Recreational runners who sleep too little or report poor-quality sleep were nearly twice as likely to report injuries as those who sleep well, according to a study of 425 runners led by Professor Jan de Jonge and published in Applied Sciences.
Recreational running is popular worldwide, with estimates suggesting more than 620 million people run regularly. Yet injuries are common, with some studies reporting rates as high as 90% at some point in a runner’s lifetime, contributing to medical expenses and time away from work. (sciencedaily.com)
Led by Professor Jan de Jonge of Eindhoven University of Technology, who also holds an adjunct appointment at the University of South Australia, the research analyzed survey data from 425 Dutch recreational runners. The study, published in Applied Sciences in 2025, used latent profile analysis to group runners by sleep patterns across three dimensions: duration, quality, and sleep problems. Respondents reported whether they had sustained a running-related sports injury in the prior year, using a standard definition. (dx.doi.org)
Runners in the “Poor Sleepers” group were 1.78 times more likely to report a sports injury than “Steady Sleepers,” corresponding to a 68% probability of injury over the past-year window captured by the survey. The association remained after accounting for age, gender, body mass index, height, and running experience. Overall, 60% of the sample reported at least one injury in the previous 12 months. While the findings point to sleep as an important factor, the authors note the cross-sectional design limits causal inference. (dx.doi.org)
The work underscores that disrupted or insufficient sleep—such as difficulty falling asleep, frequent night awakenings, or rarely feeling rested—was linked with higher injury risk, whereas consistent, good-quality sleep aligned with fewer injuries. Professor de Jonge said the results offer “compelling evidence that sleep is a critical yet often overlooked component of injury prevention,” and emphasized that runners should give sleep the same priority as mileage and nutrition. (unisa.edu.au)
For practical guidance, the University of South Australia release highlights standard expert advice: aim for seven to nine hours of sleep per night, and note that athletes may benefit from additional rest, including short daytime naps. Habits such as keeping consistent bed and wake times, limiting screens before bed, reducing late caffeine and alcohol, and creating a quiet, cool sleep environment can also help. (unisa.edu.au)