PT  - JOURNAL ARTICLE
AU  - Yacine Zerguini
AU  - Donald Kirkendall
AU  - Astrid Junge
AU  - Jiri Dvorak
TI  - Impact of Ramadan on physical performance in professional soccer players
AID  - 10.1136/bjsm.2006.032037
DP  - 2007 Jun 01
TA  - British Journal of Sports Medicine
PG  - 398--400
VI  - 41
IP  - 6
4099  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/41/6/398.short
4100  - http://bjsm.bmj.com/content/41/6/398.full
SO  - Br J Sports Med2007 Jun 01; 41
AB  - Objective: Ramadan is a period of daylight abstention from liquid or solid nutrients. As sports continue to be scheduled, an understanding of the effects of Ramadan on Muslim athletes is warranted. Design: Two Algerian professional soccer teams (55 men) were studied. Field tests of physical and soccer performance were collected before, at the end and 2 weeks after Ramadan in 2004. Players were queried on sleeping habits and personal perception of training and match performance. Setting: Field setting at club training ground. Main outcome measures: Performance on fitness and skill tests. Results: Performance declined significantly (p<0.05) for speed, agility, dribbling speed and endurance, and most stayed low after the conclusion of Ramadan. Nearly 70% of the players thought that their training and performance were adversely affected during the fast. Conclusions: The phase shift of food intake and disruption of sleep patterns affect actual and perceived physical performance. Islamic athletes need to explore strategies that will maximise performance during Ramadan.