Investigation of sleep quality and physiological exercise parameters of elite karate athletes

Karate; an international martial art sport that requires maximum cardiorespiratory endurance and explosive power. Sleep is critical for physiological and cognitive functions, which are important for high performance during submaximal and maximal exercise. The aim of this study was to determine sleep quality and physiological exercise parameters (heart rate, heart rate reserve, cardiac output, blood pressure, maximum oxygen uptake capacity) of elite karate athletes in Trabzon. Cardiopulmonary exercise test (CPET) was carried out using cycle ergometer by incremental ramp (15W / min) test protocol, until exhaustion. CPET is a powerful laboratory test that is used for simultaneously analyzing pulmonary, cardiovascular and musculoskeletal systems under exercise stress. With the CPET; blood pressure, oxygen uptake (VO2), maximum oxygen uptake (VO2max), carbon dioxide production (VCO2), heart rate (HR) and heart rate reserve (HRR) from electrocardiography (ECG) and oxygen pulse values can be measured. Sleep parameters were obtained using an physical activity holter (Sensewear Armband). The duration of lying down, sleep onset latency, total sleep duration and sleep efficiency parameters of the athletes were measured. Descriptive statistics were used to the determine characteristics of the study sample and data are reported as mean±standart deviation. Of the participants, the mean age was 17.8±1.39 years, the mean height was 169.0±8.1 cm, the mean weight 63.99±7.64 kg, and the mean body mass index 22.41 kg/m² (n=10), respectively. At maximum work rate, the mean values for VO2 was 43±8 ml/kg/min (99±12% of predicted), mean peak power 197±27.50 Watt (92±14% of predicted), the mean VE 103±28 l/min (95±22% of predicted), the mean HR 181±12 beats/min (93±7% of predicted) and the mean maximum oxygen pulse 20±3 ml/beat (115±18% of predicted), respectively (n=10). These physiological parameters were found close to the values reported for this sport branch in the literature. The results of this study indicates that the participated athletes had a "good" level of aerobic capacity and this indicates good level of endurance training.