Studies have shown that getting enough sleep is essential for the cellular functions of the body. Lack of it leads to loss of muscle mass and the hindrance of muscle recovery, which can also have an impact on the likelihood of injury and conditions associated with muscle atrophy. If you are undergoing physical therapy or rehab for an injury, your body will need more sleep to help it heal.
As you work out, your muscles accumulate lots of microscopic tears which need to be repaired for the muscle to become stronger. These repairs take place by way of good nutrition and deep, restorative sleep. During sleep, your body enters a higher anabolic state and conducts protein metabolism at a much faster rate to produce molecules which repair and heal muscle damage incurred during the day. Large amounts of the growth hormone melatonin are produced, which boost immune function and cell regeneration.
Your metabolic rate slows down as you rest, which is idea for muscle repair and growth. There is an increased blood flow to the muscles along with a boost in testosterone production which encourages hypertrophy, i.e. the building of muscle mass. This happens as your body synthesizes proteins to repair damaged muscle tissue. When you do not get enough sleep, your body increases its cortisol levels which blocks protein synthesis and activates pathways which lead to muscle protein breakdown.
So, the long and short of it is that to improve fitness or build muscle mass, the body needs enough sleep to make it happen. There are plenty of ways to make sure that your body is getting enough rest, but one of the most effective ways to improve your sleep is to use a sleep tracker or sleep monitoring system. This allows you to collect data on the quality and quantity of your sleep so that you can make adjustments to improve your rest. “If you can measure it, you can improve it.”
If you would like to find out more about how REM-Fit sleep monitoring technology can help you to get a better night’s rest, please get in touch with our experienced, knowledgeable staff by calling 020 8731 0020 or email us via sales@rem-fit.co.uk.
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