Implementation of Sleep-Enhancing Strategies During Tapering in Elite Swimmers
Abstract
This study examined whether performance changes following a taper incorporating sleep-enhancing strategies differed according to the pre-taper fatigue level in elite swimmers. Physiological, psychological, and biomechanical parameters were assessed in twenty-seven elite swimmers at two time points to estimate pre-taper fatigue: T0 and T1 (10 and 3 weeks before the main competition, respectively). Race performance was officially recorded at T1 and during the main competition. Sleep-enhancing strategies included two sleep education sessions, five consecutive evenings of cryostimulation, and the use of a mattress topper with high thermal conductivity. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Thirteen swimmers (17 ± 2 y) were classified as acutely fatigued (AF) and fourteen (17 ± 1 y) as functionally overreached (F-OR). From T1 to competition, performance changes were not different between groups (AF: +1.2 ± 1.6% vs. F-OR: +0.4 ± 2.3%). A total of 82% of swimmers in the AF group and 67% in the F-OR group achieved a performance improvement greater than 0.5% (p > 0.05). Following a tapering period incorporating sleep-enhancing interventions, no significant differences were observed between AF and F-OR swimmers in the magnitude of performance change or in the proportion of swimmers exhibiting a performance improvement greater than 0.5%.
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BibTeX
@article{bretonneau2026implementation,
title = {{Implementation of Sleep-Enhancing Strategies During Tapering in Elite Swimmers}},
author = {Quentin Bretonneau and Antonio Morales-Artacho and Robin Pla and Laurent Bosquet},
journal = {Sports - Multidisciplinary Open Access Journal},
year = {2026},
month = sep,
doi = {10.3390/sports14090412},
url = {https://hal.science/hal-05769101v1},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Implementation of Sleep-Enhancing Strategies During Tapering in Elite Swimmers
AU - Quentin Bretonneau
AU - Antonio Morales-Artacho
AU - Robin Pla
AU - Laurent Bosquet
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/09/18
JO - Sports - Multidisciplinary Open Access Journal
DO - 10.3390/sports14090412
UR - https://hal.science/hal-05769101v1
AB - This study examined whether performance changes following a taper incorporating sleep-enhancing strategies differed according to the pre-taper fatigue level in elite swimmers. Physiological, psychological, and biomechanical parameters were assessed in twenty-seven elite swimmers at two time points to estimate pre-taper fatigue: T0 and T1 (10 and 3 weeks before the main competition, respectively). Race performance was officially recorded at T1 and during the main competition. Sleep-enhancing strategies included two sleep education sessions, five consecutive evenings of cryostimulation, and the use of a mattress topper with high thermal conductivity. Statistical significance was set at p ≤ 0.05. Thirteen swimmers (17 ± 2 y) were classified as acutely fatigued (AF) and fourteen (17 ± 1 y) as functionally overreached (F-OR). From T1 to competition, performance changes were not different between groups (AF: +1.2 ± 1.6% vs. F-OR: +0.4 ± 2.3%). A total of 82% of swimmers in the AF group and 67% in the F-OR group achieved a performance improvement greater than 0.5% (p > 0.05). Following a tapering period incorporating sleep-enhancing interventions, no significant differences were observed between AF and F-OR swimmers in the magnitude of performance change or in the proportion of swimmers exhibiting a performance improvement greater than 0.5%.
SN - 2075-4663
ER -