FROM CLOCKS TO EXERCISE, FROM METABOLISM TO PERFORMANCE: A CHRONOPHYSIOLOGICAL APPROACH

This doctoral thesis aims to explore the relationship between rhythmic behavior of selected variables and exercise, examining their impact on athletic performance and physiology. The first part of the thesis provides a comprehensive introduction to chronobiology, highlighting its role in regulating physiological processes such as sleep-wake cycles, hormonal rhythms, and metabolic functions. The second part examines how chronobiological factors affect physical performance, emphasizing the role of sleep quality, chronotype, and social jetlag in shaping endurance, strength, and balance. The final section of this introduction delves into molecular aspects, investigating the influence of temperature regulation, metabolism, and clock genes in determining exercise physiology. The complex interaction between the central biological clock and peripheral clocks is described, with a focus on clock genes such as Cry1 and Cry2, which are crucial in regulating metabolic processes and circadian rhythms. Then, experimental studies are presented, which demonstrate the effects of sleep impairments, circadian misalignment, and chronotype on aerobic capacity, motor skills, and postural control in athletes. Additionally, studies on mice show how exercise can synchronize core body temperature and metabolism, and offer insights into the role of clock genes in modulating energy metabolism and physical performance in Cry1/2 muscle-specific knockout mice models. This research contributes to the emerging field of exercise chronophysiology, offering novel perspectives on how biological rhythms and exercise can be leveraged to optimize both health outcomes and peak athletic performance.