The Effects of Sleep on Sport Performance

Sleep is an important life function that impacts many things—especially recovery from sports. Recovery is controlled by chemicals called hormones, which are released by the brain to help the body in various ways. A hormone called melatonin controls sleep and the immune system, helping to keep us healthy. Growth and sex hormones also help recovery and are active during deep sleep. While sleep is important for everyone, it is especially important for athletes, to help them recover from training as well as prepare for future training and competitions. Studies have shown that poor sleep is related to muscle and bone injuries and worse performance of certain movements. Sleep also affects accuracy in sports like darts, tennis, and basketball. Recommendations for sleep differ for younger and older people. Children and adolescents need 8–10 h of sleep, while adults need 7–9 h.