TY  -  JOUR
AU  -  Bruno, Giovanni
AU  -  Dalla Libera, Sofia
AU  -  Moro, Giovanni
AU  -  Basilicata, Michele
AU  -  Bollero, Patrizio
AU  -  Gracco, Antonio
AU  -  De Stefani, Alberto
T1  -  Sleep habits and sports performance in athletes: 
a survey study
PY  -  2025
Y1  -  2025-01-01
DO  -  10.1728/4552.45512
JO  -  Medicina dello Sport
JA  -  Med Sport
VL  -  78
IS  -  1
SP  -  79
EP  -  86
PB  -  Il Pensiero Scientifico Editore
SN  -  1827-1863
Y2  -  2026/04/29
UR  -  http://dx.doi.org/10.1728/4552.45512
N2  -  Summary. Introduction. Sleep has a crucial importance in human life, covering several physiological functions, which are sometimes altered by associated disorders, including Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS). In particular, athletes require restorative sleep in order to achieve competitive sport performance. The aim of this study is to establish whether physical activity can play a protective role in OSAS. Athletes’ routines are analyzed, particularly in relation to sleep and oral hygiene, to investigate the prevalence of OSAS and caries, respectively. Materials and methods. A questionnaire was distributed to a mixed population of both athletes and non-athletes. The questionnaire consists of three parts: the first investigates the individual’s level of physical activity; the second part includes a screening for OSAS, based on the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) and the STOP-BANG questionnaire; the last part focuses on the consumption of sugar-sweetened beverages during physical activity. Results. 263 responses were collected: the sample includes 48 non-athletes and 214 athletes, of whom 149 are competitive. The study focuses on a sample of athletes who practise mainly aerobic activities, as 66.3% of competitive athletes practice triathlon, swimming or cycling. Twenty-nine people, or 11% of the total sample, stated that they had experienced episodes of respiratory apnoea during sleep. More than 80% report having had at least one caries involving permanent tooth. Conclusions. The results of the survey are in line with the prevalence reported in the literature and indicate that OSAS is still a little-known condition, despite the fact that it has been shown to be widespread. Caries is also very common in sports due to the continuous intake of sugary drinks during training.
ER  -