Effect of exercise intervention on primary insomnia: a meta-analysis

Area of Science:

• Exercise science
• Sleep medicine
• Public health

Background:

• Exercise positively impacts bodily functions and immunity.
• Primary insomnia affects a significant portion of the population.
• Non-pharmacological interventions are sought for insomnia management.

Purpose of the Study:

• To systematically evaluate the efficacy of exercise interventions for primary insomnia.
• To develop evidence-based exercise recommendations for improving sleep quality in patients with primary insomnia.

Main Methods:

• A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple databases (e.g., PubMed, Web of Science, Embase).
• Randomized controlled trials (RCTs) investigating exercise intervention for primary insomnia were included.
• Meta-analysis was performed using STATA 13.0, with risk of bias assessed using the Cochrane Handbook.

Main Results:

• Exercise intervention demonstrated a significant positive effect in treating primary insomnia (SMD: -1.64).
• Subgroup analyses revealed significant benefits for older patients (>60 years), aerobic exercise, and interventions of 8-12 weeks duration.
• Optimal results were observed with exercise sessions lasting ≤60 minutes, 4-5 times per week.

Conclusions:

• Exercise intervention is an effective treatment for primary insomnia, with notable benefits for older adults.
• An exercise regimen of 60 minutes, 4-5 times weekly for 8-12 weeks is recommended to improve sleep quality.
• Future research should focus on larger sample sizes and higher-quality studies to further validate these findings.