90-min naps improve performance in professional football players ⚽️💤
Another good reason for an afternoon nap.
Effects of a 90-Min Nap on Time-Motion Metrics and Psychophysiological Responses During Small-Sided Games in Professional Soccer Players
Study Details
This new study recruited 15 professional male football players to complete two small sided games after either…
❌ No nap
😴 90-min nap
Napping / no nap interventions took place at 14:00 prior to games commencing at 17:15 ⏰
Mood states, wellness and cognitive performance were also assessed before and after each game 🔍
Key Findings
Compared to the no nap condition, the 90-min nap led to significantly…
📍 Greater total distance covered
🫀 Lower pre-session resting HR
🫀 Reduced relative exercise HR
🧠 Lower post-session RPE
⚡️ Enhanced cognitive performance
😃 Improved mood
📝 Greater wellness scores
Conclusion
90-min naps (~2 hr prior to exercise) are a practical ergogenic strategy to improve physical and cognitive performance in addition to improving aspects of recovery status ✅
Reference
https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/41489977/
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