CompletedNot Applicable

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

Tunisia60 participantsStarted 2025-01-02

Plain-language summary

This study investigates the effects of napping, caffeine, and a personalised recovery protocol on evening athletic performance in male and female athletes. Background: Evening athletic performance can be impaired by accumulated sleepiness and natural circadian rhythms. Athletes often seek strategies to maintain peak performance during evening competitions. Napping, caffeine, and recovery protocols are commonly used but their combined effects, particularly differences between sexes and chronotypes (morning-type vs evening-type individuals), remain unclear. Objective: To determine whether combining a 90-minute afternoon nap with moderate caffeine ingestion (5 mg/kg) and a brief personalised recovery protocol (dynamic stretching plus carbohydrate-protein snack) produces superior evening performance compared to each intervention alone. Methods: Sixty elite university athletes (30 males, 30 females) will participate in a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial. Each participant will complete five experimental conditions separated by at least 72 hours: (1) placebo, (2) nap alone, (3) caffeine alone, (4) nap plus caffeine, and (5) nap plus caffeine plus recovery protocol. Performance will be assessed at 19:00 using tests of agility, jumping, sprinting, and reaction time. Physiological measurements including heart rate variability, salivary cortisol, plasma brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF), and blood lactate will be collected at multiple timepoints. Expected Outcomes: The combined intervention (nap plus caffeine plus recovery) is expected to produce the greatest improvements in physical and cognitive performance, with potential differences between males and females and between morning-type and evening-type athletes. Significance: Findings will provide evidence-based recommendations for athletes and coaches seeking to optimise evening performance through multi-modal strategies.

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: * Regular engagement in at least 10 two-hour training sessions per week across various sports (team sports, judo, track and field, tennis, swimming) * Non-habitual napping (fewer than one nap per week) * Caffeine-naïve (habitual daily caffeine intake \< 80 mg, verified by a 7-day dietary recall) * Non-smokers and free from any regular medication or recreational drugs * Free from any musculoskeletal injury in the previous month * Normal sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index score \< 5) * Classified as either definite morning-type (MEQ score 59-86) or definite evening-type (MEQ score 16-41) on the Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire * For female participants: eumenorrheic (regular menstrual cycle length 26-32 days), not using hormonal contraceptives, and no history of menstrual disorders Exclusion Criteria: * Intermediate chronotype (MEQ score 42-58) * Habitual nappers (≥1 nap per week) * High habitual caffeine intake (≥80 mg/day) * Current use of any medication or recreational drugs * Smokers * Musculoskeletal injury within the previous month * Poor sleep quality (PSQI score ≥ 5) * Irregular menstrual cycle or use of hormonal contraceptives (for female participants) * History of sleep disorders (e.g., insomnia, sleep apnea) * Inability 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: Measured at 19:45 (immediately after the testing battery) on each of the 5 experimental days

Trial details

NCT IDNCT07652424

SponsorThe Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax

Sponsor typeOTHER

Study typeINTERVENTIONAL

Primary completion2025-05-31

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