Effect of acute physical exercise on patients with chronic primary insomnia.
OBJECTIVE
The aim was to assess and to compare the acute effects of three different modalities of physical exercise on sleep pattern of patients with chronic primary insomnia.


METHODS
Forty-eight insomnia patients, 38 female (mean age 44.4 +/- 8 y) were randomly assigned to 4 groups: control (CTR, n=12), moderate-intensity aerobic exercise (MAE, n=12), high-intensity aerobic exercise (HAE, n=12), and moderate-intensity resistance exercise (MRE, n=12). The patients were assessed on sleep pattern (by polysomnogram and daily sleep log) and anxiety (STAI) before and after the acute exercise.


RESULTS
The polysomnogram data showed reduction in the sleep onset latency (SOL) (55%) and in the total wake time (TWT) (30%); increase in total sleep time (TST) (18%), and in the sleep efficiency (SE) (13%) in the MAE group. The daily sleep log data showed increase in the TST (26%) and reduction in the SOL (39%). In addition, reduction (15%) in anxiety was also observed after moderate-intensity aerobic exercise.


CONCLUSIONS
Acute moderate-intensity aerobic exercise appears to reduce pre-sleep anxiety and improve sleep in patients with chronic primary insomnia.
Passos
Giselle S
GS
Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brasil.
Poyares
Dalva
D
Santana
Marcos G
MG
Garbuio
Silvério A
SA
Tufik
Sergio
S
Mello
Marco Túlio
MT
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D001007:Anxiety / Q000150:complications / Q000517:prevention & control; D002908:Chronic Disease; D015444:Exercise; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D005082:Physical Exertion; D017286:Polysomnography / Q000379:methods / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011569:Psychiatric Status Rating Scales / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D007319:Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders / Q000150:complications / Q000628:therapy*; D011795:Surveys and Questionnaires