Do Long-Haul Travels and Jet Lag Affect Athletes' Physiological, Humoral and Performance Outcomes?

Abstract

The globalized nature of modern sport requires athletes to frequently undertake long-distance travel. These trips can disrupt athletes' biological rhythms and cause travel fatigue and jet lag. This academic dissertation, in the form of a Systematic Narrative Review, aimed to explore the importance of circadian rhythms in athletes' health and performance, as well as to clearly distinguish between the terms travel fatigue and jet lag. In addition, we sought to analyze the preparation strategies of teams and athletes before, during and after long trips to competitive events, identify the readiness markers used by those responsible for assessing and monitoring athletes' training, and finally, investigate the physiological, hemodynamic and performance changes induced by long trips. The results revealed significant changes in several physiological markers, namely disturbances in sleep patterns, fluctuations in body temperature, changes in blood pressure and changes in hormone levels, namely the hormone cortisol and the enzyme alpha amylase. Physical performance is negatively affected, with this deterioration being more pronounced after trips to the East. Melatonin, caffeine, and light exposure were the most studied exogenous countermeasures and were used in practice by coaches, medical staff, and athletes during long trips. The effects of long trips are multifactorial and involve the dysregulation of the autonomic and endocrine systems. It is essential that athletes and teams implement behavioral adaptation strategies, and individualized monitoring to optimize recovery, minimize jet lag symptoms and ensure the best possible performance in competitive events after a long trip.