The effect of physical activity on sleep disturbance in various populations: a scoping review of randomized clinical trials

doi:10.1186/s12966-023-01449-7

. 2023 Apr 17;20(1):44.

doi: 10.1186/s12966-023-01449-7.

The effect of physical activity on sleep disturbance in various populations: a scoping review of randomized clinical trials

Hung-Hsin Huang^{1

2}, Brendon Stubbs^{3

4}, Li-Jung Chen^{5

6}, Po-Wen Ku^{7

8}, Tai-Yi Hsu^{1

2

9}, Chia-Wei Lin^{1

2

10}, Yi-Ming Weng¹¹, Shih-Hao Wu^{12

13

14

15}

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
² Department of Emergency Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
³ Physiotherapy Department, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AZ, UK.
⁴ Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, Box, UK.
⁵ Department of Exercise Health Science, National Taiwan University of Sport, 271, Lixing Road, Taichung City, 404, Taiwan.
⁶ Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
⁷ Graduate Institute of Sports and Health Management, National Chung Hsing University, 145 Xingda Rd., South Dist, Taichung City, 402, Taiwan.
⁸ Department of Kinesiology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan.
⁹ Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
¹⁰ Doctoral Degree Program in Artificial Intelligence, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
¹¹ Emergency department of Taoyuan General Hospital, MOHW, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
¹² School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. [email protected].
¹³ Department of Emergency Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. [email protected].
¹⁴ Department of Exercise Health Science, National Taiwan University of Sport, 271, Lixing Road, Taichung City, 404, Taiwan. [email protected].
¹⁵ Attending Physician of Emergency Department, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan. [email protected].

PMID: 37069626
PMCID: PMC10107572
DOI: 10.1186/s12966-023-01449-7

The effect of physical activity on sleep disturbance in various populations: a scoping review of randomized clinical trials

Hung-Hsin Huang et al. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act. 2023.

. 2023 Apr 17;20(1):44.

doi: 10.1186/s12966-023-01449-7.

Authors

Hung-Hsin Huang^{1

2}, Brendon Stubbs^{3

4}, Li-Jung Chen^{5

6}, Po-Wen Ku^{7

8}, Tai-Yi Hsu^{1

2

9}, Chia-Wei Lin^{1

2

10}, Yi-Ming Weng¹¹, Shih-Hao Wu^{12

13

14

15}

Affiliations

¹ School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
² Department of Emergency Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan.
³ Physiotherapy Department, South London and Maudsley NHS Foundation Trust, Denmark Hill, London, SE5 8AZ, UK.
⁴ Department of Psychological Medicine, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, Box, UK.
⁵ Department of Exercise Health Science, National Taiwan University of Sport, 271, Lixing Road, Taichung City, 404, Taiwan.
⁶ Department of Psychosis Studies, Institute of Psychiatry, Psychology and Neuroscience, King's College London, 16 De Crespigny Park, London, SE5 8AF, UK.
⁷ Graduate Institute of Sports and Health Management, National Chung Hsing University, 145 Xingda Rd., South Dist, Taichung City, 402, Taiwan.
⁸ Department of Kinesiology, National Tsing Hua University, Hsinchu, 300, Taiwan.
⁹ Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
¹⁰ Doctoral Degree Program in Artificial Intelligence, Asia University, Taichung, Taiwan.
¹¹ Emergency department of Taoyuan General Hospital, MOHW, Taoyuan, Taiwan.
¹² School of Medicine, College of Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan. [email protected].
¹³ Department of Emergency Medicine, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, Taiwan. [email protected].
¹⁴ Department of Exercise Health Science, National Taiwan University of Sport, 271, Lixing Road, Taichung City, 404, Taiwan. [email protected].
¹⁵ Attending Physician of Emergency Department, China Medical University Hospital, Taichung, 404, Taiwan. [email protected].

