Effects of Ramadan Fasting on Sleep and Physical Fitness among Young Female Handball Players
Mohamed Alaeddine Guembri,
Ghazi Racil,
Mohamed Tounsi,
Chirine Aouichaoui,
Luca Russo,
Gian Mario Migliaccio,
Yassine Trabelsi,
Nizar Souissi,
Johnny Padulo
Affiliations
Mohamed Alaeddine Guembri
Research Unit: Physical Activity, Sport and Health, UR18JS01, National Observatory of Sport, Tunis 1003, Tunisia
Ghazi Racil
Research Unit (LR 23JS01) “Sport Performance, Health & Society”, Higher Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar Saîd, University of Manouba, Tunis 2010, Tunisia
Mohamed Tounsi
Research Laboratory: Exercise Physiology and Physiopathology: From Integrated to Molecular “Biology, Medicine and Health” (LR19ES09), Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
Chirine Aouichaoui
Research Laboratory: Exercise Physiology and Physiopathology: From Integrated to Molecular “Biology, Medicine and Health” (LR19ES09), Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
Luca Russo
eCampus University, 22060 Novedrate, Italy
Gian Mario Migliaccio
Department of Human Sciences and Promotion of the Quality of Life, San Raffaele Rome Open University, 00166 Rome, Italy
Yassine Trabelsi
Research Laboratory: Exercise Physiology and Physiopathology: From Integrated to Molecular “Biology, Medicine and Health” (LR19ES09), Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
Nizar Souissi
Research Laboratory: Exercise Physiology and Physiopathology: From Integrated to Molecular “Biology, Medicine and Health” (LR19ES09), Faculty of Medicine of Sousse, University of Sousse, Sousse 4000, Tunisia
Johnny Padulo
Department of Biomedical Sciences for Health, Università degli Studi di Milano, 20133 Milan, Italy
Objectives: This study examines the potential impact of Ramadan fasting on sleep patterns and physical fitness in under 14 (U14) and under 17 (U17) female handball players. Methods: For this study, sixty-five female handball players’ (U14, n = 33 and U17, n = 32) sleep habits were assessed before (BR) and during the first (R1) and last weeks (R4) of Ramadan using: the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS). Physical ability tests including balance and jumps were conducted throughout these periods.; Results: During Ramadan, both groups noted significant increases in PSQI and ISI scores during R1 (p p p p p p p < 0.05). In contrast, for all physical ability parameters, both groups showed no significant difference during R1 and R4; Conclusions: During adolescence, Ramadan fasting may alter sleep patterns in young female athletes but appears to have no effect on their performance in short-duration exercises.
