Physical Performance of Healthy Men Exposed to Long Exercise and Sleep Deprivation

Abstract Introduction: There are only few data on influence of combined effects of long lasting exercise and sleep deprivation on physical performance. Objective: To evaluate the influence of 36 hours of sleep deprivation combined with 20 hours of intermittent exercise on selected physiological and psychomotor indices. Methods: Eleven participants of survival camp exercised without sleep and were examined three times (C – before effort, M – after 24 hours, E – after 36 hours) for submaximal heart rate, multiple choice reaction time (MCRT), motion coordination, handgrip force differentiation and shooting accuracy. Results: There were no significant differences in MCRT throughout the whole experiment. Heart rate showed significant decrease between C and M (P < 0.004) and C and E (P < 0.037) trials. Shooting was performed only twice and was significantly less accurate in E than in C (6.71±0.42 vs. 7.71±0.31 respectively, P < 0.001). Handgrip force differentiation was not different between the measurements (C – 6.2±1.8%, M – 5.3±0.9%, E – 4.1±0.9%). Number of mistakes in rotational test increased significantly from session C to M (4.95±0.59 vs. 6.76±0.70; P < 0.001) and C to E (4.95±0.59 vs. 6.90±0.90; P < 0.01). Conclusions: One sleepless night combined with the long lasting exercise caused decrease in heart rate, shooting performance and motion coordination, however it did not affect psychomotor performance and handgrip sensitivity. Such data can be a result of adaptation to adrenergic stimulation unevenly alters phenomena linked with central and peripheral fatigue