Sleep Hygiene Strategies Among Track and Field Athletes

Comparing the Effectiveness of Sleep Hygiene Strategies Administration in Written vs Verbal Format in Track and Field Athletes: a Randomized Controlled Trial Study.

This study aims to evaluate whether different ways of delivering sleep hygiene strategies (SHS)-written materials versus one-on-one verbal instruction-affect sleep behaviors in track and field athletes. Sleep is essential for athletic recovery and performance, yet many athletes struggle to get enough rest due to both lifestyle and sport-related factors.

Sixty-six athletes were randomly assigned to one of three groups: a control group with no intervention, a group receiving SHS in written form, and a group receiving SHS through a personalized verbal session with a sleep specialist. The intervention lasted 10 consecutive days, and the same strategies were shared with both intervention groups. These strategies included advice on bedtime consistency, reducing screen use before sleep, improving sleep environment, and managing naps.

To monitor changes, participants wore an actigraphy device and completed sleep and training diaries during a 10-day baseline period (before SHS) and again during the 10-day intervention period. Researchers assessed objective sleep parameters like total sleep time, sleep efficiency, and sleep latency, as well as subjective habits using the Sleep Hygiene Index questionnaire.

Study Overview

• Status: Completed
• Conditions: Sleep; Athlete
• Intervention / Treatment: Behavioral: Written Sleep Hygiene Strategies (W-SHS); Behavioral: Verbal Sleep Hygiene Strategies (V-SHS)

Detailed Description

Sleep is vital for athletes, supporting both physical recovery and mental performance. Despite this, many athletes sleep less than recommended due to demanding training schedules, competition stress, travel, and lifestyle factors. Poor sleep impairs recovery, increases injury risk, and reduces athletic performance. One way to address this issue is through Sleep Hygiene Strategies (SHS)-a set of behavioral recommendations that help improve sleep quality and duration.

This randomized controlled trial aims to explore whether the way SHS are delivered-either through written instructions or via verbal education-affects athletes' sleep behaviors and outcomes. The study involves 66 track and field athletes, both male and female, aged 18-40, who train actively at least 2.5 hours per week. Participants are randomly assigned to one of three groups: (1) a control group with no intervention, (2) a group that receives SHS in a written format, or (3) a group that receives SHS via a 40-minute one-on-one verbal session with a trained sleep and sports science professional. The SHS are general and evidence-informed, focusing on optimizing bedtime routines, limiting electronic use before sleep, adjusting environmental factors like noise and temperature, and managing naps effectively.

Each participant has to complete a 10-day baseline sleep monitoring period and a 10-day intervention monitoring period. Sleep is measured using actigraphy (a wrist-worn movement sensor) and self-reported sleep diaries. Additional tools included a training diary and the Sleep Hygiene Index (SHI), a questionnaire is use to assess sleep-related habits.

• Study Type: Interventional
• Enrollment (Actual): 66
• Phase: Not Applicable

Contacts and Locations

Study Locations

• Italy
  • Milan, Italy
    • Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health | Università degli Studi di Milano

Participation Criteria

Eligibility Criteria

• Ages Eligible for Study: Adult
• Accepts Healthy Volunteers: Yes

Description

Inclusion Criteria:

• male or female
• age between 18 and 40 years,
• FIDAL athletes,
• training for any track and field discipline for three or more times per week and over 2.5 hours of training/week.

Exclusion Criteria:

• any medical condition influencing sleep and the frequency of training in the month preceding the study,
• training or sleeping in altitude

Study Plan

How is the study designed?

Design Details

• Primary Purpose: Treatment
• Allocation: Randomized
• Interventional Model: Parallel Assignment
• Masking: None (Open Label)

Number of Arms

3

Arms and Interventions

Participant Group / Arm	Intervention / Treatment
No Intervention: CON; Partecipants do not received sleep hygiene in the second timepoint
Active Comparator: W-SHS; An intervention group following 10 consecutive days of sleep hygiene strategies administered in a written format	Behavioral: Written Sleep Hygiene Strategies (W-SHS); Participants assigned to the W-SHS group received a printed handout containing general sleep hygiene strategies. These strategies were designed to improve sleep quality and included recommendations on maintaining a consistent sleep-wake schedule, minimizing light exposure before bedtime, avoiding screens and heavy meals in the evening, optimizing the sleep environment (e.g., room temperature, noise), and managing nap timing. Participants were instructed to apply these strategies consistently for 10 consecutive days. No individual guidance was provided.
Active Comparator: V-SHS; An intervention group following 10 consecutive days of sleep hygiene strategies administered in a verbal format throught an educational session	Behavioral: Verbal Sleep Hygiene Strategies (V-SHS); Participants in the V-SHS group received the same general sleep hygiene strategies as the W-SHS group, but delivered through a one-on-one verbal education session. A trained researcher in sleep and sport science conducted a 40-minute session with each athlete, explaining each strategy and offering personalized clarifications and suggestions. Participants were then instructed to implement these strategies over a 10-day period.

