Power nap for athletes: does a 30-Minute snooze beat mental fatigue?
NCT ID NCT07580131
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looked at whether a 30-minute daytime nap can help mentally tired endurance athletes feel better and think more clearly. Eleven male amateur athletes completed two sessions: one where they did mentally tiring tasks before napping, and another where they just napped. Researchers measured sleepiness, mental fatigue, and thinking speed after the nap to see if it helped recovery.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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11 people
The number who actually took part.
- Started
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Jan 2021
- Finished
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May 2021
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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28 to 50 years
- Sex
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Male participants only
- Healthy volunteers
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Not accepted
This study is not open to healthy volunteers. The entry requirements below say who it is open to.
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Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: * Male amateur master endurance athletes * Age between 28 and 50 years * Peak oxygen uptake (VO₂peak) ≥55 mL·kg-¹·min-¹ * Habitual nocturnal sleep duration of at least 7 hours * Able and willing to complete both experimental sessions and daytime nap procedures Exclusion Criteria: * Diagnosed medical condition or injury * Diagnosed sleep disorder * Use of medications or supplements affecting sleep or cognition, including melatonin * Habitual sleep duration of less than 7 hours per night * Inability to nap during the experimental sessions
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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University of Milan
Milan, Italy
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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