Editorial: Circadian Rhythm, Athletic Performance and Physical Activity

Human nature has time-related elements, with rhythms present at various levels of organization. Among these, circadian rhythms are the most extensively studied. The term “circadian” comes from the Latin words “circa,” meaning “about,” and “diem,” meaning “day” or of about 24 h. It refers to human organisms’ functions that have cycles roughly around 24 h (20–28 h). These rhythms are driven by a core set of circadian clock genes that interact in a feedback loop, determining the periods and oscillations of these cycles (Roenneberg et al., 2003; Bonaconsa et al., 2014; Janoski et al., 2024).