CompletedNot Applicable

Effects of Afternoon Napping, Caffeine, and Standardised Active Recovery on Evening Athletic Performance

Tunisia60 participantsStarted 2025-01-02

Plain-language summary

This study evaluated whether afternoon napping, caffeine ingestion, and a standardised active recovery and nutritional protocol could influence evening physical and cognitive performance in healthy university athletes. Participants completed five experimental conditions in a randomised crossover design: placebo without napping, napping with placebo, caffeine without napping, napping combined with caffeine, and napping combined with caffeine plus a standardised active recovery and nutritional protocol. The nap opportunity lasted 90 minutes and caffeine was administered at 5 mg/kg body mass. The main outcome was repeated agility performance. Additional outcomes included sprint performance, jumping performance, reaction time, subjective sleepiness, sleep characteristics during the nap opportunity, and selected physiological measures. The study also explored whether responses differed according to sex and chronotype.

Who can participate

Age range

18 Years – 25 Years

Sex

ALL

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: * Healthy university athletes aged 18-25 years. * Regular engagement in structured training, defined as at least 10 training sessions per week of approximately 2 h each, across team sports, judo, athletics, tennis, or swimming. * Non-habitual napping, defined as fewer than one nap per week. * Low habitual caffeine intake, defined as \<80 mg/day, assessed using a 7-day dietary recall. * Non-smoker and free from regular medication or recreational drug use. * No musculoskeletal injury during the preceding month. * Good self-reported sleep quality, defined as a Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score \<5. * Definite morning chronotype (MEQ score 59-86) or definite evening chronotype (MEQ score 16-41). * For female participants: self-reported regular menstrual cycles (26-32 days), no hormonal contraceptive use, and no self-reported history of menstrual disorders. Exclusion Criteria: * Intermediate chronotype (MEQ score 42-58). * Habitual napping (≥1 nap per week). * Habitual caffeine intake ≥80 mg/day. * Smoking, regular medication use, or recreational drug use. * Musculoskeletal injury during the preceding month. * Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score ≥5. * Self-reported irregular menstrual cycles, hormonal contraceptive use, or history of menstrual disorders in female participants. * Self-reported sleep disorder. * Inability or unwillingness to complete all five experimental conditions.

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

Repeated Modified Agility Test (RMAT) Total Time

Timeframe: At approximately 19:35 on each of the five experimental days

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07652424

SponsorThe Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-05-31

View on ClinicalTrials.gov More Athletic Performance trials