Circadian Rhythm and Sports Performance

Success in sports as measured by competitive performance is dependent upon a number of significant mental and physical components like somato type motor skills age nutritional status physiology psychology training level genetic endowment and injury risks. One such biological phenomenon influencing sports performance is Circadian Rhythm. Because of the regularity of cycles of light temperature and food availability organisms that evolved temporal programs or endogenous rhythms of metabolism and behaviour providing anticipatory response to specific optional phases of environmental cycles were at a selective advantage. Thus many biological rhythms reflect the period of one of four environmental cycles namely cycles of the tides of day and night of the phases of the moon or of the seasons. The study of biological clocks and circadian rhythm is known as chronobiology stated that rather than performing at a steady rate we are some times accelerating sometimes slowing down. We achieve peak efficiency for only a limited time each day. This book analyses the influence of circadian rhythm on selected physical physiological and psychological variables men.