Effects of transcranial pulsed current stimulation on sleep quality in Student-Athletes with different types of sleep disorders

To investigate the intervention effects of transcranial pulsed current stimulation (tPCS) on sleep quality in Student-Athlete with different types of sleep disorders. Thirty Student-Athlete with morning-type (MT) sleep disorders and 30 with evening-type (ET) sleep disorders were recruited, aged 18–22 years, including 45 males and 15 females. Participants within each disorder type were equally divided into an experimental group (EXP, n = 15) and a control group (CON, n = 15) using a random number table. All groups received intervention for 28 consecutive days at a fixed time (stimulation intensity: 1.5 mA; duration: 30 min). The EXP received active stimulation, while the CON received sham stimulation. Heart Rate Variability (HRV) parameters and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) scores were collected from all participants before and after the intervention. (1) The ET group had lower baseline PSQI scores and HRV parameters than the MT group. (2) Following the tPCS intervention, the EXP exhibited significant decreases in PSQI (P = 0.007, $$\:{{\upeta\:}}_{p}^{2}$$ = 0.231) scores and Low Frequency (LF) power, along with significant increases in the Root Mean Square of Successive Differences (RMSSD, P < 0.001, $$\:{{\upeta\:}}_{p}^{2}$$ = 0.633), Standard Deviation of NN intervals (SDNN, P < 0.001, $$\:{{\upeta\:}}_{p}^{2}$$ = 0.399), and High Frequency (HF, P < 0.001, $$\:{{\upeta\:}}_{p}^{2}$$ = 0.541) power. These changes were also significantly different compared to the CON (P < 0.05). (3) Post-intervention, the MT experimental group showed greater improvement in PSQI scores, whereas the ET experimental group exhibited a more significant increase in HRV indices. (1) A 4-week tPCS intervention can improve sleep quality and increase parasympathetically-mediated HRV indices in Student-Athlete with sleep disorders. (2) Differential tPCS intervention time windows exist for Student-Athlete with sleep disorders based on their chronotype. (3) tPCS intervention administered between 18:00 and 19:00 yields greater improvement in sleep quality for the MT group compared to the ET group.