Sleep Promotes Athletic Performance
Athletes get more colds and flu following intense athletic competitions or periods of heavy training. This is partly due to psychological stress and inadequate sleep, which increases the risk of upper respiratory illnesses. Athletes can improve performance and reduce the risk of illness by getting more sleep. A Stanford University study showed that tennis players who increased nightly sleep and made up for accumulated sleep deprivation showed improvement in sprint drill times, service accuracy, and hitting depth. Athletes improved by as much as 30 percent in some of the tests. The athletes attempted to sleep 10 hours per night. Sleep is a critical element for maximizing athletic performance.