Skip to main content
SpringerLink
Log in

Chronobiology of Physical Performance and Sports Medicine

  • Chapter
Biologic Rhythms in Clinical and Laboratory Medicine

Abstract

If a soccer coach wants his team to execute several new and exacting plays for next week’s championship game, the science of chronobiology suggests that the best time to introduce the plays is 3 in the afternoon. In fact, almost everyone can expect a better athletic performance if workouts and qualifying events are held between 12 noon and 2100 hours (Winget et al. 1985). This expectation is based on the fact that many of the physiological determinants of physical performance, from the activity of metabolic pathways to the creation of cognitive thought, vary in the course of 24 h (see Table 1). The quantitative study of biological phenomena that fluctuate over time (i.e., chronobiology) has helped to define and identify times when the sum of these physiological mechanisms should be functioning optimally. Recommendations based on these findings (and discussed in this chapter) hold wide implications to space flight, agriculture, military training, teaching, business, medicine, psychiatry and other fields besides competitive athletics which require “peak” mental and physical performance. This chapter will also review the impact of abnormal or desynchronized biological rhythms on physical performance and outline countermeasures to deal with possible performance decrements.

This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.

Access this chapter

Log in via an institution
eBook
USD 16.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Available as PDF
  • Read on any device
  • Instant download
  • Own it forever
Softcover Book
USD 109.99
Price excludes VAT (USA)
  • Compact, lightweight edition
  • Dispatched in 3 to 5 business days
  • Free shipping worldwide - see info

Tax calculation will be finalised at checkout

Purchases are for personal use only

Institutional subscriptions

Preview

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.

References

  • Antal LC (1975) The effects of the changes of the circadian body rhythm on the sports shooter. Br J Sports Med 9: 9

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Arendt J, Aldhous M, English J, Marks V, Arendt JH, Marks M, Folkard S (1987) Some effects of jet lag and their alleviation by melatonin. Ergonomics 30:1379–1393

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Aschoff J, Hoffman K, Pohl H, Wever R (1975) Re-entrain-ment of circadian rhythms after phase-shifts to the zeitgeber. Chronobiologia 2:23–78

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Aschoff J, Daan S, Groos GA (eds) (1982) Vertebrate circadian systems: structure and physiology. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Beljan JR, Rosenblatt LS, Hetherington NW, Lyman JL, Flaim ST, Dale GT, Holley DC (1972) Human performance in aviation environment. NASA Rep NAS2–6657, part I-A

    Google Scholar 

  • Blake MJF (1967) Time of day effects on performance in a range of tastes. Psychon Sci 9:349–350

    Google Scholar 

  • Brown F, Graeber R (eds) (1982) Rhythmic aspects of behavior. Erlbaum, Hillsdale

    Google Scholar 

  • Buck L (1977) Circadian rhythms in step-input pursuit tracking. Ergonomics 20:19–31

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Carton RL, Rhodes EC (1985) A critical review of the literature on rating scales for perceived exertion. Sports Med 2 (3): 198–222

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Christie GA, Moore-Robinson M (1970) Project Pegasus: circadian rhythms and new aspects of corticosteroids. Clin Trials J 7: 7–135

    Google Scholar 

  • Conroy RTWL, Mills JN (1970) Human circadian rhythms. Churchill, London

    Google Scholar 

  • Czeisler CA, Allan JS, Strogatz SH, Ronda JM, Sanchez R, Riox CD, Fritag WO, Richardson GS, Kronauer RE (1986) Bright light resets the human circadian pacemaker independent of the timing of the sleep-wake cycle. Science 233: 667–671

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • De looy A, Minors D, Waterhouse J, Reilly T, Tunstall Pedoe D (1988) The coach’s guide to competing abroad. National Coaching Foundation, Leeds

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehret CF, Scanlon LW (1983) Overcoming jet lag. Berkeley, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Ehret CF, Groh KR, Meinert JC (1978) Circadian dyschronism and chronotypic ecophilia as factors in aging and longevity. Adv Exp Med Biol 108:185–213

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Ehret CF, Groh KR, Meinert JC (1980) Considerations of diet in alleviating jet lag. In: Scheving LE, Halberg F (eds) Chronobiology principles and applications to shifts in schedules. Sijthoff and Noordhoff, Rockville, pp 393–402

    Google Scholar 

  • Faria IE, Drummond BJ (1982) Circadian changes in resting heart rate and body temperature, maximal oxygen consumption and perceived exertion. Ergonomics 25 (5): 381–386

