Physical exercise as a therapeutic approach for adults with insomnia: systematic review and meta-analysis

Abstract

Objective: To systematically review the effects (benefits and harms) of different types of physical exercise on insomnia outcomes in adult populations with no mood disorders. Objective and subjective sleep outcomes and related mismatches were analyzed. Methods: Systematic review and meta-analysis. Quality of evidence was also examined. Results: Six studies including 295 participants with insomnia diagnosis were selected. Yoga, Tai Chi, resistance exercise and aerobic exercise were used in protocols with different duration, intensity and frequency. Studies involved different populations, including inactive or sedentary individuals, older adults and postmenopausal women. Physical exercise improved subjective sleep quality (very low quality of evidence) and reduced insomnia severity (high quality of evidence). Conclusion: Findings suggest individualized physical exercise must be addressed to design optimal protocols, with standardized type, duration, intensity, and frequency. For the time being, physical exercise may be considered an alternative and/or ancillary therapeutic modality for patients diagnosed with insomnia. Physical exercise can be used to improve subjective complaints, but not objective sleep outcomes.

Effect of Aerobic Exercise Training on Sleep and Core Temperature in Middle-Aged Women with Chronic Insomnia: A Randomized Controlled Trial

“…However, the last meta-analyses cited included studies with participants who were not necessarily insomniacs. A very recent meta-analysis analyzed the effect of a PA program in people with insomnia [ 8 ]. As in our study, they showed a reduction in subjective complaints but did not find an effect on objective sleep.…”

“…Hence, exercise may be an interesting long-term treatment, inexpensive and easily accessible to prevent and treat insomnia [ 6 , 7 ]. A recent meta-analysis showed a positive effect of physical activity on insomnia symptoms [ 8 ]. However, the authors did not show improvement in sleep measured by actigraphy or polysomnography.…”

Practice recommendations for the role of physiotherapy in the management of sleep disorders: the 2022 Brazilian Sleep Association Guidelines

“…Best responses with 3 and 6 months follow-up SD e Act: ↓SL ↑TST 140 patients (49 women) with Parkinson's disease 386 Light therapy for 34 days, 60min./day between 7 and 8 p.m. ...Continuation review on the effects of exercise identified improvements in subjective sleep parameters, as well as decreased severity of insomnia, with a moderate power of effect 362 . However, the authors did not observe a statistically significant difference in objective sleep variables 362 .…”

“…There is evidence of the benefits of regular practice (duration of at least 2 months) of different types of physical exercises (physical and body-mind) in the quality of sleep and insomnia 361 . The most recent systematic review on the effects of exercise identified improvements in subjective sleep parameters, as well as decreased severity of insomnia, with a moderate power of effect 362 . However, the authors did not observe a statistically significant difference in objective sleep variables 362 .…”

“…The most recent systematic review on the effects of exercise identified improvements in subjective sleep parameters, as well as decreased severity of insomnia, with a moderate power of effect 362 . However, the authors did not observe a statistically significant difference in objective sleep variables 362 .…”