Jet Lag and Travel Fatigue in Athletes

Jet lag is a temporary mismatch between the body clock and the destination's day-night cycle after rapid travel across 3 or more time zones; travel fatigue is the separate tiredness caused by the journey itself.

Travel fatigue can occur with no time zones crossed, such as on long domestic or north-south trips, and builds up across a season. Both can impair sleep, recovery, mood and performance. The sport and exercise medicine (SEM) clinician distinguishes jet lag from travel fatigue, advises on shifting the clock with timed light and sleep, recognises symptoms that are not simply jet lag, and builds travel into preparation.