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Folkard S (1975) Diurnal variation in logical reasoning. Br J Psychol 66:1–8

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Folkard S, Monk TH (1983) Chronopsychology: circadian rhythms and human performance. In: Gale A, Edwards JA (eds) Attention and performance. Academic, New York, pp 57–78 (Physiological correlates of human behavior, vol2)

    Google Scholar 

  • Folkard S, Monk TH, Bradbury R, Rosenthal J (1977) Time of day effects in school children’s immediate and delayed recall of meaningful material. Br J Psychol 68: 45–50

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Fort A, Harrison MT, Mills JN (1973) Psychomotor performance in circadian rhythms and effect of raising body temperature. J Physiol 231:114P-115P

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Gingst V (1970) Functional displacement in the human organism during passage in place from a 3-hour displacement (in Russian). Teor Prakt Fiz Kul’t 3: 39–40

    Google Scholar 

  • Graeber RC (1982) Alterations in performance following rapid transmeridian flight. In: Brown FM, Graeber RC (eds) Rhythmic aspects of behavior. Erlbaum, Hillsdale, pp 173–212

    Google Scholar 

  • Graeber RC, Gatty R, Halberg F, Levine H (1978) Human eating behavior: preferences, consumption patterns and bio-rhythms. US Army Natick Research and Development Command, Natick (Food sciences laboratory report, technical report TR-78–022)

    Google Scholar 

  • Harma MI, Ilmarinen J, Knauth P, Rutenfranz J, Hanninen O (1988a) Physical training intervention in female shift workers. I. The effects of intervention on fitness, fatigue, sleep and psychomotor symptoms. Ergonomics 31: 39–50

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Harma MI, Ilmarmen J, Knauth P, Rutenfranz J, Hanninen O (1988b) Physical training intervention in female shift workers. II. The effects of intervention on the circadian rhythms of alertness, short term memory, and body temperature. Ergonomics 31: 51–63

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hill DW, Cureton KJ, Collins MA, Grisham SC (1988) Diurnal variations in response to exercise of “morning types” and“evening types”. J Sports Med Phys Fitness 28: 213–219

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Hill DW, Cureton KJ, Collins MA (1989) Circadian specificity in exercise training. Ergonomics 32: 79–82

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Holley DC, Winget CM, DeRoshia CW, Heinold MP, Edgar DM, Kinney NE, Langston SE, Markley CL, Anthony JA (1981) Effects of circadian rhythms phase alteration on physiological and psychological variables: implications to pilot performance. Ames Research Center, Moffett Field (NASA Technical Memorandum TM-81277)

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein K, Wegmann H (1974) The resynchronization of human circadian rhythms after transmeridian flights as a result of flight direction and mode of activity. In: Scheving LE, et al. (eds) Chronobiology. Igaku-Shoin, Tokyo, pp 564–570

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein K, Wegmann H (1980) Significance of circadian rhythms in aerospace operations. NATO, Neuilly-sur-Seine (Advisory Group for Aerospace Research and Development Report AGARD-AG-247, AGARD)

    Google Scholar 

  • Klein KE, Bruner H, Wegmann HM, Bouszat P (1967) Die Veränderung der psychomotorischen Leistungsbereitschaft als Folge pharmakodynamischer Einwirkung verschiedener Substanzen mit potentiell sedierendem Effekt. Arzneimittel-forschung 17:1048–1051

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Klein K, Wegmann H, Athanassenas G, Hohloweck H, Kuklin-ski P (1976) Air operations and circadian performance rhythms. Aviat Space Environ Med 47: 221–230

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Krombholz H (1990) Circadian rhythm and performance during a 24-hr relay race. Percept Motor Skills 70: 603–607

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Lavernhe J, LaFontaine E, Pasquet J (1968) Les reactions sub-jectives et objectives aux ruptures des rythmes circadiens lors des vols commerciaux longs courriers est-ouest et vice-versa. Rev Med Aeronaut Spat 7:121–123

    Google Scholar 

  • Lusk G (1933) Clio medica. Hoeber, New York, p 45

    Google Scholar 

  • Masso V (1887) Recherches sur Finversion des oscillations diurnes de la température chez l’homme normal. Arch Ital Biol 8:177–185

    Google Scholar 

  • Minors DS, Waterhouse JM (1981a) Anchor sleep as a synchronizer of abnormal routine. Int J Chronobiol 7:165–188

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Minors DS, Waterhouse JM (1981 b) Circadian rhythms and the human. Wright, Bristol

