Abstract
It is well-documented that changes in the rhythm of life during Ramadan affect sleep schedules (i.e., interruption of night sleep patterns) and are likely to have negative effects on physical and cognitive performances. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of different naps opportunities’ durations during Ramadan on performance of short-duration repetitive maximal exercise and perception of effort. Fifteen physically active men (age: 21 ± 3 years, height: 177 ± 6 cm, body-mass: 73 ± 10 kg) performed a 6 × 30-s shuttle run test after a 25-min nap (N25), a 45-min nap (N45), and in a no-nap condition (NN) during three experimental periods: ∼2 weeks before Ramadan (BR), the last ten days of Ramadan (ER), and ∼3 weeks after Ramadan (AR). During the shuttle run test performed in the late afternoon, the greatest distance (GD), the total distance (TD) and a fatigue index (FI) were assessed. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was determined after each 30-s effort. Dietary intake and sleep quality were assessed in each of the three periods. Compared to BR, GD and TD were lower in the ER testing period (p = 0.005; d = 0.54) but returned to BR levels in the AR period. During ER, carbohydrate intake was lower (p = 0.04; d = 0.2), and sleep duration and sleep quality were reduced (d = 0.27 and 0.54, respectively), although other aspects of dietary intake and sleep pattern were not affected. Compared to NN, GD and TD were higher after N25 (d = 0.57 and 0.34, respectively) and N45 (d = 0.93 and 0.88 respectively). RPE was lower in N45 (p = 0.035, d = 0.84). N45 resulted in higher TD (p = 0.021, d = 0.13) and lower RPE (p = 0.004; d = 0.57) compared to N25 during ER. Taking a daytime nap benefits subsequent performance in a shuttle run test, whether sleep the previous night was normal (as in BR) or compromised (as in ER). The benefits of napping were greater after a 45-min nap opportunity than after a 25-min nap opportunity.
Highlights
Healthy Muslims yearly refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, amongst others, from dawn to sunset for 29–30 days during Ramadan observance (Trabelsi et al, 2020a,b)
Three weeks after Ramadan, sleep duration had returned to BR levels; daytime dysfunction had returned to BR levels; and the total score was reduced from during Ramadan but remained elevated above BR levels
AR, ratings of perceived exertion (RPE) mean scores during the 5-m shuttle run test were lower by 10.1 ± 19.5% in nap for 45 min (N45) (p = 0.029; d = 0.39) compared to nap for 25 min (N25) (Figure 5)
Summary
Healthy Muslims yearly refrain from eating, drinking, smoking, amongst others, from dawn to sunset for 29–30 days during Ramadan observance (Trabelsi et al, 2020a,b). Previous studies revealed that napping might reduce fatigue (Brooks and Lack, 2006; Hsouna et al, 2019a) and improve sport (Waterhouse et al, 2007; Blanchfield et al, 2018; Hammouda et al, 2018; Keramidas et al, 2018; O’Donnell et al, 2018; Abdessalem et al, 2019; Boukhris et al, 2019a, 2020a, 2021; Chtourou et al, 2019a; Daaloul et al, 2019; Hsouna et al, 2019a) and cognitive (Verweij et al, 2016; Daaloul et al, 2019; Hsouna et al, 2019a; Boukhris et al, 2020a) performances. Waterhouse et al (2007) examined the effects of a 30-min post-lunch nap in partially sleep-deprived athletes and showed that 20-m sprint performance was improved with napping. A post-lunch nap opportunity has recently been shown as beneficial on physical performance (i.e., jump velocity (O’Donnell et al, 2018), 5-m shuttle run test (Abdessalem et al, 2019; Boukhris et al, 2019a, 2020a, 2021) and 5 jump test (Hsouna et al, 2019a) and attention (Hsouna et al, 2019a; Boukhris et al, 2020a), with better results observed after a 45min nap (Boukhris et al, 2019a; Hsouna et al, 2019a) compared to shorter nap durations
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