Physically active elderly women sleep more and better than sedentary women.
OBJECTIVE
The aging process leads to changes in sleep with a negative impact on the quality of life. Sleep is an important marker of quality of life and the relationship between physical exercise and sleep conditions has been the subject of various scientific studies, suggesting that the elderly who practice physical exercise present fewer sleeping problems. The purpose of this study was to compare the sleep of physically active and sedentary elderly women.


METHODS
We included 101 elderly women, 53 practicing physical activity (PAG) and 48 sedentary (SG), matched for age, weight and height. All kept a sleep log and were asked to rate their sleep quality on a visual analog scale (VAS) daily for 30 days.


RESULTS
Mean total sleep time (TST) was 7 h 12 min for PAG and 6 h 24 min for SG (p<.01). There were no differences for mean total nap time (TNT) and amount of naps (AN) between PAG and SG. Mean wake up after sleep onset (WASO) was 1h in the PAG and 2 h in the SG (p<.05). The mean perception of sleep quality was 8.3 for PAG and 5.8 for SG (p<.001).


CONCLUSIONS
The results of this study indicate that physically active women sleep more and better than sedentary women.
de Castro Toledo Guimaraes
Laiz Helena
LH
UNILAVRAS, Lavras, MG, Brazil.
de Carvalho
Luciane Bizari Coin
LB
Yanaguibashi
Gianni
G
do Prado
Gilmar Fernandes
GF
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D000368:Aged; D001294:Attitude to Health; D003615:Dancing / Q000523:psychology; D006970:Disorders of Excessive Somnolence / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology; D015444:Exercise / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008019:Life Style; D008875:Middle Aged; D010147:Pain Measurement; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D016138:Walking / Q000523:psychology