The Effects of Sleep Extension on Sleep, Performance, Immunity and Physical Stress in Rugby Players

(1) Background: The purpose of the present study was to examine the efficacy of sleep extension in professional rugby players. The aims were to: (i) characterise sleep quantity in elite rugby players and determine changes in immune function and stress hormone secretion during a pre-season training programme; (ii) evaluate the efficacy of a sleep extension intervention in improving sleep, markers of physical stress, immune function and performance. (2) Methods: Twenty five highly trained athletes from a professional rugby team (age (mean +/- SD) 25 +/- 2.7 years; height 1.87 +/- 0.07 m; weight 105 +/- 12.1 kg) participated in a six week pre-post control-trial intervention study. Variables of sleep, immune function, sympathetic nervous activity, physiological stress and reaction times were measured. (3) Results: Sleep extension resulted in a moderate improvement in sleep quality scores ([mean; +/- 90% confidence limits] -24.8%; +/- 54.1%) and small to moderate increases in total sleep time (6.3%; +/- 6.3%) and time in bed (7.3%; +/- 3.6%). In addition, a small decrease in cortisol (-18.7%; +/- 26.4%) and mean reaction times (-4.3%; +/- 3.1%) was observed following the intervention, compared to the control. (4) Conclusions: Professional rugby players are at risk of poor sleep during pre-season training, with concomitant rises in physical stress. Implementing a sleep extension programme among professional athletes is recommended to improve sleep, with beneficial changes in stress hormone expression and reaction time performance.