Key result
Higher sleep efficiency correlates with greater cardiac autonomic modulation in professional soccer players versus youth.
Cross-Sectional (n=53)
Yes
p-value: p=<0.001
In male soccer players, higher sleep efficiency is positively associated with greater cardiac parasympathetic modulation and aerobic capacity, highlighting the importance of sleep monitoring in athletic performance.
Observed associations in athletes are hypothesis-generating; prospective studies needed before considering sleep a modifiable factor for autonomic modulation.
OBJECTIVE: This study investigated the association between sleep efficiency and cardiac autonomic modulation in young and professional soccer players during pre-season. METHODS: A cross-sectional quantitative study was conducted with 53 male soccer players divided into three categories: U-15 (n = 12), U-17 (n = 15), and professionals (n = 26). Sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), cardiac autonomic modulation via heart rate variability (HRV) recorded by a 10-lead electrocardiograph and analyzed with Kubios HRV 2.0, and cardiorespiratory capacity estimated through the Yo-Yo Intermittent Recovery Test. Body composition was assessed by tetrapolar electrical bioimpedance. Statistical analyses included one-way ANOVA, Welch's ANOVA, chi-square and Fisher's exact tests, Pearson correlation, and simple linear regression, with significance set at p < 0.05. RESULTS: Professional athletes demonstrated significantly higher VO₂max (50.5 ± 4.56 ml·kg⁻¹·min⁻¹; p < 0.001), lower resting heart rate (54.9 ± 8.65 bpm; p = 0.03), and greater parasympathetic modulation (RMSSD: 82.8 ± 17.5 ms; p < 0.001) compared to youth categories. Sleep efficiency was significantly higher in professionals (90.7 ± 6.13%; p = 0.01) and positively correlated with RMSSD. A significant association was found between RMSSD levels and global sleep quality (p = 0.004; X² = 0.50), as well as between RMSSD and VO₂max classification (p = 0.01; X² = 0.40). CONCLUSION: Sleep efficiency is positively associated with cardiac autonomic modulation and aerobic performance in soccer players. While the superior physiological profile of professionals reflects a synergy between training adaptations and biological maturation, HRV and PSQI constitute complementary monitoring tools for integrated athlete assessment across competitive categories.
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Oliveira et al. (2026) conducted a cross-sectional in Healthy soccer players (n=53). Professional soccer player status vs. Youth soccer player status (U-15 and U-17) was evaluated on Parasympathetic modulation (RMSSD) (p=<0.001). Professional soccer players demonstrated significantly greater parasympathetic modulation (RMSSD 82.8 ms) and higher sleep efficiency (90.7%) compared to youth categories, with sleep efficiency positively correlating with cardiac autonomic modulation.
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