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Night Owls Outmuscle Early Birds: Study

By Harry Kimball, Newser Staff

Posted Jul 9, 2009 4:59 PM CDT

(Newser) – Night owls may have a tough time conforming to normal work schedules, but they do have one advantage in athletic ability that early birds can’t match, CNN reports. A new study tested leg strength at various times during the day and found that morning people were consistent while late risers had peak power at 9pm.

“We thought that morning people would be better at this in the morning,” one of the researchers said, “but they never changed.” The study jibes with other findings about fluctuations in athletic performance throughout the day, while raising intriguing questions about night owls. “Their body clock is separate from what their work clock is supposed to be,” a researcher said, but why that is—and why they perform better—is unclear.

Sometimes it's hard to wake up. (Shutterstock)

A soldier trains at the gym. (AP Photo)

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From Night Owl to Early Bird?

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Morning people tend to be less stressed, depressed, overweight

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OTHER STORIES ON OUR RADAR

sleep • athletics • workout • scientific study • night owl • early bird • physical activity

MOST POPULAR STORIES

[ By Views ]

[ By Comments ]

More Newser Stories

From Night Owl to Early Bird?

Altering caffeine, light, can help mold sleep patterns

See Something Traumatic? Don't Sleep Right Away

You might lock in those nasty memories: Study

Early Risers Happier, Healthier

Morning people tend to be less stressed, depressed, overweight

Disturbed Sleep Hurts Memory

Brain needs deep sleep to decide what to retain

Rest Up, Look Hot: Beauty Sleep Is Real

Better-slept people look healthier, more attractive

About Us

Site

Newser By Users

Community

Site Maps

Tools

More News

What is Newser?