Extreme sleep fragmentation for 11 consecutive days and nights does not significantly alter total sleep time, and sleep stage distribution, during the continuous  alpine downhill skiing world record

Mirco Gindulis; Nikolaus Netzer; Martin Burtscher; Hannes Gatterer; Christian Schmidt; Audry Morrison; Thomas Küpper

doi:10.5604/01.3001.0015.6743

Authors

Mirco Gindulis Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany
Nikolaus C. Netzer Hermann Buhl Institute for Hypoxia and Sleep Medicine Research, Department of Sports Science, Faculty of Psychology and Sport Science, Leopold Franzens University, Innsbruck, Austria https://orcid.org/0000-0001-7534-3575
Martin Burtscher Department of Sports Science, Faculty of Psychology and Sport Science, Leopold Franzens University, Innsbruck, Austria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5232-3632
Hannes Gatterer Department of Sports Science, Faculty of Psychology and Sport Science, Leopold Franzens University, Innsbruck, Austria https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5084-2930
Christian K.M. Schmidt Department of Gynecology and Obstetics, Klinikum Landsberg am Lech, Landsberg, Germany
Audry Morrison Royal Free London NHS Foundation Trust, London, United Kingdom; Medical Commission of the Union Internationale des Associations d’Alpinisme (UIAA MedCom), Bern, Switzerland
Thomas EAH Küpper Institute of Occupational and Social Medicine, RWTH Aachen University, Aachen, Germany; Medical Commission of the Union Internationale des Associations d’Alpinisme (UIAA MedCom), Bern, Switzerland

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.5604/01.3001.0015.6743

Keywords:

continuous exercise, recovery, resilience, sport, sleep stages, sleep deprivation, sleep fragmentation, expeditions

Abstract

Introduction: Extreme levels of sleep deprivation, fragmentation and management, are major problems in many sportive disciplines, ultramarathons, polar or extreme altitude expeditions, and in space operations.
Material and methods: Polysomnographic (PSG) data was continuously recorded (total sleep time and sleep stage distribution) in a 34-year-old male whilst performing the new world record in long-term downhill skiing. He napped only during the short ski lift rides for 11 days and nights.
Results: After an initial period of complete sleep deprivation for 24 hours, total sleep time and the total times of non-REM and REM achieved during the lift rides returned to standard values on the second day. PSG data revealed an average sleep time per 24 hours of 6 hours and 6 minutes. During daylight sleep was rarely registered. The subject experienced only two minor falls without injury and immediately resumed skiing.
Conclusion: In a healthy, trained, elite male athlete, sleep fragmentation over 11 consecutive days did not significantly impair the sleep, motor or cognitive skills required to perform a continuous downhill skiing world record after an initial adaptation phase

Downloads

Download data is not yet available.

References

Filardi M, Morini S, Plazzi G. Pre-race sleep management strategy and chronotype of offshore solo sailors. Nat Sci Sleep. 2020;12:263-269. doi: 10.2147/NSS.S241162. Google Scholar

Thomas MJW, Paterson JL, Jay M, Matthews RW, Ferguson SA. More than hours of work: Fatigue management during high-intensity maritime operations. Chronobiol Int. 2019;36(1):143-149. doi: 10.1080/07420528.2018.1519571. Google Scholar

Jaipurkar R, Mahapatra SS, Bobdey S, Banerji C. Work-rest pattern, alertness and performance assessment among naval personnel deployed at sea: A cross sectional study. Med J Armed Forces India. 2019;75(2):158-163. doi: 10.1016/j.mjafi.2018.01.005. Google Scholar

Pattyn N, Mairesse O, Cortoos A, Marcoen N, Neyt X, Meeusen R. Sleep during an Antarctic summer expedition: New light on “polar insomnia”. J Appl Physiol (1985). 2017;122(4):788-794. doi: 10.1152/japplphysiol.00606.2016. Google Scholar

Galvani C, Ardigò LP, Alberti M, Daniele F, Capelli C. Physical activity, sleep pattern and energy expenditure in double-handed offshore sailing. J Sports Med Phys Fitness. 2015;55(12):1480-1488. Google Scholar

Hurdiel R, van Dongen HPA, Aron C, McCauley P, Jacolot L, Theunynck D. Sleep restriction and degraded reaction-time performance in Figaro solo sailing races. J Sports Sci. 2014;32(2):172-174. doi: 10.1080/02640414.2013.815359. Google Scholar

Buguet A, Cespuglio R, Radomski MW. Sleep and stress in man: An approach through exercise and exposure to extreme environments. Can J Physiol Pharmacol. 1998;76(5):553-561. doi: 10.1139/cjpp-76-5-553. Google Scholar

Walsh NP, et al. Sleep and the athlete: Narrative review and 2021 expert concensus recommendations. Br J Sports Med. 2021;55:356-368. Google Scholar

Walsh NP, et al. Sleep and the athlete: narrative review and 2021 expert consensus recommendations. Br J Sports Med. 2020. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-102025. Google Scholar

Durmer JS. Dinges DF. Neurocognitive consequences of sleep deprivation. Semin Neurol. 2005;25(1):117-129. doi: 10.1055/s-2005-867080. Google Scholar

Gupta L, Morgan K, Gilchrist S. Does elite sport degrade sleep quality? A systematic review. Sports Med. 2017;47(7):1317-1333. doi: 10.1007/s40279-016-0650-6. Google Scholar

