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Is exercise an alternative treatment for chronic insomnia?
Giselle Soares Passos1, Dalva Lucia Rollemberg Poyares, Marcos Gonçalves Santana
1Departamento de Psicobiologia, Universidade Federal de Sao Paulo, Sao Paulo, SP, Brazil.
Exercise effectively reduces chronic insomnia and sleep complaints in older adults, showing results comparable to hypnotic medications. Further research is needed to establish exercise as a primary treatment.
Area of Science:
- Gerontology
- Sleep Medicine
- Exercise Physiology
Background:
- Chronic insomnia and sleep complaints are prevalent in middle-aged and older adults.
- Current treatments include hypnotic medications, but non-pharmacological options are sought.
Purpose of the Study:
- To systematically review studies on exercise's effects on chronic insomnia and sleep complaints in older adults.
- To compare exercise interventions with hypnotic medications.
- To explore mechanisms underlying exercise's impact on sleep.
Main Methods:
- Systematic and critical review of studies from 1983-2011.
- Searches conducted in MEDLINE, SCOPUS, and Web of Science databases.
- Inclusion criteria focused on chronic effects of exercise on sleep in individuals with insomnia or sleep complaints.
Main Results:
- Five studies met systematic review criteria.
- Exercise training effectively decreases sleep complaints and insomnia.
- Aerobic exercise demonstrated effects similar to hypnotic medications.
- Exercise also shows antidepressant and anti-anxiety benefits.
Conclusions:
- Exercise is an effective intervention for reducing sleep complaints and treating chronic insomnia.
- Exercise yields results comparable to hypnotic drugs.
- More prospective studies are required to position exercise as a first-line treatment.
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