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Cited by 291Sleep and related disordersPhysical Activity and HealthCircadian rhythm and melatonin

A Randomized Controlled Trial of the Effect of Exercise on Sleep

Singh, Nalin A., Clements, Karen M., Fiatarone, Maria A.·1997·Sleep
DOI 10.1093/sleep/20.2.95
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Abstract

We tested the hypothesis that exercise would improve subjective sleep quality and activity in depressed elders. A 10-week randomized controlled trial was utilized. Participants consisted of a volunteer sample, aged > 60 with a diagnosis of major or minor depression or dysthymia. A total of 32 subjects aged 60-84 years with a mean age of 71.3 +/- 1.2 years was used. Intervention consisted of a supervised weight-training program three times a week or an attention-control group. Main outcome measures were Pittsburgh Subjective Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), Likert Scale of Subjective Sleep Quality and Quantity. Paffenbarger Activity Index. Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Beck Depression Inventory (BDI), Hamilton Rating Scale of Depression (HRSD), and the Medical Outcomes Survey Short Form 36 (SF-36). Results showed that exercise significantly improved all subjective sleep-quality and depression measures. Depression measures were reduced by approximately twice that of controls. Habitual activity was not significantly increased by exercise. Quality of life subscales significantly improved. In a forward stepwise multiple regression, percent improvement in GDS and percent increase in strength remained significant predictors of the improvement in total PSQI score (r = 0.71, p = 0.0002). In conclusion, weight lifting exercise was effective in improving subjective sleep quality, depression, strength, and quality of life without significantly changing habitual activity.

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Crossref · 10.1093/sleep/20.2.95

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  • Several mechanisms provide a rationale for the improvement in insomnia symptoms from exercise, including reducing core body temperature for sleep onset, increasing melatonin and serotonin secretion, reducing depression and anxiety, and improving autonomic regulation which may reduce hyperarousal associated with insomnia.

    “Several mechanisms that provide a rationale for the improvement in insomnia symptoms from exercise have been suggested [133,136,137,138,139]; these include but are not limited to reducing core body temperature for sleep onset [140,141,142,143], increasing melatonin and serotonin secretion [131,144], reducing depression and anxiety, and improving autonomic regulation which may reduce hyperarousal”

    From The Cyclical Battle of Insomnia and Mental Health Impairment in Firefighters: A Narrative Review (2024) · cites this paper as [138]

  • Short-term experimental studies have shown a positive impact of exercise on subjective sleep quality among mildly to moderately sleep-impaired adults.

    “Short-term experimental studies have shown a positive impact of exercise on subjective sleep quality among mildly to moderately sleep-impaired adults (3–5).”

    From Effects of moderate-intensity exercise on polysomnographic and subjective sleep quality in older adults with mild to moderate sleep complaints (2008) · cites this paper as [4]

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Authors
Singh, N. A., Clements, K. M., & Fiatarone, M. A.
Affiliations
  • Harvard University (US)
  • Hebrew Rehabilitation Center for Aged, Roslindale, Massachusetts, U.S.A.
  • Tufts University (US)
Corresponding author
Fiatarone, Maria A.
ORCID
Clements, Karen M.
Venue
Sleep
Publisher
Oxford University Press (OUP)
Published
1997-02-01
Volume
20
Issue
2
Pages
95-101
ISSN
  • 0161-8105 (ISSN-L)
  • 1550-9109
DOI
10.1093/sleep/20.2.95
OpenAlex
W1790172208
Cited by
291
References
24
Citations by year
2026: 5 · 2025: 7 · 2024: 8 · 2023: 3 · 2022: 8 · 2021: 12 · 2020: 10 · 2019: 9 · 2018: 11 · 2017: 11 · 2016: 14 · 2015: 15 · 2014: 16 · 2013: 18 · 2012: 17
FWCI
11.91
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Locations
  • SLEEP (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
Funders
  • National Institutes of Health (5u01ag009078-03)
  • National Institute on Aging (AG-08812, UO1 AG09078)
Topics
  • Social Sciences › Psychology › Experimental and Cognitive Psychology › Sleep and related disorders
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Physiology › Physical Activity and Health
  • Life Sciences › Neuroscience › Endocrine and Autonomic Systems › Circadian rhythm and melatonin
Keywords
physical activity, sleep quality, depression, older adults, weight training, quality of life, muscle strength, dysthymia, Geriatric Depression Scale, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index
MeSH terms
Aged, Depressive Disorder, Female, Humans, Male, Quality of Life, Sleep, Exercise

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