Palinkas LA. Suedfeld P. Psychological effects of polar expeditions. Lancet. 2008;371(9607):153-163. doi: 10.1016/S0140-6736(07)61056-3. Google Scholar

Andersen JH, Boesen HC, Skovgaard Olsen K. Sleep in the Intensive Care Unit measured by polysomnography. Minerva Anestesiol. 2013;79(7):804-815. Google Scholar

Anholm JD, et al. Operation Everest II: Arterial oxygen saturation and sleep at extreme simulated altitude. Am Rev Respir Dis. 1992;145(4 Pt 1):817-826. doi: 10.1164/ajrccm/145.4_Pt_1.817. Google Scholar

Netzer NC. Strohl KP. Sleep and breathing in recreational climbers at an altitude of 4200 and 6400 meters: Observational study of sleep and patterning of respiration during sleep in a group of recreational climbers. Sleep Breath. 19993;(3):75-82. doi: 10.1007/s11325-999-0075-7. Google Scholar

Doppelmayr MM, Finkernagel H, Doppelmayr HI. Changes in cognitive performance during a 216 kilometer, extreme endurance footrace: A descriptive and prospective study. Percept Mot Skills. 2005;100(2):473-487. doi: 10.2466/pms.100.2.473-487. Google Scholar

Edinger JD, Marsh GR, McCall WV, Erwin CW, Lininger AW. Daytime functioning and nighttime sleep before, during, and after a 146-hour tennis match. Sleep. 1990;13(6):526-532. doi: 10.1093/sleep/13.6.526. Google Scholar

Léger D, Elbaz M, Raffray T, Metlaine A, Bayon V, Duforez F. Sleep management and the performance of eight sailors in the Tour de France à la voile yacht race. J Sports Sci. 2008;26(1):21-28. doi: 10.1080/02640410701348636. Google Scholar

Moser D, et al. Sleep classification according to AASM and Rechtschaffen & Kales: Effects on sleep scoring parameters. Sleep. 2009;32(2):139-149. doi: 10.1093/sleep/32.2.139. Google Scholar

Berry RB, et al. Rules for scoring respiratory events in sleep: update of the 2007 AASM Manual for the Scoring of Sleep and Associated Events. Deliberations of the Sleep Apnea Definitions Task Force of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine. J Clin Sleep Med. 2012;8(5):597-619. doi: 10.5664/jcsm.2172. Google Scholar

Ruehland WR, et al. The 2007 AASM recommendations for EEG electrode placement in polysomnography: Impact on sleep and cortical arousal scoring. Sleep. 2011;34(1):73-81. doi: 10.1093/sleep/34.1.73. Google Scholar

Heinrich J, Spießhöfer J, Bitter T, Horstkotte D, Oldenburg O. Implications of revised AASM rules on scoring apneic and hypopneic respiratory events in patients with heart failure with nocturnal Cheyne-Stokes respiration. Sleep Breath. 2015;19(2):489-494. doi: 10.1007/s11325-014-1014-9. Google Scholar

Laharnar N, et al. A sleep intervention study comparing effects of sleep restriction and fragmentation on sleep and vigilance and the need for recovery. Physiol Behav. 2020;215:112794. doi: 10.1016/j.physbeh.2019.112794. Google Scholar

Wu H, et al. Effects of different sleep restriction protocols on sleep architecture and daytime vigilance in healthy men. Physiol Res. 2010;59(5):821-829. doi: 10.33549/physiolres.931895. Google Scholar

Ohayon MM, Carskadon MA, Guilleminault C, Vitiello MV. Meta-analysis of quantitative sleep parameters from childhood to old age in healthy individuals: developing normative sleep values across the human lifespan. Sleep. 2004;27(7):1255-1273. doi: 10.1093/sleep/27.7.1255. Google Scholar

Blanchfield AW, Lewis-Jones TM, Wignall JR, Roberts JB, Oliver SJ. The influence of an afternoon nap on the endurance performance of trained runners. Eur J Sport Sci. 2018;18(9):1177-1184. doi: 10.1080/17461391.2018.1477180. Google Scholar

Milner CE. Cote KA. Benefits of napping in healthy adults: Impact of nap length, time of day, age, and experience with napping. J Sleep Res. 2009;18(2):272-281. doi: 10.1111/j.1365-2869.2008.00718.x. Google Scholar

O’Donnell S, Beaven CM, Driller M. The influence of match-day napping in elite female netball athletes. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2018;13(9):1143-1148. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2017-0793. Google Scholar

Küpper T, et al. Occupational aspects of work in hypoxic conditions – the new recommendation of the Medical Commission of the Union Internationale des Associations d’alpinisme (UIAA MedCom). Med Sport. 2010;14(1):34-39. Google Scholar

Küpper T, Gieseler U, Angelini C, Hillebrandt D, Milledge J. Consensus Statement of the UIAA Medical Commission. Vol. 2: Emergency Field Management of Acute Mountain Sickness, High Altitude Pulmonary Oedema, and High Altitude Cerebral Oedema. 2012 [cited 2021]. Available from: https://www.theuiaa.org/documents/mountainmedicine/English_UIAA_MedCom_Rec_No_2_AMS_HAPE_HACE_2012_V3-2.pdf. Google Scholar