Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences Large Type Edition
HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
 QUICK SEARCH:   [advanced]


     


This Article
Right arrow Full Text
Right arrow Full Text (PDF)
Right arrow Alert me when this article is cited
Right arrow Alert me if a correction is posted
Services
Right arrow Similar articles in this journal
Right arrow Similar articles in PubMed
Right arrow Alert me to new issues of the journal
Right arrow Download to citation manager
Google Scholar
Right arrow Articles by King, A. C.
Right arrow Articles by Bliwise, D. L.
PubMed
Right arrow PubMed Citation
Right arrow Articles by King, A. C.
Right arrow Articles by Bliwise, D. L.
The Journals of Gerontology Series A: Biological Sciences and Medical Sciences 63:997-1004 (2008)
© 2008 The Gerontological Society of America

Effects of Moderate-Intensity Exercise on Polysomnographic and Subjective Sleep Quality in Older Adults With Mild to Moderate Sleep Complaints

Abby C. King, Leslie A. Pruitt, Sandra Woo, Cynthia M. Castro, David K. Ahn, Michael V. Vitiello, Steven H. Woodward and Donald L. Bliwise

1 Department of Health Research & Policy and 2 Stanford Prevention Research Center (SPRC), Stanford University School of Medicine, California.
3 Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle.
4 Veterans Administration Palo Alto Health Care Services, California.
5 Department of Neurology, Emory University Medical School, Atlanta, Georgia.

Address correspondence to Abby King, PhD, SPRC, 211 Quarry Rd., Room N229, Stanford, CA 94305-5705. E-mail:king{at}stanford.edu

Background. This study sought to determine the 12-month effects of exercise increases on objective and subjective sleep quality in initially inactive older persons with mild to moderate sleep complaints.

Methods. A nonclinical sample of underactive adults 55 years old or older (n = 66) with mild to moderate chronic sleep complaints were randomly assigned to a 12-month program of primarily moderate-intensity endurance exercise (n = 36) or a health education control program (n = 30). The main outcome measure was polysomnographic sleep recordings, with additional measures of subjective sleep quality, physical activity, and physical fitness. Directional hypotheses were tested.

Results. Using intent-to-treat methods, at 12 months exercisers, relative to controls, spent significantly less time in polysomnographically measured Stage 1 sleep (between-arm difference = 2.3, 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.7–4.0; p =.003), spent more time in Stage 2 sleep (between-arm difference = 3.2, 95% CI, 0.6–5.7; p =.04), and had fewer awakenings during the first third of the sleep period (between-arm difference = 1.0, 95% CI, 0.39–1.55; p =.03). Exercisers also reported greater 12-month improvements relative to controls in Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) sleep disturbance subscale score (p =.009), sleep diary–based minutes to fall asleep (p =.01), and feeling more rested in the morning (p =.02).

Conclusions. Compared with general health education, a 12-month moderate-intensity exercise program that met current physical activity recommendations for older adults improved some objective and subjective dimensions of sleep to a modest degree. The results suggest additional areas for investigation in this understudied area.

Key Words: Physical activity • Exercise • Sleep • Intervention • Older adult • Polysomnography • Subjective sleep







HOME HELP FEEDBACK SUBSCRIPTIONS ARCHIVE SEARCH TABLE OF CONTENTS
All GSA journals The Gerontologist
Journals of Gerontology Series B: Psychological Sciences and Social Sciences
Copyright © 2008 by The Gerontological Society of America.