Effects of short nap and exercise on elderly people having difficulty in sleeping

The purpose of the present study was to examine the effects of short nap and exercise on the sleep quality of elderly people who reported difficulty in sleeping. 'Interventions' such as short nap after lunch and moderate-intensity exercise in the evening were carried out for 4 weeks. After the 'interventions', wake time after sleep onset significantly decreased and sleep efficiency significantly increased, which showed that sleep quality was improved. The frequency of nodding in the evening significantly decreased. These results demonstrated that the proper awakening maintenance in the evening was effective in improving sleep quality. After the 'intervention', mental health was also improved with improving sleep quality.