According to new research, athletes who get extra sleep over a long period of time, show great benefit in their mood, performance and ability to stay alert.
The study centers on the male and female swimming team at Stanford University. During the first few weeks of the study, the athletes were advised to keep their current sleep patterns with no changes. After those initial first few weeks, the athletes were placed on an extended sleep pattern of 10 hours per night. The new pattern lasted 6 to 7 weeks.
The athletes having had the increase in sleep showed increased athletic performance. This news was reported at the SLEEP 2008 annual meeting.
Getting down to the specifics of the results, the athletes showed improvement in every aspect of their sport. Their block times decreased by 0.15 seconds and they completed 15 meter sprint swims quicker. Even their turn times were reduced with approximately 5 more kicks added per race.
The results, while focused on the sport of swimming, mirrors the results of other Stanford athletes in various sports. In a previous study, the male basketball team at Stanford showed improved performance with additional sleep. Free throw percentages and sprint times were measured in the study.
When you gather all of the data together on the proverbial table, the results are clear. Athletes who get more sleep over an extended period of time will benefit both on and off the field. Their improvement in athletic performance was bolstered by improvement in mood and alertness as well.
