The Vertue Podcast

Author: Shona Vertue

Discover the nuanced world of wellness with Shona Vertue. An ex-elite gymnast turned certified personal trainer and yoga teacher, Shona brings a wealth of experience and a fresh perspective to the wellness conversation. As she works towards completing her sports psychology degree, she delves deep into the heart of wellness, uncovering its many facets - the celebrated, the overlooked, and even the misguided. Using a biopsychosocial lens, the podcast traverses through the intricate pathways of what it truly means to be well. Dive in with Shona and unravel the diverse layers of well-being.
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Language: en

Genres: Science, Social Sciences

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#45 - Should You Train When You’re Sleep Deprived? What the Research Actually Says
Monday, 2 March, 2026

What should you actually do when you’re chronically sleep deprived?If you’re a parent, shift worker, insomniac, or coach people who are, you’ve probably asked yourself whether training is helping or harming you.In this episode, I dive into the research on acute and chronic sleep restriction and its effects on:• Cognitive performance• Strength and endurance• Hormonal signalling (testosterone, AMPK, mTOR)• Mood and perceived health• Recovery and long-term adaptationWe examine a 2025 systematic review and meta-analysis of 45 experimental studies (from 18,127 initially identified papers) looking at sleep deprivation and performance. We unpack one of the longest chronic sleep restriction protocols to date (6 weeks of restricted weekday sleep with weekend “recovery”), and what that tells us about cumulative sleep debt.We also explore:• Why early waking may impair cognition differently than going to bed late• Whether moderate aerobic exercise can offset some cognitive effects of sleep loss• What experimental data show about testosterone under sleep restriction• Why resistance training under chronic sleep deprivation may require adjustment• The difference between narrative reviews and higher-quality meta-analytic evidenceEssentially, we look at how to train intelligently when sleep is broken, short, or unpredictable, and what the science can (and cannot) tell us right now.Main ReferenceSystematic Review & Performance Effects[2025 Systematic Review & Meta-Analysis on Sleep Deprivation and Performance – 45 Experimental Studies]Chronic Sleep Restriction with Weekend RecoverySmith et al. (2021). Chronic sleep restriction during a 6-week protocol with weekend recovery and cumulative sleep debt analysis.