Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41824810›Full record

Trial reportMedicine2026

Effects of sleep restriction on cognitive and physical performance in elite karate athletes: A randomized crossover study.

Ahmed Amri, Jihed Faleh, Mohamed Ben Aissa, Halil İbrahim Ceylan, Said Ben Hassen, Jaouher Hmaidi, Noomen Guelmami, Ismail Dergaa, Valentina Ștefănică, Nizar Souissi

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in Medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

10 authors.

Ahmed AmriResearch Unit Physical Activity, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.
Jihed FalehResearch Unit Physical Activity, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.
Mohamed Ben AissaResearch Unit Physical Activity, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.
Halil İbrahim CeylanDepartment of Physical Education and Sports Teaching, Faculty of Sports Sciences, Atatürk University, Erzurum, Türkiye.
Said Ben HassenResearch Unit Physical Activity, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.
Jaouher HmaidiDepartment of Biological Sciences Applied to Physical and Sport Activities, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Kef, University of Jendouba, Jendouba, Tunisia.
Noomen GuelmamiResearch Unit Physical Activity, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.
Ismail DergaaDepartment of Biological Sciences Applied to Physical and Sport Activities, High Institute of Sport and Physical Education of Ksar-Saïd, University of Manouba, Manouba, Tunisia.
Valentina ȘtefănicăDepartment of Physical Education and Sport, Faculty of Sciences, Physical Education and Informatics, National University of Science and Technology Politehnica Bucharest, Pitești University Center, Pitești, Romania.ORCID 0000-0003-4031-1412
Nizar SouissiResearch Unit Physical Activity, Sport and Health (UR18JS01), National Observatory of Sports, Tunis, Tunisia.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundSleep deprivation negatively impacts athletic performance; however, limited research has specifically examined these effects in combat sports athletes, where rapid decision-making and neuromuscular coordination are crucial for success. This study aimed to investigate the impact of partial sleep restriction on cognitive and physical performance in elite karate athletes.

methodsFourteen international-level male karate athletes (age: 23.35 ± 4.61 years) completed 2 randomized experimental sessions separated by 1 week: following regular sleep (8 hours) versus sleep restriction (4 hours). Cognitive performance was assessed using the Stroop test, simple reaction time, and multiple-choice reaction time tests. Physical performance was evaluated through the squat jump, modified agility T-test (MAT), and karate-specific aerobic test.

resultsAll tests were conducted before and after exercise. Sleep restriction significantly impaired cognitive performance. Stroop reaction times increased under sleep restriction (F = 13.0, P <.01, ηp2 = 0.50) with further deterioration post-exercise (F = 60.27, P <.001, ηp2 = 0.90). Simple reaction time declined following sleep restriction (F = 27.2, P <.001, ηp2 = 0.70). Multiple-choice reaction time remained unaffected at rest but worsened significantly after exercise (F = 5.3, P <.05, ηp2 = 0.30). Physical performance also declined: squat jump height decreased (F = 15.8, P <.001, ηp2 = 0.50), MAT performance deteriorated (F = 28.5, P <.001, ηp2 = 0.70), and karate-specific aerobic test endurance was significantly reduced (P <.001).

conclusionPartial sleep restriction substantially impairs both cognitive and physical performance in elite karate athletes, with compounding effects during exercise. Practically, these findings suggest that coaches should educate athletes about the importance of sleep and avoid scheduling intensive training sessions after suspected poor sleep nights. Athletes should prioritize 7 to 9 hours of consistent sleep, particularly before competitions, and minimize late-night activities that disrupt their sleep schedules. Simple sleep hygiene practices, such as maintaining regular bedtimes and avoiding screens before sleep, may help preserve performance capacity.

Indexed as

AthletesAthletic PerformanceCognitionMartial ArtsSleep DeprivationAdultCross-Over StudiesHumansMaleReaction TimeSleepSleep DurationYoung Adultathletic performanceattentionexercisemartial artsmotor skillspsychomotor performancereaction timesleep deprivation

Identifiers

PMID41824810
PMCPMC12991690

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY-NC
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Registered trials

None linked

Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.