The effect of acute sleep extension vs active recovery on post exercise recovery kinetics in rugby union players

What they found: In this study, researchers compared sleep versus easy aerobic activity (Think: an easy jog or bike ride for an athlete), in rugby athletes. They found that sleep extension had a faster recovery in cognitive performance, but aerobic activity led to quicker neuromuscular function and autonomic recovery.

So What? It’s important to note that this was a small study looking at a single nights sleep. But it does provide something novel and useful. If you need to get ready for game or big performance, of course you should prioritize sleep, but you shouldn’t neglect some easy aerobic exercise. Perhaps this is the reason why so many runners go for an easy shakeout jog the morning before a race?

Blue-Enriched Morning Light as a Countermeasure to Light at the Wrong Time: Effects on Cognition, Sleepiness, Sleep, and Circadian Phase

In addition to making you more alert during the day, improving your mood and sleep, the blue in bright morning sunlight acts as a countermeasure or antidote to some of the damaging health effects of artificial light at night.

It doesn’t give you a free pass to use artificial light at night without bad health effects, but it reinforces your circadian system so that exposure to a blast of artificial light at night doesn’t hurt you as much.

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