Citation

Reinberg A, Proux S, Bartal JP, Levi F, Bicakova-Rocher A. Chronobiol. Int. 1985; 2(3): 195-201.

Affiliation

E.R. de Chronobiologie Humaine, CNRS No 105, Fondation A. de Rothschild, Paris, France.

Copyright

(Copyright © 1985, Informa - Taylor and Francis Group)

DOI

unavailable

PMID

3870850

Abstract

During a 7-10 day span, circadian rhythms of sleep-wake, self-rated fatigue and mood, oral temperature, eye-hand skill and right and left hand grip strength were investigated in eight subjects: five males (21-28 years of age), members of the French sabre fencing team selected for the 1984 Olympic Games in Los Angeles, and three females (19-26 years of age) practicing fleuret (foil) fencing as a sports activity. On the average six measurements/day/variable/subject were performed. The single cosinor method showed that a circadian rhythm was detectable for only 26 out of the 56 time series (46.4%). Power spectrum analysis gave almost the same figure (19 out of 48: 39.5%) with regard to rhythms with tau = 24 hr indicating that with one exception (subject JFL) rhythms were internally desynchronized including differences tau between right and left hand grip strength rhythms for three subjects.

RESULTS suggest: (a) a physiologic synchronization of circadian rhythms may be a predictor of good performance; (b) however, internal desynchronization as shown previously may be a trivial phenomenon and thus does not imply in itself alterations of either health or performance; (c) chronobiologic methods should be recommended for a better understanding of changes in performance by those participating in competitive and other sports.

Language: en