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. 2022 Feb 9:13:811435.
doi: 10.3389/fphys.2022.811435. eCollection 2022.

Longer Nap Duration During Ramadan Observance Positively Impacts 5-m Shuttle Run Test Performance Performed in the Afternoon

Omar Boukhris  1   2 , David W Hill  3 , Achraf Ammar  4   5   6 , Khaled Trabelsi  2   7 , Hsen Hsouna  1   2 , Raouf Abdessalem  1   2 , Nourhen Mezghanni  8 , Nizar Souissi  1 , Nicola Luigi Bragazzi  9   10   11 , Karim Chamari  12 , Hamdi Chtourou  1   2
Affiliations

Longer Nap Duration During Ramadan Observance Positively Impacts 5-m Shuttle Run Test Performance Performed in the Afternoon

Omar Boukhris et al. Front Physiol. .

Abstract

It is well-documented that changes in the rhythm of life during Ramadan affect sleep schedules (i.e., interruption of night sleep patterns) and are likely to have negative effects on physical and cognitive performances. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of different naps opportunities' durations during Ramadan on performance of short-duration repetitive maximal exercise and perception of effort. Fifteen physically active men (age: 21 ± 3 years, height: 177 ± 6 cm, body-mass: 73 ± 10 kg) performed a 6 × 30-s shuttle run test after a 25-min nap (N25), a 45-min nap (N45), and in a no-nap condition (NN) during three experimental periods: ∼2 weeks before Ramadan (BR), the last ten days of Ramadan (ER), and ∼3 weeks after Ramadan (AR). During the shuttle run test performed in the late afternoon, the greatest distance (GD), the total distance (TD) and a fatigue index (FI) were assessed. Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) was determined after each 30-s effort. Dietary intake and sleep quality were assessed in each of the three periods. Compared to BR, GD and TD were lower in the ER testing period (p = 0.005; d = 0.54) but returned to BR levels in the AR period. During ER, carbohydrate intake was lower (p = 0.04; d = 0.2), and sleep duration and sleep quality were reduced (d = 0.27 and 0.54, respectively), although other aspects of dietary intake and sleep pattern were not affected. Compared to NN, GD and TD were higher after N25 (d = 0.57 and 0.34, respectively) and N45 (d = 0.93 and 0.88 respectively). RPE was lower in N45 (p = 0.035, d = 0.84). N45 resulted in higher TD (p = 0.021, d = 0.13) and lower RPE (p = 0.004; d = 0.57) compared to N25 during ER. Taking a daytime nap benefits subsequent performance in a shuttle run test, whether sleep the previous night was normal (as in BR) or compromised (as in ER). The benefits of napping were greater after a 45-min nap opportunity than after a 25-min nap opportunity.

Keywords: Ramadan; nap; perceived exertion; physical performance; sleep.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare that the research was conducted in the absence of any commercial or financial relationships that could be construed as a potential conflict of interest. The reviewer OH declared a shared affiliation with one of the authors AA to the handling editor at the time of review.

Figures

FIGURE 1
FIGURE 1
Schematic representation of the experimental protocol. RPE: rating of perceived exertion; BR: ∼2 weeks before Ramadan; ER: last ten days of Ramadan; AR: ∼3 weeks after Ramadan; N25: 25-min nap condition; N45: 45-min nap condition; NN: no nap condition.
FIGURE 2
FIGURE 2
Greatest distance (GD) recorded during the 5-m shuttle run test in the no-nap condition (NN), the 25-min nap condition (N25), and the 45-min nap condition (N45), before (BR), during (ER), and after (AR) Ramadan. *: Significant difference in comparison with NN; $: Significant difference in comparison with ER.
FIGURE 3
FIGURE 3
Total distance (TD) recorded during the 5-m shuttle run test in the no-nap condition (NN), the 25-min nap condition (N25), and the 45-min nap condition (N45), before (BR), during (ER), and after (AR) Ramadan. *: Significant difference in comparison with NN; #: Significant difference in comparison with N25; $: Significant difference in comparison with ER.
FIGURE 4
FIGURE 4
Fatigue index (FI) recorded during the 5-m shuttle run test in the no-nap condition (NN), the 25-min nap condition (N25), and the 45-min nap condition (N45), before (BR), during (ER), and after (AR) Ramadan. *: Significant difference in comparison with NN.
FIGURE 5
FIGURE 5
Rating of perceived exertion (RPE) scores recorded during the 5-m shuttle run test in the no-nap condition (NN), the 25-min nap condition (N25), and the 45-min nap condition (N45), before (BR), during (ER), and after (AR) Ramadan. *: Significant difference in comparison with NN; #: Significant difference in comparison with N25; $: Significant difference in comparison with AR.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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