Diurnal naps and sleep interruption as precipitating factors of sleep paralysis in elite Japanese athletes
Masako Hoshikawa, Kazuhiko Fukuda, Takamasa Kogure
Elite athletes and non-athletes who experience sleep paralysis are more likely to have long nap routines and frequent sleep interruptions. Among 84 elite athletes and 116 non-athletes, only 6.5% of those with sleep paralysis did not routinely take long naps, compared with 24.3% of those without sleep paralysis. The association between sleep paralysis and sleep interruptions was stronger in athletes. The authors suggest that while long naps are often recommended for sleep loss compensation, they may be a sign of sleep-wake rhythm disruption and should be recommended with caution.