Sleep Hygiene Strategies Among Track and Field Athletes

NCT07083544 | Completed

• 1 other identifier: SHS&FIDAL
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 66
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

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.

Conditions

Sleep; Athlete

Keywords

Sleep; Athletes; Actigraphy; Track and field; Sleep hygiene

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (7)

• Total sleep time

  This variable is objectively obtained by actigraphy. The total sleep time is the total amount of time a person actually spends sleeping during the night.

  Ten days before the administration of SHS (T0), and ten days of intervention period (T1, after the administration of SHS).

• Sleep Latency

  This variable is objectively obtained by actigraphy. The amount of time it takes to fall asleep after going to bed.

  Ten days before the administration of SHS (T0), and ten days of intervention period (T1, after the administration of SHS).

• Sleep Efficiency

  This variable is objectively obtained by actigraphy. The percentage of time spent asleep while in bed, calculated as TST divided by time in bed.

  Ten days before the administration of SHS (T0), and ten days of intervention period (T1, after the administration of SHS).

• Wake after sleep onset

  This variable is objectively obtained by actigraphy. The total duration of wakefulness occurring after initial sleep onset.

  Ten days before the administration of SHS (T0), and ten days of intervention period (T1, after the administration of SHS).

• Bedtime

  This variable is objectively obtained by actigraphy. The time a person gets into bed with the intention of going to sleep.

  Ten days before the administration of SHS (T0), and ten days of intervention period (T1, after the administration of SHS).

• Wake up time

  This variable is objectively obtained by actigraphy. The time a person finally gets out of bed to start their day.

  Ten days before the administration of SHS (T0), and ten days of intervention period (T1, after the administration of SHS).

• Sleep regularity index

  This variable is objectively obtained by actigraphy. A measure of how consistent sleep and wake times are from day to day.

  Ten days before the administration of SHS (T0), and ten days of intervention period (T1, after the administration of SHS).

Secondary Outcomes (3)

• Number of training

  Ten days before the administration of SHS (T0), and ten days of intervention period (T1, after the administration of SHS).

• Weekly Training Hours

  Ten days before the administration of SHS (T0), and ten days of intervention period (T1, after the administration of SHS).

• Training load

  Ten days before the administration of SHS (T0), and ten days of intervention period (T1, after the administration of SHS).

Study Arms (3)

CON

NO INTERVENTION

Partecipants do not received sleep hygiene in the second timepoint

W-SHS

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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

Behavioral: Written Sleep Hygiene Strategies (W-SHS)

V-SHS

ACTIVE COMPARATOR

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

Behavioral: Verbal Sleep Hygiene Strategies (V-SHS)

Interventions

Written Sleep Hygiene Strategies (W-SHS) BEHAVIORAL

Participants assigned to the W-SHS group received a printed handout containing general sleep hygiene strategies. These strategies were designed to improve sleep quality and included recommendations on maintaining a consistent sleep-wake schedule, minimizing light exposure before bedtime, avoiding screens and heavy meals in the evening, optimizing the sleep environment (e.g., room temperature, noise), and managing nap timing. Participants were instructed to apply these strategies consistently for 10 consecutive days. No individual guidance was provided.

W-SHS

Verbal Sleep Hygiene Strategies (V-SHS) BEHAVIORAL

Participants in the V-SHS group received the same general sleep hygiene strategies as the W-SHS group, but delivered through a one-on-one verbal education session. A trained researcher in sleep and sport science conducted a 40-minute session with each athlete, explaining each strategy and offering personalized clarifications and suggestions. Participants were then instructed to implement these strategies over a 10-day period.

V-SHS

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 18 Years - 40 Years
• Sex: all
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• 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.

You may not qualify if:

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

Sponsors & Collaborators

• University of Milan: lead

Study Sites (1)

Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health | Università degli Studi di Milano

Milan, Italy

Location

Related Publications (3)

• Sargent C, Lastella M, Halson SL, Roach GD. How Much Sleep Does an Elite Athlete Need? Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2021 Dec 1;16(12):1746-1757. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2020-0896. Epub 2021 May 21.

  PMID: 34021090 BACKGROUND

• Walsh NP, Halson SL, Sargent C, Roach GD, Nedelec M, Gupta L, Leeder J, Fullagar HH, Coutts AJ, Edwards BJ, Pullinger SA, Robertson CM, Burniston JG, Lastella M, Le Meur Y, Hausswirth C, Bender AM, Grandner MA, Samuels CH. Sleep and the athlete: narrative review and 2021 expert consensus recommendations. Br J Sports Med. 2020 Nov 3:bjsports-2020-102025. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-102025. Online ahead of print.

  PMID: 33144349 BACKGROUND

• Vitale JA, Borghi S, Piacentini MF, Banfi G, La Torre A. To Sleep Dreaming Medals: Sleep Characteristics, Napping Behavior, and Sleep-Hygiene Strategies in Elite Track-and-Field Athletes Facing the Olympic Games of Tokyo 2021. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2023 Sep 20;18(12):1412-1419. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2023-0144. Print 2023 Dec 1.

  PMID: 37730209 BACKGROUND

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sleep Hygiene

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Health Behavior; Behavior

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: TREATMENT
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: PRINCIPAL INVESTIGATOR
• PI Title: Professor

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: July 7, 2025
• First Posted: July 24, 2025
• Study Start: September 1, 2023
• Primary Completion: September 30, 2024
• Study Completion: October 17, 2024
• Last Updated: July 24, 2025

Record last verified: 2025-06

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

IT (1)