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Keywords

Clinical Practice in Athletic Training

Abstract

Introduction: College students are notoriously poor sleepers due to academic and social demands. Collegiate athletes have additional athletic responsibilities that can also affect sleep. During a season, baseball players experience prolonged bouts of high intensity activity that increase the need for recovery and sleep. Athletes can also experience higher perceived stress levels, a factor also known to impact sleep. Reduced sleep quality and quantity during a competitive season can impede recovery and decrease performance. The present study sought to determine the relationships between sleep [Total Sleep Time (TST), Sleep Efficiency (SE), Sleep Onset Latency (SOL), Awakenings] and stress over a fall season. Methods: A sample of 24 division 1 collegiate baseball players (Average age = 20.67± 1.3 years) was used for analyses. Participants completed surveys that included the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS) before and after the 6-week fall baseball season. These scales were used to assess subjective sleep and stress experienced. These scales are valid, reliable and used extensively in the literature. Participants also wore an Oura Ring during the study. Participants only removed the ring for practice and weightlifting. The Oura Ring has acceptable accuracy, sensitivity, and specificity for sleep detection and various sleep parameters. Results: TST in week 1 (7.4±.9 hrs./night) was significantly higher (t= 2.52, df=20, p=.023) than week 6 (7.1±.7 hrs./night). In contrast, there were no significant differences in SE between the beginning and end of the fall season (p = .657). SOL in week 1 (13.5±4.8 minutes) was not significantly different than week 6 (14.4±5 minutes). Awakenings during week 1 (6.02±1.87) were significantly higher (t= 2.07, df=20, p=.026) than week 6 (5.16±2.06). PSQI global totals did not differ from week 1 to 6. PSS scores from week 1 (11±4.8) were significantly higher (t= 1.71, df=15, p=.022) than week 6 (10.3±5.6). No significant correlations existed between objective sleep measures (i.e., TST, SE, SOL) and subjective sleep and stress reports (i.e., PSS, PSQI). Conclusion: Overall participants’ sleep quality was high, with TST and SE at or above the current recommendations. However, TST decreased, and awakenings increased over the course of the 6- week season. Perceived stress before the season was higher than after. Changes in PSS were not associated with changes in any sleep metrics. Athletic Trainers should consider low sleep quantities and high stress levels during competitive seasons. Specifically, ATs should provide education on the importance of sleep and recovery. ATs may also consider altering scheduled treatments, planned team events and team events in their control to allow for more recovery time.

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