Physical activity for insomnia: a scoping review within the Nursing Science Precision Health model

Physical activity (PA) is an established non-pharmacological intervention for insomnia; however, its clinical application remains largely non-personalized. The Nursing Science Precision Health (NSPH) model provides a structured framework to link symptom patterns, phenotypes, and biological mechanisms with tailored interventions.

To map and synthesize evidence on PA interventions for insomnia within the NSPH model, and to identify key gaps limiting precision-based care.

A scoping review was conducted in accordance with JBI guidance and PRISMA-ScR standards. Eight databases were searched for randomized controlled trials published in the past decade that examined PA interventions for insomnia. Evidence was mapped to the four NSPH domains and synthesized narratively.

Thirty-two studies were included. Across the NSPH domains, three key gaps were identified. First, symptom assessment relied on heterogeneous tools, with no standardized measurement framework. Second, phenotypic characterization focused primarily on psychological and functional outcomes, with limited consideration of lifestyle and environmental factors. Third, although PA demonstrated beneficial effects on sleep quality and related physiological processes, including circadian regulation and inflammatory pathways, biomarker use remained indirect and inconsistently integrated into intervention design. PA interventions, including aerobic, strength, flexibility, and multimodal exercise, generally improved sleep outcomes, but were rarely tailored to individual profiles.

This review highlights the potential of PA interventions for insomnia but emphasizes the need for precision in tailoring treatments to individual patients. Future research should focus on standardizing outcome measures, matching PA modalities to insomnia phenotypes, and incorporating biomarkers to refine and personalize interventions for better patient outcomes.

https://doi.org/10.17605/OSF.IO/P4TW6, identifier: P4TW6.