Comparative efficacy of exercise regimens on sleep quality in older adults: A systematic review and network meta-analysis.
Study Goal
The researchers aimed to compare the efficacy of various exercise regimens, including walking, in improving sleep quality in older adults.
Results Summary
Muscle endurance training combined with walking significantly improved sleep quality more than walking alone or other regimens like Pilates, yoga, and health education. Walking alone showed improvement over usual care but was less effective than combined training.
Population
Older adults (3519 participants across 35 trials)
Effective Dosage
Not specified
Duration
Not specified
Interactions
None mentioned
| Intervention | Direction | Endpoint | Population | Dosage | Impact | Claim # |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia | increase | sleep quality | older adults | - | significantly improved | #1 |
muscle endurance training combined with walking | increase | sleep quality | older adults | - | significantly improved | #2 |
Tai chi | increase | sleep quality | older adults | - | significantly improved | #3 |
Baduanjin | increase | sleep quality | older adults | - | significantly improved | #4 |
resistance training combined with walking | increase | sleep quality | older adults | - | significantly improved | #5 |
resistance training | increase | sleep quality | older adults | - | significantly improved | #6 |
muscle endurance training combined with walking | increase | sleep quality | older adults | - | led to significantly higher | #7 |
muscle endurance training combined with walking | increase | sleep quality | older adults | 88.9% | was identified as the optimal exercise program | #8 |
exercise | increase | sleep quality | this population | - | can improve | #9 |
The efficacies of various exercise modalities in improving older adults' sleep quality remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, network meta-analysis was performed by comparing the efficacies of various exercise regimens in improving sleep quality in this age group. Six electronic databases were searched for relevant studies between the date of database creation and August 13, 2021. Only randomized controlled trials reporting the effects of exercise on sleep quality in this population were included. Random-effects network meta-analysis based on a frequentist framework was conducted. In total, 35 trials involving 3519 older adults were included. Cognitive behavioral therapy for insomnia, muscle endurance training combined with walking, Tai chi, Baduanjin, resistance training combined with walking, and resistance training significantly improved sleep quality to a greater degree than did usual care (P < 0.05). Muscle endurance training combined with walking led to significantly higher sleep quality than did regimens involving sleep hygiene, Pilates, only walking, health education, resistance training, Taichi, resistance training combined with walking, or yoga. Muscle endurance training combined with walking was identified as the optimal exercise program (88.9%) for enhancing sleep quality in older adults. The results of this study support the claim that exercise can improve sleep quality in this population. PROSPERO registration number: CRD42020178209.