Abstract
Sleep is a restorative circadian process underpinned by numerous interrelated biological processes (Brown et al., 2012; Goel et al., 2013; Zeitzer, 2013; Vyazovskiy and Delogu, 2014). Specifically, biological rhythms in core temperature, blood pressure, immune function as well as melatonin, and other hormones demonstrate an intricate relationship with sleep (Zisapel, 2007). Therefore, whilst sufficient sleep [7–9 h is recommended by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) for adults (Hirshkowitz et al., 2015)] facilitates an optimal internal temporal order, an increased risk of poor quality of life, morbidity, and mortality (Zisapel, 2007) are seen with insufficient sleep (<6 h is not recommended by the NSF for adults), which is currently a concern in both the general population and athletes (Halson, 2015).
Highlights
Specialty section: This article was submitted to Exercise Physiology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Physiology
Whilst sufficient sleep [7–9 h is recommended by the National Sleep Foundation (NSF) for adults (Hirshkowitz et al, 2015)] facilitates an optimal internal temporal order, an increased risk of poor quality of life, morbidity, and mortality (Zisapel, 2007) are seen with insufficient sleep (
Of further concern is recent anecdotal evidence suggesting that sleep medication overreliance/abuse is frequent in elite athletes, including off-prescription non-physician approved use and/or physician prescribed approved use. This opinion article seeks to discuss specific future research directions related to the sleep medication that practitioners and athletes are currently utilizing, how the current literature lacks external validity for sport medicine/science practitioners
Summary
Specialty section: This article was submitted to Exercise Physiology, a section of the journal Frontiers in Physiology. Much of the data has limited external validity to practice for a multitude of reasons, including the participant population (e.g., insomniacs, Buscemi et al, 2007; Vandermeer et al, 2007; Sullivan, 2012; Zisapel, 2012; Riemann et al, 2015; rather than healthy individuals and/or athletes) and outcome measures used (i.e., lack of familiarization, no placebo, and/or true control condition and lack of sport specific performance tests).
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