Cranial Electrotherapy Stimulation to Improve the Physiology and Psychology Response, Response-Ability, and Sleep Efficiency in Athletes with Poor Sleep Quality

Bibliographic Data

ID15503908
AuthorsWen‐Dien Chang (0000-0001-5546-5874, National Taiwan University of Sport, corresponding author), Yung‐An Tsou (Asia University), Yung-An Tsou (Department of Otolaryngology-Head and Neck Surgery, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung 40402, Taiwan), Yi-Ying Chen (National Taiwan University of Sport), Yi‐Ying Chen (0000-0003-4747-5313, National Taiwan University of Sport), Bao-Lien Hung (0000-0002-2721-0687, China Medical University)
Year2022
Volume19
Issue4
Pages1946-1946
Publication date2022-02-09
Open AccessYes
TypeARTICLE
VenueInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Journal identifiersISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
PublisherMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph19041946
PMID35206134
OpenAlexW4211235970
LanguageEN
References cited48

Athletes often have poor sleep quality before a competition. Sleep quality can stabilize mood and improve sports performance. The randomized controlled study explored the effects of cranial electrotherapy stimulation (CES) on the physiology, psychology, response-ability, and sleep quality of athletes who had poor sleep quality before a competition. Athletes who had poor sleep quality (Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Scale score > 5) and had a competition in less than 2 months were recruited. The athletes were grouped into the CES group, which received a 2-week CES treatment ( n = 20, age = 21.55 ± 2.26 years), and a placebo group ( n = 20, age = 21.05 ± 1.46 years), which received a 2-week sham CES treatment. We performed biochemical analysis, a simple reaction time test, choice reaction time tests, the Profile of Mood States, heart rate variability (HRV), and an Actigraphy activity recorder to measure outcomes before and after the interventions. Our results revealed no significant differences in blood urea nitrogen, creatine phosphate, testosterone, cortisol, and saliva pH between and within groups ( p > 0.05). Significant decreases in negative mood states (i.e., anger, tension, and depression) and choice reaction time in the CES group were noted ( p p = 0.03), 1.12 ± 0.74 (95% CI = 0.79-1.44, p = 0.04), and 0.81 ± 0.75 (95% CI = 0.48-1.13, p = 0.001), respectively. Additionally, choice reaction time was decreased from 420.85 ± 41.22 ms (95% CI = 402.78-438.91) to 399.90 ± 36.71 ms (95% CI = 383.81-415.98, p = 0.04) and was also noted in the CES group. For HRV, and Actigraphy activity for sleep measure, the low-frequency (LF)/high-frequency (HF) ratios changed from 1.80 ± 1.39 (95% CI = 1.19-2.40) to 1.21 ± 0.73 (95% CI = 0.89-1.53, p = 0.10), and sleep efficiency decreased from 87.94 ± 6.76% (95% CI = 84.97-90.90) to 81.75 ± 9.62% (95% CI = 77.53-85.96, p = 0.02) in the CES group. The change in LF/HF after the trial were found between CES and placebo groups (p p < 0.05). However, we found that the regression line for sleep efficiency was decreased less during the study while using CES. The CES intervention could reduce negative emotions, improve choice reaction times, enhance the parasympathetic and sympathetic nerve activity imbalances, and slow sleep efficiency deterioration. Regardless, small effect sizes of the application of CES on psychology response, response-ability, and sleep efficiency were concluded in athletes with poor sleep quality before a competition

Actigraphy · Anger · Athletes · Blood pressure · Circadian rhythm · Heart rate · Insomnia · Mood · Physical therapy · Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index · Psychiatry · Randomized controlled trial · Sleep (system call · Sleep quality · Clinical Psychology · Medicine · Psychology · Sleep and related disorders · Sleep and Wakefulness Research · Transcranial Magnetic Stimulation Studies · Internal Medicine

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