Getting Extra Sleep Improves Fitness & Athletic Performance

According to a new Stanford University study, getting extra sleep could improve your fitness and athletic performance.

In the study, researchers first had swimmers continue with their regular sleep patterns of five to seven hours of sleep per night for two weeks. Then, they were asked to extend their sleeping hours to ten hours per night for six weeks.

Testing the swimmers researchers found that they swam a 15m sprint and average of 0.5 seconds faster, as well as displaying quicker reactions and turning times.

Dr. Cheri Mah of the Stanford Sleep Disorders Clinic led the study, and said:

‘Our results show what a significant factor sleep is in enhancing athletic performance. Many athletes accumulate a large sleep debt which can have detrimental effects on cognitive function, mood and reactions.’

‘Many of our participants have set multiple new personal records while participating in this study.’

Researchers have found similar results when runners, tennis players, and basketball players were subjected to varying amounts of sleep.

Mah advises those who regularly work out to get at least seven to eight hours of sleep a night, and to keep a regular sleep-wake cycle, meaning going to bed and waking up at the same time each day.