A Lesson on Sleep from the NHL

Sleep deprivation is a serious health problem that affects almost 50 percent of people. In the absence of good sleep hygiene, people are prone to all sorts of problems including impaired cognitive function, depressed mood, daytime fatigue, deceased performance at work and increased risk of accidents caused by drowsy driving. If you suffer from sleep deprivation or some other type of sleep related problem, a valuable lesson from the Vancouver Canucks could help you get back on track towards healthy sleep and life success.

The Vancouver Canucks had an amazing run in the NHL Playoffs, but the foundation of their success may surprise you. Naturally, you might attribute their success to training and diet, although the truth is that a large component of their success relates to utilizing sleep technology.

When you consider the advantages of quality sleep, including better physical recovery and optimal performance, it makes sense why the Canucks would employ a strategy developed by a sleep science doctor.

To help the Canucks, sleep doctor Pat Byrne first introduced the ReadiBand wristwatch, developed by his company, Fatigue Science, for players to wear on their wrists while asleep. The device, initially developed by the U.S. military, detects and records day-to-day sleep quality, quantity and timing via an accelerometer, which measures wrist movements. Statistics provided by the ReadiBand include not only sleep duration, but also time to sleep onset and sleep efficiency. Byrne then used his data to help customize the lifestyles of Canuck players.

One challenge presented to Byrne is the fact that the Canucks, by virtue of their West Coast location, have one of the toughest travel schedules in the NHL. To optimize performance while adapting to different time zones, Byrne introduced everything from hydration to sleeping pills while taking light exposure and jet lag into account.

Considering the benefits of pregame naps, Byrne even introduced a competition among Canuck players to determine the best sleeper.

A Mental Fatigue Analysis also demonstrated the amount of waking time spent in different levels of performance effectiveness ranging from “alert” to “very tired.”

The steps taken to improve sleep and performance among the Canucks are readily available to anyone looking to enjoy the benefits of a good night’s sleep. Sleep devices are growing in popularity, which help people analyze their sleep and develop strategies for improving sleep just like Byrne has done for the Canucks.

For the average folk, Byrne recommends the same sleep tips for better performance and quality of life, including the avoidance of alcohol, electronic use and food before bed. Naps are also effective, according to Byrne, but only if used correctly.

The body sleeps in 90-minute cycles, and waking up halfway through, at our deepest point of sleep, can leave you with fatiguing sleep inertia. Instead, aim to wake up after either 20 or 90 minutes after falling asleep to wake up refreshed from a lighter stage of sleep.

Remember, you never have to wait for something like an NHL Playoff game to start considering the importance of sleep.

If you believe that you or someone you love is suffering from a sleep disorder, visit a sleep center for diagnosis and treatment.