Sleep and Athletic Performance: A Comprehensive Review of Mechanisms, Outcomes, and AI-Enhanced Interventions

This narrative review synthesizes current knowledge regarding the multifaceted relationship between sleep and athletic performance, with a specific focus on the emerging role of Artificial Intelligence (AI) in optimizing recovery. Sleep is increasingly recognized not merely as a passive state of rest but as an active, dynamic biological process essential for physiological recovery, cognitive processing, and emotional regulation. This article examines the underlying mechanisms linking sleep stages to tissue repair, endocrine regulation, and memory consolidation. It further details the consequences of sleep disruption on physical and mental performance, including impaired reaction times, altered hormonal profiles, and increased injury risk. Finally, the review evaluates the efficacy of various interventions—ranging from traditional strategies such as sleep hygiene education, strategic napping, and light therapy, to cutting-edge AI-driven solutions including machine learning algorithms for personalized sleep prediction, wearable data analytics, and digital therapeutic platforms. The findings suggest that while sleep is a cornerstone of athletic success, the integration of AI technologies allows for highly personalized and context-specific management strategies that surpass traditional one-size-fits-all approaches.

کلیدواژه ها:

Athletic Performance ، Circadian Rhythms ، Recovery ، Sleep ، Artificial Intelligence in Sports ، Sleep Interventions ، Athlete Well-being