±0.5yrs, 169.1±6.0cm, 65.1±6.0kg) were recruited, and they experienced two trials with counter balanced design. On the day1, all subjects performed exercise session (16:00~18:00), consisting of 90 min of treadmill running at 75% of VO2max followed by 100 drop jump from 40cm box. In the CON, the sleep duration was set from 23:00 to 7:00. In contrast, in the PSD, the sleep duration was shortened to match equivalent to 40% of individual sleep duration (60% of reduction from normal sleep duration). On the following morning (day2), maximal strength (MVC) for knee extension and flexion exercises, physiological responses during 20 min of submaximal running at 75% of VO2max, and time to exhaustion (TTE) during running at 85% of VO2max were compared between the CON and PSD. RESULTS: On the day2, the score of subjective sleepiness was significantly higher in PSD than in CON (P<0.05), while no significant difference in score of muscle soreness and fatigue was observed between the two trials. On the day2, MVC for knee extension and flexion decreased significantly from the values on day1 in PSD (P<0.05), whereas no significant change was observed in CON. However, there was no significant difference in MVC on the day2 between the CON and PSD. VO2 and VCO2 during 20 min of submaximal running did not differ significantly between the CON and PSD. However, respiratory exchange ratio (RER) during the running was significantly lower in PSD (0.84±0.03) than in CON (0.88±0.04, P<0.05). Moreover, TTE during running at 85% of VO2max was significantly impaired in PSD (666±263s) compared with CON (934±463s, P<0.05). CONCLUSIONS: A single night of partial sleep deprivation after strenuous exercise did not affect markedly maximal strength or VO2 kinetic during submaximal running. However, TTE during running was significantly decreased after partial sleep deprivation.