Sleep Hygiene Strategies Among Track and Field Athletes

University of Milan

Status: Completed

Conditions: Athlete; Sleep

Treatments: Behavioral: Written Sleep Hygiene Strategies (W-SHS); Behavioral: Verbal Sleep Hygiene Strategies (V-SHS)

Study type: Interventional

Funder types: Other

Identifiers

NCT07083544

SHS&FIDAL

Details and patient eligibility

About

This study aims to evaluate whether different ways of delivering sleep hygiene strategies (SHS)-written materials versus one-on-one verbal instruction-affect sleep behaviors in track and field athletes. Sleep is essential for athletic recovery and performance, yet many athletes struggle to get enough rest due to both lifestyle and sport-related factors.

Sixty-six athletes were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a control group with no intervention, a group receiving SHS in written form, and a group receiving SHS through a personalized verbal session with a sleep specialist. The intervention lasted 10 consecutive days, and the same strategies were shared with both intervention groups. These strategies included advice on bedtime consistency, reducing screen use before sleep, improving sleep environment, and managing naps.

To monitor changes, participants wore an actigraphy device and completed sleep and training diaries during a 10-day baseline period (before SHS) and again during the 10-day intervention period. Researchers assessed objective sleep parameters like total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and sleep latency, as well as subjective habits using the Sleep Hygiene Index questionnaire.

Full description

Sleep is vital for athletes, supporting both physical recovery and mental performance. Despite this, many athletes sleep less than recommended due to demanding training schedules, competition stress, travel, and lifestyle factors. Poor sleep impairs recovery, increases injury risk, and reduces athletic performance. One way to address this issue is through Sleep Hygiene Strategies (SHS)-a set of behavioral recommendations that help improve sleep quality and duration.

This randomized controlled trial aims to explore whether the way SHS are delivered-either through written instructions or via verbal education-affects athletes' sleep behaviors and outcomes. The study involves 66 track and field athletes, both male and female, aged 18-40, who train actively at least 2.5 hours per week. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) a control group with no intervention, (2) a group that receives SHS in a written format, or (3) a group that receives SHS via a 40-minute one-on-one verbal session with a trained sleep and sports science professional. The SHS are general and evidence-informed, focusing on optimizing bedtime routines, limiting electronic use before sleep, adjusting environmental factors like noise and temperature, and managing naps effectively.

Each participant has to complete a 10-day baseline sleep monitoring period and a 10-day intervention monitoring period. Sleep is measured using actigraphy (a wrist-worn movement sensor) and self-reported sleep diaries. Additional tools included a training diary and the Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI), a questionnaire is use to assess sleep-related habits.

Enrollment: 66 patients

Sex: All

Ages: 18 to 40 years old

Volunteers: Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Inclusion criteria

• male or female
• age between 18 and 40 years,
• FIDAL athletes,
• training for any track and field discipline for three or more times per week and over 2.5 hours of training/week.

Exclusion criteria

• any medical condition influencing sleep and the frequency of training in the month preceding the study,
• training or sleeping in altitude

Trial design

Primary purpose: Treatment

Allocation: Randomized

Interventional model: Parallel Assignment

Masking: None (Open label)

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66 participants in 3 patient groups

CON

No Intervention group

Description:

Partecipants do not received sleep hygiene in the second timepoint

W-SHS

Active Comparator group

Description:

An intervention group following 10 consecutive days of sleep hygiene strategies administered in a written format

Treatment:

Behavioral: Written Sleep Hygiene Strategies (W-SHS)

V-SHS

Active Comparator group

Description:

An intervention group following 10 consecutive days of sleep hygiene strategies administered in a verbal format throught an educational session

Treatment:

Behavioral: Verbal Sleep Hygiene Strategies (V-SHS)