How Sleep Helps Athletes
Exploring the physiological mechanisms of sleep’s influence on athletic performance and recovery: a narrative review
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Sleep helps athletes recover and play better. Deep sleep helps the body fix itself after hard training. Not getting enough sleep hurts thinking-heavy sports more. Taking naps helps athletes feel less tired and do better. Sleeping more at night also helps, but scientists have studied this less.
Surprising Findings
Sleep extension has positive effects but is less studied than napping, despite its broad benefits.
Most people assume naps are the go-to recovery tool, but extending nighttime sleep may offer wider benefits—even though scientists have focused less on it.
Practical Takeaways
Prioritize deep sleep after intense training days by maintaining consistent sleep schedules and minimizing disruptions.
Not medical advice. For informational purposes only. Always consult a healthcare professional. Terms
Sleep helps athletes recover and play better. Deep sleep helps the body fix itself after hard training. Not getting enough sleep hurts thinking-heavy sports more. Taking naps helps athletes feel less tired and do better. Sleeping more at night also helps, but scientists have studied this less.
Surprising Findings
Sleep extension has positive effects but is less studied than napping, despite its broad benefits.
Most people assume naps are the go-to recovery tool, but extending nighttime sleep may offer wider benefits—even though scientists have focused less on it.
Practical Takeaways
Prioritize deep sleep after intense training days by maintaining consistent sleep schedules and minimizing disruptions.
Publication
Journal
Sleep and Breathing
Year
2025
Authors
João Barreira, Elisa A. Marques, F. Nakamura, J. Brito, Pedro Figueiredo
Related Content
Claims (4)
Taking naps can help athletes feel less tired and more alert, and might boost both their physical and mental performance—making it a handy way to make up for lost sleep at night.
Not getting enough sleep can hurt athletic performance, especially for sports that need quick thinking or precise moves—like tennis or basketball—more than for sports that are mostly about strength or speed, like sprinting.
When athletes train harder, their deep sleep increases, which helps their body recover and adapt by boosting growth hormone and handling stress from workouts.
Getting more sleep might help athletes think faster, move better, and improve their game skills — but scientists haven’t studied this as much as things like power naps.