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The impact of a short burst of exercise on sleep inertia

journal contribution
posted on 2021-10-31, 23:02 authored by Katya KovacKatya Kovac, Grace VincentGrace Vincent, Jessica PatersonJessica Paterson, Amy ReynoldsAmy Reynolds, B Aisbett, CJ Hilditch, Sally FergusonSally Ferguson
Study objectives: Determine whether 30 s (s) of exercise performed upon waking can reduce sleep inertia and accelerate an increase in the cortisol awakening response (CAR) and core body temperature (CBT), compared to when sedentary. Methods: Fifteen participants (mean age ± SD, 25.9 ± 5.9 years; six females) completed a counterbalanced, repeated measures, in-laboratory study involving three single experimental nights, each separated by a four-night recovery period. Participants were woken following a 2-h nap (2400–0200) and completed a cycling bout of high-intensity (30-s sprint), low-intensity (30 s at 60% maximum heart rate), or no exercise (sedentary). Sleep inertia testing (eight batteries, 15-min intervals) began immediately following and included measures of subjective sleepiness (Karolinska Sleepiness Scale) and cognitive performance tasks (psychomotor vigilance, serial addition and subtraction, and spatial configuration). CBT was measured continuously via an ingestible telemetric capsule. The CAR was determined using salivary cortisol samples collected at 0, 30 and 45 min post-waking. Data were analysed using mixed effects analysis of variance. Results: There was no difference in cognitive performance or CBT between conditions. Participants felt less sleepy in the high-intensity condition, followed by the low-intensity and sedentary conditions (p = .003). The CAR was greatest in the high-intensity condition, followed by the sedentary condition, and low-intensity condition (p < 0.001), with no differences between the low-intensity and sedentary conditions. Conclusions: Those who exercise upon waking should be aware that while they may feel more alert, they may not be performing better than if they had not exercised. Future research should investigate whether exercise of different duration or timing may impact sleep inertia.

History

Volume

242

Start Page

1

End Page

11

Number of Pages

11

eISSN

1873-507X

ISSN

0031-9384

Publisher

Elsevier

Language

en

Peer Reviewed

  • Yes

Open Access

  • No

Acceptance Date

2021-09-29

External Author Affiliations

San José State University,, USA; Deakin University

Author Research Institute

  • Appleton Institute

Era Eligible

  • Yes

Journal

Physiology and Behavior

Article Number

113617