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Effectiveness of aerobic gymnastic exercise on stress, fatigue, and sleep quality during postpartum: A pilot
Chiu-Ling Yang1, Chung-Hey Chen2
1Department of Nursing, Fooyin University, No. 151, Jinxue Road, Daliao Dis., Kaohsiung 83102, Taiwan.
Background:
Gymnastics is a preferable safe exercise for postnatal women performing regularly.
Objective:
The aim of this pilot randomized controlled trial was to determine whether the aerobic gymnastic exercise improves stress, fatigue, sleep quality and depression in postpartum women.
Design:
Single-blinded, randomized controlled trial held from December 2014 until September 2015.
Setting:
Postnatal clinic of a medical center in southern Taiwan.
Participants:
140 eligible postnatal women were systematically assigned, with a random start to experimental (n=70) or a control (n=70) group.
Interventions:
Engage in aerobic gymnastic exercise at least three times (15min per section) a week for three months using compact disc in the home.
Outcome Measures:
Perceived Stress Scale, Postpartum Fatigue Scale, Postpartum Sleep Quality Scale, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale.
Results:
In a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures, the aerobic gymnastic exercise group showed significant decrease in fatigue after practicing exercise 4 weeks and the positive effects extended to the 12-week posttests. Paired t-tests revealed that aerobic gymnastic exercise participants had improved significantly in perceived stress and fatigue after 4 weeks gymnastic exercise; these positive effects extended to the 12-week posttests. In addition, the changes in physical symptoms-related sleep inefficiency after 12 weeks gymnastic exercise were significantly decreased in the experimental group compared with the control group.
Relevance To Clinical Practice:
The findings can be used to encourage postnatal women to perform moderate-intensity gymnastic exercise in their daily life to reduce their stress, fatigue and improve sleep quality.
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