Athletic Performance Linked to Sleep
Individuals who receive at least eight hours of sleep are more likely to have improved accuracy and increased stamina.
The amount of sleep an athlete receives directly affects his or her performance.
This is the conclusion of a recent study done on amateur athletes.
A Stanford University research project, done with the varsity men's basketball team, found that players who slept at least ten hours a night could increase their shooting accuracy by 9 per cent.
The study was done over the course of six weeks.
The results showed that sleep was as important as physical training and diet.
Cheir Mah, a lead researcher at the Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic and Research Laboratory, conducted the study.
During the program, the athletes were encouraged to get as much sleep as possible.
Their performance was graded on sprint time and free-throw shooting percentage.
The report found that beyond improvements in these two measurable disciplines, the athletes also showed an improvement in mood, reaction time and a decreased level of fatigue.
Mah also conducted a study in 2009 with the woman's tennis team with similar results.
The research shows that sleep is directly tied to an athlete's ability to reach their peak performance level.
Mah's focus on amateur sport is interesting for many reasons.
Her subjects were all university students, who were attending classes at the same time.
Post-secondary students often fail in their attempts to secure a full eight hours of rest due to their study schedules.
When forced to make the time for sleep, the benefits were apparent both on a physical and a cognitive level.
With increased focus, the participants could perform at a higher level on and off the court.
In the professional arena, the importance of sleep is also changing how athletes train.
The Vancouver Canucks have a sleep doctor to monitor the players sleep patterns.
In the NBA, three teams have cancelled morning practices altogether: the Boston Celtics, the Portland Trailblazers and the San Antonio Spurs.
These teams would rather have their players rested than working on their inside game at 8:00 am.
But a guaranteed sleep is not always as easy as going to bed early and waking up later.
The mattress you sleep on plays a considerable role in your sleep potential.
Improving your sleep should be the first step you take in your move towards peak performance.
Before the gym, hit the mattress.
The amount of sleep an athlete receives directly affects his or her performance.
This is the conclusion of a recent study done on amateur athletes.
A Stanford University research project, done with the varsity men's basketball team, found that players who slept at least ten hours a night could increase their shooting accuracy by 9 per cent.
The study was done over the course of six weeks.
The results showed that sleep was as important as physical training and diet.
Cheir Mah, a lead researcher at the Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic and Research Laboratory, conducted the study.
During the program, the athletes were encouraged to get as much sleep as possible.
Their performance was graded on sprint time and free-throw shooting percentage.
The report found that beyond improvements in these two measurable disciplines, the athletes also showed an improvement in mood, reaction time and a decreased level of fatigue.
Mah also conducted a study in 2009 with the woman's tennis team with similar results.
The research shows that sleep is directly tied to an athlete's ability to reach their peak performance level.
Mah's focus on amateur sport is interesting for many reasons.
Her subjects were all university students, who were attending classes at the same time.
Post-secondary students often fail in their attempts to secure a full eight hours of rest due to their study schedules.
When forced to make the time for sleep, the benefits were apparent both on a physical and a cognitive level.
With increased focus, the participants could perform at a higher level on and off the court.
In the professional arena, the importance of sleep is also changing how athletes train.
The Vancouver Canucks have a sleep doctor to monitor the players sleep patterns.
In the NBA, three teams have cancelled morning practices altogether: the Boston Celtics, the Portland Trailblazers and the San Antonio Spurs.
These teams would rather have their players rested than working on their inside game at 8:00 am.
But a guaranteed sleep is not always as easy as going to bed early and waking up later.
The mattress you sleep on plays a considerable role in your sleep potential.
Improving your sleep should be the first step you take in your move towards peak performance.
Before the gym, hit the mattress.
