Menu

HomeHow it worksContact UsContact Us

Association of sleep efficiency with cardiac autonomic modulation in young and professional soccer players during pre-season.

Oliveira NG, Abreu LMS, Ribeiro FB, Silva BFA, Monteiro TNF, Correia MB et al. · Sleep & breathing = Schlaf & Atmung · 2026

This study examined whether sleep quality was linked to heart rate variability (a measure of how well your nervous system recovers) in 53 soccer players aged 15 to professional level during pre-season training. Professional players showed better aerobic fitness, and the study found that sleep efficiency was positively associated with cardiac autonomic modulation and aerobic performance across all competitive levels.
Takeaway: Monitor your sleep quality alongside heart rate variability as complementary tools to assess your recovery and performance during training phases.
Abstract (source)

Objective: This study investigated the association between sleep efficiency and cardiac autonomic modulation in young and professional soccer players during pre-season.

Methods: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted with 53 male soccer players divided into three categories: U-15 (n = 12), U-17 (n = 15), and professionals (n = 26). Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), cardiac autonomic modulation via heart rate variability (HRV) recorded by a 10-lead electrocardiograph and analyzed with Kubios HRV 2.0, and cardiorespiratory capacity estimated through the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test. Body composition was assessed by tetrapolar electrical bioimpedance. Statistical analyses included one-way ANOVA, Welch's ANOVA, chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, Pearson correlation, and simple linear regression, with

Significance: set at p

Results: Professional athletes demonstrated significantly higher VO₂max (50.5 ± 4.56 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹; p

Conclusion: Sleep efficiency is positively associated with cardiac autonomic modulation and aerobic performance in soccer players. While the superior physiological profile of professionals reflects a synergy between training adaptations and biological maturation, HRV and PSQI constitute complementary monitoring tools for integrated athlete assessment across competitive categories.

Primary studyOpen accessRecovery & Sleep
Read the original →

Related in Recovery & Sleep

Short-term creatine supplementation enhances strength, reduces fatigue, and accelerates recovery in resistance-trained athletes: a double-blind, randomized, crossover trialSleep and Athletic Performance: A Multidimensional Review of Physiological and Molecular MechanismsEffects of sleep deprivation on sports performance and perceived exertion in athletes and non-athletes: a systematic review and meta-analysisInter-Set Blood-Flow Restriction Increases Peripheral Physiological Stress While Preserving Repeated-Sprint Mechanical Output in Trained Athletes.Impact of Combined Core Strength, Balance and Visual Skill Training on Selected Skill-Related Physical Fitness and Performance Variables of School-Level Badminton Players in Tirupathur District: A Quasi-Experimental StudyA Biopsychosocial Model of Athlete Performance: Integrating Psychological Skills, Coaching Competence, Nutritional Readiness and Well-Being Among Nigerian University Athletes