What is the study measuring?

Primary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Total sleep time	This variable is objectively obtained by actigraphy. The total sleep time is the total amount of time a person actually spends sleeping during the night.	Ten days before the administration of SHS (T0), and ten days of intervention period (T1, after the administration of SHS).
Sleep Latency	This variable is objectively obtained by actigraphy. The amount of time it takes to fall asleep after going to bed.	Ten days before the administration of SHS (T0), and ten days of intervention period (T1, after the administration of SHS).
Sleep Efficiency	This variable is objectively obtained by actigraphy. The percentage of time spent asleep while in bed, calculated as TST divided by time in bed.	Ten days before the administration of SHS (T0), and ten days of intervention period (T1, after the administration of SHS).
Wake after sleep onset	This variable is objectively obtained by actigraphy. The total duration of wakefulness occurring after initial sleep onset.	Ten days before the administration of SHS (T0), and ten days of intervention period (T1, after the administration of SHS).
Bedtime	This variable is objectively obtained by actigraphy. The time a person gets into bed with the intention of going to sleep.	Ten days before the administration of SHS (T0), and ten days of intervention period (T1, after the administration of SHS).
Wake up time	This variable is objectively obtained by actigraphy. The time a person finally gets out of bed to start their day.	Ten days before the administration of SHS (T0), and ten days of intervention period (T1, after the administration of SHS).
Sleep regularity index	This variable is objectively obtained by actigraphy. A measure of how consistent sleep and wake times are from day to day.	Ten days before the administration of SHS (T0), and ten days of intervention period (T1, after the administration of SHS).

Secondary Outcome Measures

Outcome Measure	Measure Description	Time Frame
Number of training	The total count of distinct workouts an athlete completes in a week.	Ten days before the administration of SHS (T0), and ten days of intervention period (T1, after the administration of SHS).
Weekly Training Hours	The cumulative amount of time spent exercising or training over the course of a week.	Ten days before the administration of SHS (T0), and ten days of intervention period (T1, after the administration of SHS).
Training load	A measure that combines the intensity and duration of training to reflect the overall physical demand placed on the body.	Ten days before the administration of SHS (T0), and ten days of intervention period (T1, after the administration of SHS).

Collaborators and Investigators

• Sponsor: University of Milan

Publications and helpful links

General Publications

• Sargent C, Lastella M, Halson SL, Roach GD. How Much Sleep Does an Elite Athlete Need? Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2021 Dec 1;16(12):1746-1757. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2020-0896. Epub 2021 May 21.
• Walsh NP, Halson SL, Sargent C, Roach GD, Nedelec M, Gupta L, Leeder J, Fullagar HH, Coutts AJ, Edwards BJ, Pullinger SA, Robertson CM, Burniston JG, Lastella M, Le Meur Y, Hausswirth C, Bender AM, Grandner MA, Samuels CH. Sleep and the athlete: narrative review and 2021 expert consensus recommendations. Br J Sports Med. 2020 Nov 3:bjsports-2020-102025. doi: 10.1136/bjsports-2020-102025. Online ahead of print.
• Vitale JA, Borghi S, Piacentini MF, Banfi G, La Torre A. To Sleep Dreaming Medals: Sleep Characteristics, Napping Behavior, and Sleep-Hygiene Strategies in Elite Track-and-Field Athletes Facing the Olympic Games of Tokyo 2021. Int J Sports Physiol Perform. 2023 Sep 20;18(12):1412-1419. doi: 10.1123/ijspp.2023-0144. Print 2023 Dec 1.

Study record dates

Study Major Dates

• Study Start (Actual): September 1, 2023
• Primary Completion (Actual): September 30, 2024
• Study Completion (Actual): October 17, 2024

Study Registration Dates

• First Submitted: July 7, 2025
• First Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 16, 2025
• First Posted (Actual): July 24, 2025

Study Record Updates

• Last Update Posted (Actual): July 24, 2025
• Last Update Submitted That Met QC Criteria: July 16, 2025
• Last Verified: June 1, 2025

More Information

Terms related to this study

• Keywords: Sleep; Sleep hygiene; Athletes; Actigraphy; Track and field
• Other Study ID Numbers: SHS&FIDAL

Plan for Individual participant data (IPD)

• Plan to Share Individual Participant Data (IPD)?: NO

Drug and device information, study documents

• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated drug product: No
• Studies a U.S. FDA-regulated device product: No