Effects of Time-of-Day and Partial Sleep Deprivation on Short-Term Maximal Performances of Judo Competitors

This study assessed the effects of partial sleep deprivation on short-term maximal performances of judokas in the morning and afternoon of the following day. In a randomized design, 12 judokas completed the maximal voluntary contraction, the handgrip, and the Wingate tests before and after a judo combat. Measurements were performed at 09:00 and 16:00 hours after a reference-normal sleep night and 2 conditions of 4-hour partial sleep deprivation timed at the beginning (SDB) or at the end of the night (SDE). The results showed that muscle power and strength were significantly higher at 16:00 than 09:00 hours (p < 0.05). These diurnal variations disappeared after SDB and SDE and after the combat. In addition, SDE resulted in significant decreases of short-term maximal performance in the afternoon (p < 0.01). In conclusion, SDE decreased muscle strength and power at 16:00 hours and, therefore, might have blunted the diurnal variations of short-term maximal exercise. Thus, early rising is more detrimental than late bedtime to muscle strength and power for judo athletes when competitions are scheduled in the afternoon hours.