Academic Journal
Impact of Sleep Restriction and Intensified Training on Mucosal Immunity and Psychological Responses in Young Soccer Players.
| Title: | Impact of Sleep Restriction and Intensified Training on Mucosal Immunity and Psychological Responses in Young Soccer Players. |
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| Authors: | Ferreira ABM; Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte-UFRN, Natal, Brazil., Halson S; Faculty of Health Sciences, School of Behavioural and Health Sciences, Australian Catholic University, Brisbane, Australia., Galvão-Coelho NL; Clinical and Toxicological Analysis Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil; and., Almeida RN; Clinical and Toxicological Analysis Department, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte, Natal, Brazil; and., Nakamura FY; Department of Physical Education and Sports Sciences, Research Center in Sports Sciences, Health Sciences and Human Development (CIDESD), University Institute of Maia (ISMAI), Maia, Portugal., Mortatti AL; Department of Physical Education, Federal University of Rio Grande do Norte-UFRN, Natal, Brazil. |
| Source: | Journal of strength and conditioning research [J Strength Cond Res] 2026 Jul 01; Vol. 40 (7), pp. e703-e713. Date of Electronic Publication: 2026 May 18. |
| Publication Type: | Journal Article |
| Language: | English |
| Journal Info: | Publisher: Human Kinetics Pub Country of Publication: United States NLM ID: 9415084 Publication Model: Print-Electronic Cited Medium: Internet ISSN: 1533-4287 (Electronic) Linking ISSN: 10648011 NLM ISO Abbreviation: J Strength Cond Res Subsets: MEDLINE |
| Imprint Name(s): | Original Publication: Champaign, IL : Human Kinetics Pub., c1993- |
| MeSH Terms: | Immunity, Mucosal*/physiology , Soccer*/psychology , Soccer*/physiology , Sleep Deprivation*/immunology , Sleep Deprivation*/psychology , Physical Conditioning, Human*/methods, Saliva/immunology ; Affect/physiology ; Immunoglobulin A/analysis ; Respiratory Tract Infections/immunology ; Physical Exertion/physiology ; Athletes/psychology ; Humans ; Male ; Adolescent ; Sleep Duration ; Subjective Stress ; Actigraphy |
| Abstract: | Abstract: de Morais Ferreira, AB, Halson, S, Galvão-Coelho, NL, de Almeida, RN, Nakamura, FY, and Mortatti, AL. Impact of sleep restriction and intensified training on mucosal immunity and psychological responses in young soccer players. J Strength Cond Res 40(7): e703-e713, 2026-This study analyzed the effects of training intensification during a period of sleep restriction (SR) on mucosal immunity (salivary IgA), upper respiratory tract health, mood states, and stress tolerance in young soccer players. Sixteen male youth soccer players completed 7 weeks of training with varied workloads. Weeks 3 and 5 involved a 75% increase in internal training load (ITL); however, although sleep was unrestricted in week 3, allowing for an increase in total sleep time (TST) (+53 minutes vs. baseline), week 5 included a ∼10% reduction in TST (-44 minutes vs. baseline). Internal training load was assessed using session-rating of perceived exertion, and sleep was monitored via actigraphy. Salivary IgA, upper respiratory tract infection (URTI) severity (Wisconsin Upper Respiratory Symptom Survey), perceived recovery status (PRS), stress tolerance (Daily Analysis of Life Demands of Athletes), and mood states (Brunel Mood Scale) were evaluated weekly. Salivary IgA concentrations significantly decreased in both intensified training weeks (week 3: β = -87.41, p = 0.007; week 5: β = -114.04, p < 0.001). However, only in week 5, this reduction was accompanied by a significant increase in URTI severity ( p = 0.001), heightened fatigue (χ 2 (6) = 42.499, p < 0.001), reduced vigor (χ 2 (6) = 49.422, p < 0.001), impaired PRS ( p < 0.001), and lower stress tolerance ( p = 0.001). In contrast, during week 3, despite the intensified training, PRS, mood states, and stress tolerance remained stable. These findings emphasize the protective role of adequate sleep during intensified training, as greater sleep availability in week 3 may have mitigated the negative effects observed in week 5. Ensuring sufficient sleep during periods of high training loads is essential to maintain physical and psychological health. (Copyright © 2026 National Strength and Conditioning Association.) |
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| Grant Information: | 88887.976490/2024-00 Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior |
| Contributed Indexing: | Keywords: actigraphy; recovery; salivary IgA; team sports; training load |
| Substance Nomenclature: | 0 (Immunoglobulin A) |
| Entry Date(s): | Date Created: 20260515 Date Completed: 20260623 Latest Revision: 20260623 |
| Update Code: | 20260623 |
| DOI: | 10.1519/JSC.0000000000005416 |
| PMID: | 42139594 |
| Database: | MEDLINE |
| ISSN: | 1533-4287 |
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| DOI: | 10.1519/JSC.0000000000005416 |