This study is of particular interest because although the study subjects are athletes, it highlights the breadth of the impact that a lack of sleep has on mental performance [2]. It builds on previous research and suggests that a lack of sleep may have an impact on cognitive function and decision-making, it may disrupt immune function and increase inflammation leading to feelings of physical overexertion. Another study [2a] on cognition and circadian clocks highlights how disturbance of your pattern (for work, jet lag or other reasons) compromises your sleep, and therefore your alertness and capacity to problem solve. We tend to think of circadian rhythm in the context of sleep, but it also impacts cognitive ability while you're awake.

The impact of sleep deprivation and stress is a difficult one to study in an everyday context, because we all make mistakes for a myriad of minor reasons or for seemingly no reason at all. What we can study is the broader impact of sleep deprivation as it relates to behaviour in a stressful environment. In this study [3], sleep-deprived doctors were shown to suffer from higher levels of stress and make more mistakes on the job. Although not everyone would face this intensity of stress or high stakes in their everyday life, doctors make a good case study to highlight the effect of sleep deprivation on our decision making skills.

This is arguably the most important impact a lack of sleep has on health – it disrupts recovery. The knock on effect of inadequate sleep is psychological overload and, in the long term, health problems [4]. It's well known that a poor night's sleep will make us irritable and affect our ability to focus, but a consistent lack of quality rest can have long-term implications for your mental health and general psychological state.

Now we have shown the evidence of how poor quality sleep impacts physical and mental health, it’s time we look at the claims that sleep quality is enhanced by the use of infrared technology. We’re going to share a number of studies from different areas, each suggesting that infrared has the capacity to improve sleep quality.

There’s a temptation to assume improving sleep quality means simply sleeping longer, but that’s not always the case. In many cases the amount of sleep isn’t the problem, but the quality is. In this study [5] participants actually slept less, but the quality of the sleep improved. Participants spent an average of 18.3 minutes less time awake post-sleeping than they did without the infrared, plus they reported an average increased sleep efficiency of 2.6%.

This study [6] is particularly interesting because it tracks the sleep of slightly older athletic participants (average age 40) who are performing CrossFit, which is a multi-modality sport (weight training, swimming, running, cycling, bodyweight exercises, gymnastics etc). This rules out specific sleep impacts on particular types of activity. When exposed to infrared, the participants reported improved sleep and reduced daytime napping.

A lot of people report trouble actually getting to sleep in the first place. In this study [6], participants reported reduced insomnia, suggesting they were able to get to sleep quicker and more effectively. They also reported less daytime napping, in line with the previous study. Interestingly, the infrared technology employed in the study was ‘printed’ onto the fabric, which washes away. As the study progressed and the infrared washed away, the benefit reduces, proving it was the infrared that was effective.

KYMIRA KNergy fabric weaves the infrared technology into the fabric, so it doesn’t wash off – it’s as effective regardless of how many times the garment is washed.