Relationship between sleep quality, pain and musculoskeletal injury and sports performance in triathlon athletes

Abstract

Introduction: Sleep plays a crucial role in recovery, musculoskeletal injury prevention and athletic performance. Objective: This study investigated the relationship between sleep quality, musculoskeletal pain and injuries, and athletic performance in triathletes over 12 weeks of training. Methods: A 12-week cohort study involving 21 amateur triathlon athletes (40.76±10.08 years). Sleep quality was assessed using the Athlete Sleep Behavior Questionnaire (ASBQ-BR) and the frequency of pain and injuries was
recorded using the Corlett diagram and the Oslo Sports Trauma Research Center pain questionnaire, in the version translated and validated for Portuguese (OSTRC-BR). Training was divided into three mesocycles, using an adapted concept of reverse periodization, with pyramidal training intensity distribution. Sports performance was measured at weeks 1, 6 and 12 through timed and endurance tests in swimming, cycling and running. Results: The athletes had a good sleep pattern during the 12 weeks; (ii) musculoskeletal injuries were concentrated in the lower limbs, especially the knees, feet, left thigh and lower back; (iii) there was a significant improvement in swimming, cycling and running performance, both in maximum velocity (MV) and anaerobic threshold velocity (ALV), with further progress in running between weeks 6 and 12; and (iv) no significant correlations were observed between areas of pain, sleep quality and performance. Conclusion: Sleep quality does not seem to be related to the occurrence of musculoskeletal pain and injuries and the sports performance of the participants. The greater occurrence of pain and musculoskeletal injuries in recent weeks suggests possible associations with training load, as well as external factors such as daily demands and other personal commitments.