Performance

Sleep as a clinical instrument

Dr Marc Vandeputte, Performance Medicine · 3 April 2026 · 6 min

Sleep architecture is closely coupled to glucose regulation, autonomic balance, immune signalling and cognitive performance. Continuous measurement across weeks — rather than a single night in a laboratory — gives a far more faithful picture of how an individual actually lives.

For clients travelling across time zones for much of the year, the clinical question is rarely ideal sleep. It is what pattern is achievable, and how to protect recovery within it.

Small, sustainable adjustments to light exposure, meal timing, training placement and travel scheduling frequently produce measurable changes in overnight physiology within a fortnight.

This article is provided for general education and does not constitute medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Individual circumstances differ; please consult a qualified physician.

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