Relationship between sleep quality and early manifestations of physical overtraining syndrome in Colombian soccer players

Introduction: Overtraining syndrome constitutes a clinical-sports condition manifested by a decrease in sports performance, with adverse effects on the physical, psychological, and emotional health of the athlete. Its likely etiology is linked to an imbalance between training loads, recovery periods, and sleep quality; the latter emerges as a crucial psychosocial element to assess this syndrome. Objective: To determine the relationship between sleep quality and early manifestations of physical overtraining syndrome in a Colombian professional team. Materials and Methods: A descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted involving male soccer players in Colombia. The manifestations of overtraining syndrome were measured using the French Society of Sports Medicine Questionnaire (SMFS), and sleep quality was assessed through the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). Statistical analysis was performed using the R software. Results: A total of 83 players were evaluated, with an average age of 19 +/- 4.2 years. The distribution by categories was as follows: professional (30.1%), Sub-20 (38.5%), and Sub-17 (31.3%). Poor sleep quality was observed in 67.47% of participants, and it was highlighted that 21% (n=17/83) of athletes exhibited early manifestations of overtraining syndrome. Conclusions: It is evident that alterations in the quality, latency, duration, and efficiency of the sleep pattern in male professional soccer players of various categories are associated with the presence of early manifestations of overtraining syndrome.