    Google Scholar 

  • Moline ML, Pollack CP, Wagner DR, Zendell S, Lester LS, Salter CA, Hirsch E (1990) Effects of the “jet lag” dieton the adjustment to phase advance. 2nd Meeting of the Society for Research on Biological Rhythms, May 9–13, Jacksonville

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore-Ede MC, Czeisler CA (eds) (1984) Mathematical models of the circadian sleep-wake cycle. Raven, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Moore-Ede M, Sulzman F, Fuller C (1982) The clocks that time us: physiology of the circadian timing system. Harvard University Press, Cambridge

    Google Scholar 

  • Morris HH, Estes ML (1987) Traveler’s amnesia; transient global amnesia secondary to Triazolam. JAMA 258: 945–946

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Nelson W, Scheving L, Halberg F (1975) Circadian rhythms in mice fed a single daily meal at different stages of lighting regimen. J Nutr 105:171–184

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • O’Connor PJ, Morgan WP (1990) Athletic performance following rapid traversal of multiple time zones: a review. Sports Med 10: 20–30

    Article  PubMed  Google Scholar 

  • Penetar DM, Belenky G, Garrigan JJ, Redmond DP (1989) Triazolam impairs learning and fails to improve sleep in a long-range aerial deployment. Aviat Space Environ Med 60: 498–594

    Google Scholar 

  • Petrie K, Conaglen JV, Thompson L, Chamberlain K (1989) Effect of melatonin on jet lag after long haul flights. Br Med J 298: 705–707

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Preston FS (1973) Further sleep problems in airline pilots on worldwide schedules. Aerospace Med 44: 775–782

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Preston FS, Bateman SC, Short RV, Wilkinson RT (1973) Effects of flying and of time changes on menstrual cycle length and performance in airline stewardess. Aerospace Med 44: 438–443

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Procacci P, della Corte M, Zoppi M, Maresca M (1974) Rhythmic changes of the cutaneous pain threshold in man. A general overview. Chronobiologia 1: 77–96

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Raboutet J, Bousquet B, Granotier E, Angiboust R (1958) Trouble du sommeil et du rythme de vie chez le personnel na-vigant effectuant des vol à longue distance. Med Aeronaut 13: 311–322

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reilly T (1990) Human circadian rhythms and exercise. Critical Reviews in Biomedical Engineering 18:165–180

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reilly T, Down A (1986) Circadian variation in the standing broad jump. Percept Motor Skills 62: 830

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Reilly T, Hales AJ (1988) Effects of partial sleep deprivation on performance measures in females. In: Mega ED (ed) Contemporary ergonomics 1988. Taylor and Francis, London, pp509–514

    Google Scholar 

  • Reilly T, Maskell P (1988) Effects of altering the sleep-wake cycle in human circadian rhythms and motor performance, lrst IOC Congress on Sport Sciences, Colorado Springs

    Google Scholar 

  • Reinberg A, Proux S, Bartal JP, Levi F, Bicakova-Rocher A (1985) Circadian rhythms in competitive sabre fencers: internal desynchronization and performance. Chronobiol Int 2: 195–201

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Reinberg A, Motohashi Y, Bourdeleau P, Andlauer P, Levi F, Bicakova-Rocher A (1988) Alteration of period and amplitude of circadian rhythms in shift workers. With special reference to temperature, right and left hand grip strength. Eur J Appl Physiol 57:15–25

    Article  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Richter CP (1965) Biological clocks in medicine and psychiatry. Thomas, Springfield

    Google Scholar 

  • Rutenfranz J, Colquhuon P (1979) Circadian rhythms in performance. Scand J Work Environ Health 5:167–177

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Sasaki T (1980) Effect of jet lag on sports performance. In: Scheving LE, Halberg F (eds) Chronobiology: principles and applications to shifts in schedules. Sijthoff and Noordhoff, Rockville, pp 417–434

    Google Scholar 

  • Shmidova VF (1966) The effect of high-altitude and high-speed flights on the functioning of air hostesses obstetric organs (in Russian). Gig Tr Prof Zabol 10: 55–57

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Simpson HW (1980) Chronobiotics: selected agents of potential value in jet lag and other dyschronisms. In: Scheving LE, Hal-berg F (eds) Chronobiology: principles and applications to shifts and schedules. Sijthoff and Noordhoff, Rockville, pp 433–446

