Long compared to short haul travel effects on wheelchair basketball player’s preparation for the World Championships

Transmeridian travel often results in sleep disruption and increased daytime fatigue, both of which could negatively affect performance if travel is undertaken in close proximity to competition. Preliminary evidence from elite able-bodied athletes regarding the impact of travel prior to competition is available to inform medical staff practice, however such data has not been collected from elite Paralympic athletes. This seems a considerable oversight given the unique challenges these athletes face with respect to travel and sleep. PURPOSE: To investigate the impact of long compared to short haul travel on sleep, jet-lag, mood and performance in a group of elite Paralympic athletes prior to and during competition. METHODS: For 19 consecutive days, including baseline (12 days), travel (1 day) and competition (6 days), objective measures of sleep and subjective measures of jet-lag, vigour, fatigue, and performance were assessed in 11 elite wheelchair basketball players using wrist actigraphy and self-report questionnaires, respectively. International travel to the World Championships (Manchester, United Kingdom [4 games over 6 days, commencing 2 days post arrival]) from various destinations was categorized into either LONG (n=6; 8-11 h time-zone change) and SHORT (n=5; less than 2 h time-zone change). Linear mixed models, standardised effect sizes (ES) and magnitude-based inferences were used to analyse the data. RESULTS: There was no substantial influence of travel group (LONG vs. SHORT) on sleep quantity and quality, or subjective responses. However, for all players combined the mean sleep duration during baseline was below National Sleep Foundation guidelines, with a further likely small (ES = 0.36 ± 0.25) reduction during competition (6.7 ± 1.4 h vs. 6.3 ± 1.6 h, p=0.02). Increased vigour was associated with a likely moderate increase in subjective performance rating during competition (ES = 0.33 ± 0.26). CONCLUSIONS: This group of Paralympic athletes did not obtain sufficient habitual sleep at home, with travel, regardless of the number of time-zones crossed, and/or competition further reducing sleep quantity. Individualised strategies to increase sleep quantity prior to and particularly following travel would therefore be recommended for this specific group of athletes.