Is exercise an alternative treatment for chronic insomnia?

Abstract

The purposes of this systematic/critical review are: 1) to identify studies on the effects of exercise on chronic insomnia and sleep complaints in middle-aged and older adults and to compare the results of exercise with those obtained with hypnotic medications and 2) to discuss potential mechanisms by which exercise could promote sleep in insomniac patients. We identified studies from 1983 through 2011 using MEDLINE, SCOPUS and Web of Science. For systematic analyses, only studies assessing the chronic effects of exercise on sleep in people with sleep complaints or chronic insomnia were considered. We used the following keywords when searching for articles: insomnia, sleep, sleep complaints, exercise and physical activity. For a critical review, studies were selected on the effects of exercise and possible mechanisms that may explain the effects of exercise on insomnia. We identified five studies that met our inclusion criteria for systematic review. Exercise training is effective at decreasing sleep complaints and insomnia. Aerobic exercise has been more extensively studied, and its effects are similar to those observed after hypnotic medication use. Mechanisms are proposed to explain the effects of exercise on insomnia. There is additional documented evidence on the antidepressant and anti-anxiety effects of exercise. Exercise is effective to decrease sleep complaints and to treat chronic insomnia. Exercise presented similar results when compared with hypnotics; however, prospective studies comparing the effects of exercise with medical and non-medical treatments are warranted before including exercise as a first-line treatment for chronic insomnia are necessary.

Efeito da atividade física na qualidade do sono e qualidade de vida: revisão sistematizada

“…Nos estudos realizados por Passos et al 13 12 que abordaram este problema e que realizaram a polissonografia pré e pós intervenção apresentaram redução do IAH para quem fez a atividade física (atividade aeróbica e alongamento), sendo ainda mais significativa quando a atividade física foi associada a uma dieta de baixa caloria, mas eles não permitem saber o quanto a intervenção foi eficaz. Esses estudos apresentaram como resultados objetivos dados polissonográficos como a diminuição significativa no índice de dessaturação de oxigênio, melhoria na fase N3(eficiência do sono) e como resultados subjetivos também apresentaram melhoras nos resultados dos questionários padronizados.…”

Determinants of Behavioral Alertness in Adults with Heart Failure

“…One explanation is that exercise causes an increase in core body temperature, which facilitates the initiation of sleep due to the activation of heat dissipation mechanisms controlled by the hypothalamus. 29 On the other hand, this finding could be due to reverse causality in that patients who feel dulled and inattentive may be less inclined to exercise. In reality the relationship between exercise and alertness is probably bi-directional; however, in this study we only evaluated the alertness as an outcome.…”

Qualidade Do Sono De Participantes De Programa De Reabilitação Cardiopulmonar E Metabólica

“…15 Neste contexto, destacam-se os Programas de Reabilitação Cardiopulmonar e Metabólica (RCPM) que por meio do exercício físico, podem proporcionar efeitos semelhantes aos dos fármacos indutores do sono, mas sem efeitos colaterais, sendo vantajosos em termos de custo efetividade. [16][17][18] Neste sentido, este estudo objetivou avaliar a qualidade do sono em participantes de programa de reabilitação cardiopulmonar e metabólica.…”