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Yousfi N, Mejri MA, Ben Saad H, Chamari K. Lighting the way: Exploring diurnal physical performance differences in school-aged visually impaired children and adolescents. Chronobiol Int 2024; 41:417-426. [PMID: 38303130 DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2024.2312814] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2023] [Accepted: 01/26/2024] [Indexed: 02/03/2024]
Abstract
Circadian rhythms play a pivotal role in governing various physiological processes, including physical performance. However, in individuals deprived of light perception, such as the blind, these circadian rhythms face disruption. This study aimed to explore the influence of disturbed circadian rhythms on short-term maximal physical performance in children and adolescents with visual impairment. Forty-five volunteers participated in this study, comprising 17 blind, 13 visually impaired, and 15 sighted participants. The participants underwent a series of tests assessing maximal isometric strength performance across two days. To mitigate the influence of morning session fatigue on the evening results, each participant group performed in two separate testing sessions (i.e. in the morning (7:00 h) and in the evening (17:00 h)) on non-consecutive days in a randomized and counterbalanced setting, with approximately 36 h of recovery time between sessions. To mitigate the impact of inter-individual differences on mean values and to account for the influence of age and sex on the studied variables, data were normalized. The outcomes revealed a significant diurnal variation in maximal isometric strength performance among sighted individuals, with peak performance observed in the evening. This pattern aligns with their well-entrained circadian rhythm. In contrast, blind and visually impaired individuals did not display significant diurnal variation, signaling disrupted circadian rhythms due to the absence of light perception. These findings emphasize the crucial consideration of circadian rhythms in assessments of physical performance, especially among participants with visual impairments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Narimen Yousfi
- Tunisian Research Laboratory "Sport Performance Optimisation" (LR09SEP01), National Center of Medicine and Science in Sport, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Arbi Mejri
- Tunisian Research Laboratory "Sport Performance Optimisation" (LR09SEP01), National Center of Medicine and Science in Sport, Tunis, Tunisia
- High Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Manouba University, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Helmi Ben Saad
- Faculté de Médecine de Sousse, Hôpital Farhat HACHED, Laboratoire de Recherche (Insuffisance Cardiaque, LR12SP09), Université de Sousse, Sousse, Tunisie
| | - Karim Chamari
- High Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Manouba University, Tunis, Tunisia
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Khemila S, Romdhani M, Abedelmalek S, Chtourou H, Souissi MA, BenTouati E, Souissi N. The effect of time of day and high intensity exercise on cognitive performances of elite adolescent karate athletes. Chronobiol Int 2022; 39:1542-1553. [PMID: 36268677 DOI: 10.1080/07420528.2022.2132165] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/25/2023]
Abstract
To explore the effect of time of day (TOD) on several components of cognitive performance prior and post to a physically exhaustive task in a sample of adolescent elite athletes. In a counterbalanced and randomized order, fourteen highly trained male karate athletes (17 ± 0.96 years; 1.75 ± 0.07 m; 68.0 ± 9.50 kg; BMI 22.15 ± 0.54 kg.m-2) completed two test sessions at 09h00 and 16h00. Cognitive performance was evaluated before and after the karate specific test (KST). During each session, participants completed the profile of mood state (POMS), simple (SRT) and choice (CRT) reaction times, comparison test (COMT), mental rotation test (MRT), egocentric distance estimation (DE), and the rating of perceived exertion (RPE). KST was not TOD dependent (p > .05, d = 0.33). RPE scores were higher in the afternoon compared to the morning (p < .05, d = 0.68). Before the KST, SRT (p < .01, d = 0.69), CRT (p < .01, d = 0.47), COMT (p < .01, d = 0.62) and MRT (p < .001, d = 0.65) were better in the afternoon than in the morning. However, DE was not affected by the TOD (P > .05). KST improved SRT (p < .01, d = 0.078), CRT (p < .001, d = 0.72), COMT (p < .001, d = 1.31) and MRT (p < .001, d = 0.80) performances only in the morning. Cognitive performances are TOD dependent with higher performances realized in the afternoon. Performing a high intensity exercise in the morning, but not in the afternoon, enhanced several aspects of cognitive performances. The current results indicate that an intensive warm-up could be beneficial when a morning competition requires high cognitive readiness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Syrine Khemila
- Research Unit Physical Activity, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.,High Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Ksar-Saïd, Manouba University, Manouba, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Romdhani
- Research Unit Physical Activity, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.,High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia.,Motricité-Interactions-Performance, MIP, Le Mans Université, Le Mans, France
| | - Salma Abedelmalek
- Research Unit Physical Activity, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.,High Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Ksar-Saïd, Manouba University, Manouba, Tunisia
| | - Hamdi Chtourou
- Research Unit Physical Activity, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.,High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Sfax, University of Sfax, Sfax, Tunisia
| | - Mohamed Abdelkader Souissi
- Research Unit Physical Activity, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.,Higher Institute of Education and Continuous Training, Virtual University, Tunis, Tunisia
| | - Emna BenTouati
- Research Unit Physical Activity, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.,High Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Ksar-Saïd, Manouba University, Manouba, Tunisia
| | - Nizar Souissi
- Research Unit Physical Activity, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.,High Institute of Sport and Physical Education, Ksar-Saïd, Manouba University, Manouba, Tunisia
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