Since the effect of sleep deprivation on cardiorespiratory variables in basketball players has not been examined, we studied the effect of one night sleep deprivation.

The resting heart rate (HR), minute ventilation (VE) and tidal volume (Vt) were lower in sleep deprived sedentary subjects, however, the maximal exercise values of cardiorespiratory variables of the players and the sedentary subjects were not different between the sleep deprivation and normal sleep conditions. 30 min after the exercise oxygen consumption (VO2), carbon dioxide output (VCO2) and VE were higher in the players while HR was lower in the sedentaries following sleep deprivation. 60 min after the exercise VO2, VCO2 and respiratory rate (RR) values of the players were higher in sleep deprived state.

These results suggest that sleep loss of one night may reduce resting ventilation in the sedentaries. Sleep loss may increase ventilatory and metabolic performance in the basketball players during first 60 min of recovery period