The effect of circadian rhytms on physical activity of an athlete

This article focuses on the impact of circadian rhythms on athletic performance, taking into account the individual chronotype of athletes. The study involved 28 athletes from various team sports. The chronotype was determined using the Horn- Ostberg questionnaire. Comprehensive testing included assessments of maximum strength (1RM in squats), anaerobic power (Wingate test), and repeated sprinting ability (RSA) at 8:00 and 18:00. The results revealed a statistically significant interaction between time of day and chronotype. "Night owl" athletes demonstrated a significantly greater improvement in performance in the evening: the increase in maximum strength was 12.0% and 4.2% for "larks", respectively, and the improvement in peak power was 10.0% versus 3.6%. These findings highlight the importance of considering individual chronotype when planning training sessions in competitive sports.