    Google Scholar 

  • Simpson HW, Bellamy N, Halberg F (1973) Double blind trial of a possible chronobiotic (quiadon): field studies in N.W Greenland. Int J Chronobiol 1: 287–311

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Soliman MRI, Walker CA (1986) Effects of chronobiotic drugs on the cholinergic enzyme system of various rat brain regions. Annu Rev Chronopharmacol 3: 39

    Google Scholar 

  • Stephenson LA, Wenger CB, O’Donovan BH, Nadel ER (1984) Circadian rhythm in sweating and cutaneous blood flow. Am J Physiol 246: R321-R324

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Strempel H (1977) Circadian cycles of epicritic and protopathic pain threshold. J Interdiscip Cycle Res 8:276–280

    Article  Google Scholar 

  • Suvanto S, Prtinen M, Harma M, Ilmarinen J (1990) Flight attendee’s desynchronosis after rapid time zone changes. Aviat Space Environ Med 61: 543–547

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Thommen GS (1973) Is this your day? How biorhythm helps you determine your life cycles. Crown, New York

    Google Scholar 

  • Walker CA, Winget CM, Soliman KRA (eds) (1981) Chrono-pharmachology and chronotherapeutics. Florida A&M University Press, Tallahassee

    Google Scholar 

  • Wee BE, Turek FW (1989) Midazolam, a short acting benzodiazepine, resets the circadian clock of the hamster. Pharmacol Biochem Behav 32: 901–906

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wever R (1979) The circadian system of man. Springer, Berlin Heidelberg New York

    Book  Google Scholar 

  • Wilby J, Linge K, Reilly T, Troup JDG (1987) Spinal shrinkage in females: circadian variation and the effect of circuit weight training. Ergonomics 30: 47–54

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Winget CM, DeRoshia CW, Markley CL, Holley DC (1984) A review of human physiology and performance changes associated with desynchronosis of biological rhythms. Aviat Space Environ Med 55:1085–1096

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Winget CM, DeRoshia CW, Holley DC (1985) Circadian rhythms and athletic performance. Med Sci Sports Exerc 17: 498–516

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wright J, Vogel A, Sampson J, Knapik J, Patton J, Daniels W (1983) Effects of travel across time zones (jet lag) on exercise capacity and performance. Aviat Space Environ Med 54: 132–137

    PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Wurtman RJ (1982) Nutrients that modify brain function. Sci Am 246: 50–59

    Article  PubMed  CAS  Google Scholar 

  • Yaroslavtsev VL (1968) Diurnal cycle of physiological functions of man in conditions of permanent residence during long trips (in Russian). Eastern Siberia, Irkutsk

    Google Scholar 

  • Yezhov SN (1979) Effect of long latitudinal flights on the functional state of athletes. State Medical Institute, RSFSR Ministry of Public Health, Tyumen

    Google Scholar 

Download references

Authors
  1. C. M. Winget
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  2. M. R. I. Soliman
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  3. D. C. Holley
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

  4. J. S. Meylor
    View author publications

    You can also search for this author in PubMed Google Scholar

Editor information

Editors and Affiliations

  1. Faculté de Médecine Pitié-Salpétrière, Laboratoire de Biochimie Médicale, 91, Boulevard de l’Hôpital, 75634, Paris Cedex 13, France

    Yvan Touitou (Professor of Biochemistry) (Professor of Biochemistry)

  2. Department of Laboratory Medicine and Pathology, University of Minnesota, 640 Jackson Street, 55101-259, St.Paul, MN, USA

    Erhard Haus (Professor, Chairman) (Professor, Chairman)

  3. Department of Anatomic and Clinical Pathology, St. Paul-Ramsey Medical Center, 640 Jackson Street, 55101-259, St.Paul, MN, USA

    Erhard Haus (Professor, Chairman) (Professor, Chairman)

Rights and permissions

Reprints and permissions

Copyright information

© 1992 Springer-Verlag Berlin Heidelberg

About this chapter

Cite this chapter

Winget, C.M., Soliman, M.R.I., Holley, D.C., Meylor, J.S. (1992). Chronobiology of Physical Performance and Sports Medicine. In: Touitou, Y., Haus, E. (eds) Biologic Rhythms in Clinical and Laboratory Medicine. Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-78734-8_17

Download citation

  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-642-78734-8_17

  • Publisher Name: Springer, Berlin, Heidelberg

  • Print ISBN: 978-3-642-78736-2

  • Online ISBN: 978-3-642-78734-8

  • eBook Packages: Springer Book Archive

Publish with us

Policies and ethics

Search

Navigation