Association of Reaction Time and Sleep Quality in Professional Football Players

Association of Reaction Time and Sleep Quality in Professional Football Players

Football players need to use their cognitive skills to choose and execute actions in reaction to various stimuli throughout a match and training. Reaction time (RT), an important component of physical fitness, is a key variable for assessing higher cognitive function in football players. For athletes, sleep is also a critical factor influencing sports performance and is widely recognized as a key indicator of overall health. The aim of this study is to assess differences in reaction time and sleep quality as well as the association between these variables in a group of professional football players and a control group. The study analyzes 40 football players (study group) and 40 healthy, non-trained individuals (control group). Sleep quality is assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), and reaction times, both simple and complex, are assessed using the AT SMART System reaction speed tester.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Voluntary, informed written consent to participate in the study
• Minimum of 3 years of experience playing football
• Minimum of 3 training sessions per week
• Age between 18 and 30 years
• No musculoskeletal injuries within the last 6 months
• No disorders or conditions that may affect the study results

Exclusion Criteria:

• Lack of voluntary, informed written consent to participate in the study
• Less than 3 years of experience playing football
• Less than 3 training sessions per week
• Age under 18 or over 30 years
• Presence of musculoskeletal injuries within the last 6 months
• Presence of disorders or conditions that may affect the study results