AMERICANS GET PHYSICAL AFTER A GOOD NIGHT IN BED

New findings show better sleep linked to improved physical performance

While weary, overextended Americans are turning to "quick fixes" like caffeine and performance-enhancing supplements, which claim to improve everything from their daily workout to their sex lives, they are losing sight of what experts say is essential to improved performance: a good night's sleep.

In fact, according to the 2008 Better Sleep Month (BSM) national survey, sponsored by the Better Sleep Council (BSC):

• Respondents getting nine hours of sleep or more are more likely to engage in higher-intensity workouts (biking, running, weight lifting, etc.).
• Seven in 10 (70 percent) report that they are not getting the recommended amount of sleep needed each night (7.5 hours or more) to perform at their best each day.

"Sleep deprivation impacts us physically, which can negatively affect our coordination, agility, mood and energy," says Dr. Bert Jacobson, professor and head of the School of Educational Studies at Oklahoma State University (OSU) and the lead author of the new study Grouped Comparisons of Sleep Quality for New and Personal Bedding Systems. "Research shows that sleeping better and longer leads to improvements in athletic performance, including faster sprint time, better endurance, lower heart rate, and even improved mood and higher levels of energy during a workout."

One out of three survey respondents agrees, stating that the best thing about getting a good night's sleep is improved physical performance.

The survey also reveals that respondents who report getting seven to eight hours of sleep each night (7.5 is optimal) are more likely to be sleeping on a newer mattress (one to four years old). Survey results also show that those sleeping on a newer mattress are significantly more likely to engage in physical activities than those who sleep on older mattresses:

What's more, the survey found that 81 percent of Americans report waking up with back, neck or shoulder pain in the past year, with nearly half (46 percent) of respondents reporting that they frequently (at least a few times a month) wake up with these types of pain that limit their physical performance.

But there's good news for the majority of people suffering with limited mobility due to back and neck pain. According to Dr. Jacobson's study, published in the Journal of Applied Ergonomics, sleeping on a new mattress can significantly improve sleep quality during the night and reduce physical pain during the day. In fact, when sleeping on new bedding systems, study respondents on average reported significant improvements in:

• lower back pain (62.8 percent)
• shoulder pain (62.4 percent)
• back stiffness (58.4 percent)
• sleep quality (64.4 percent), and
• sleep comfort (69.6 percent)

To get the quality sleep you need for a happier, healthier and more productive life, BSC recommends that consumers evaluate their current mattress every 5 — 7 years for optimal comfort and support.