CompletedNot Applicable

The Restorative Role of Daytime Naps in Mentally Fatigued Endurance Athletes

Italy11 participantsStarted 2021-01-11

Plain-language summary

This randomized, counterbalanced crossover study investigated whether a 30-minute daytime nap can mitigate the effects of experimentally induced mental fatigue in amateur master endurance athletes. Male athletes completed two home-based experimental sessions separated by one week: a mental fatigue condition, in which a 30-minute cognitively demanding task battery preceded the nap, and a control condition, in which participants took only the nap. Sleep parameters during the nap were monitored by wrist actigraphy, and perceived sleep quality was assessed after awakening. Subjective sleepiness, perceived mental fatigue, and cognitive performance were evaluated before the nap, immediately after the nap, and/or 30 minutes after the nap. The study examined whether mental fatigue influenced nap characteristics and whether the nap improved recovery-related outcomes. The main outcomes included actigraphy-derived nap parameters, perceived sleep quality, sleepiness assessed with the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale, perceived mental fatigue assessed using a visual analogue scale, and cognitive performance assessed with a Flanker task.

Who can participate

Age range

28 Years – 50 Years

Sex

MALE

See this in plain English?

AI-rewrites the medical criteria so a patient or caregiver can understand them. Always confirm with the trial site.

Inclusion Criteria: * Male amateur master endurance athletes * Age between 28 and 50 years * Peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak) ≥55 mL·kg-¹·min-¹ * Habitual nocturnal sleep duration of at least 7 hours * Able and willing to complete both experimental sessions and daytime nap procedures Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed medical condition or injury * Diagnosed sleep disorder * Use of medications or supplements affecting sleep or cognition, including melatonin * Habitual sleep duration of less than 7 hours per night * Inability to nap during the experimental sessions

Questions worth asking your doctor

Bring these to your next appointment. They're a starting point for a shared conversation — not a sign you qualify or a recommendation to enrol.

1Based on my diagnosis and history, is this trial worth exploring for me — or is there a standard treatment we should try first?
2What does this trial's phase tell us about how much is already known about its safety and benefit?
3What would taking part actually involve for me — visits, tests, time, and travel?
4What are the known and possible risks or side effects I should weigh, and how would they be monitored?
5If this trial isn't the right fit, what other options or trials would you suggest I look into?

Generated to help you prepare — always confirm anything about your own eligibility and care with the study team and your doctor.

Questions for the trial coordinator

The trial coordinator is the person who runs the study day to day. These cover the practical side — logistics, costs, and what taking part would actually mean for your life. The study team confirms whether you meet the criteria; these are questions to ask, not a sign you qualify.

1What does taking part actually involve week to week — how many visits, where, and how long does each one take?
2What costs are covered by the study, and what might I have to pay for myself, including travel, parking, or time off work?
3What happens during screening, and what happens if the study team confirms I don't meet the criteria after those tests?
4Who pays for the scans, blood work, and other tests the trial requires — the study, my insurance, or me?
5How will being in the trial affect my regular care, and will my own doctor stay informed and involved?
6Can I leave the trial at any point if I change my mind, and what would happen to my care if I do?

A starting point for the conversation — always confirm anything about your own eligibility, costs, and care with the study team and your doctor.

What they're measuring

Perceived mental fatigue

Timeframe: Before the nap, immediately after the nap, and 30 minutes after the nap in each experimental condition.

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07580131

SponsorL.U.de.S. Sagl

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2021-05-15

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Mental Fatigue trials