PMID: 37069626
PMCID: PMC10107572
DOI: 10.1186/s12966-023-01449-7

Abstract

Background: Promoting physical activity (PA) in different populations experiencing sleep disturbance may increase population PA levels and improve sleep. This scoping review aimed to examine the effect of various PA intervention strategies on sleep across different populations, identify key sleep outcomes, and analyze knowledge gaps by mapping the relevant literature.

Methods: For this study, we systematically searched articles published till March 2022 from PubMed, Web of Science, Cochrane Library, and Embase databases for randomized clinical trials (RCTs) regarding the effect of physical activity on sleep. Two authors extracted key data and descriptively analyzed the data. Thematic analysis was used to categorize the results into themes by all authors. Arksey and O'Malley's scoping review framework was used to present the findings.

Results: Twenty-one randomized controlled trials out of 3052 studies were finally included with 3677 participants (2852 females (78%)). Five trials were conducted in healthy working-age adults with sleep disturbance but without the diagnosis of insomnia, five in healthy older adults, two in perinatal women, four in patients with cancer, three in mental illness related subjects, and another two in other disease-related areas. PA interventions were diverse, including walking, resistance training, aerobic exercise, housework, water exercise, basketball, smartphone/tablet "apps", web, online videos or wearable actigraphy, and self-determined exercise. Three major themes were identified: (1) Sleep environment may be important to address prior to instituting PA interventions, (2) All types of PA were effective for improving sleep in all populations studied, (3) Self-tolerated PA is safe for improving sleep in the elderly and in co-morbid or perinatal populations.

Conclusions: PA is effective and safe for improving sleep in both healthy and co-morbid populations with sleep disturbance by increasing daily activity levels using a variety of strategies, even low intensity, such as housekeeping, sit-to-stand repetitions, along with encouraging PA through web pages, videos, and self-goal setting apps. In addition, this scoping review identifies the need for further therapeutic research and future exploration in populations with sleep initiation or sleep maintenance disturbance.

Keywords: Cancer; Exercise; Insomnia; Non-pharmacological interventions; Pregnant women; Sleep environment.

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Conflict of interest statement

No other author has reported a potential conflict of interest relevant to this article.

Figures

**Fig. 1**
Study selection flowchart. According to the Preferred Reporting Items for PRISMA guidelines

See this image and copyright information in PMC

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References

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[1] Zielinski MR, McKenna JT, McCarley RW. Functions and Mechanisms of Sleep. AIMS Neurosci. 2016;3(1):67–104. doi: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2016.1.67. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[2] Zielinski MR, McKenna JT, McCarley RW. Functions and Mechanisms of Sleep. AIMS Neurosci. 2016;3(1):67–104. doi: 10.3934/Neuroscience.2016.1.67. - DOI - PMC - PubMed

[3] Léger D, Poursain B, Neubauer D, Uchiyama M. An international survey of sleeping problems in the general population. Curr Med Res Opin. 2008;24(1):307–317. doi: 10.1185/030079907X253771. - DOI - PubMed

[4] Léger D, Poursain B, Neubauer D, Uchiyama M. An international survey of sleeping problems in the general population. Curr Med Res Opin. 2008;24(1):307–317. doi: 10.1185/030079907X253771. - DOI - PubMed

[5] Guilleminault C, Partinen M, Quera-Salva MA, Hayes B, Dement WC, Nino-Murcia G. Determinants of daytime sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnea. Chest. 1988;94(1):32–37. doi: 10.1378/chest.94.1.32. - DOI - PubMed

[6] Guilleminault C, Partinen M, Quera-Salva MA, Hayes B, Dement WC, Nino-Murcia G. Determinants of daytime sleepiness in obstructive sleep apnea. Chest. 1988;94(1):32–37. doi: 10.1378/chest.94.1.32. - DOI - PubMed

[7] Philip P, Taillard J, Micoulaud-Franchi JA. Sleep Restriction, Sleep Hygiene, and Driving Safety: The Importance of Situational Sleepiness. Sleep Med Clin. 2019;14(4):407–412. doi: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2019.07.002. - DOI - PubMed

[8] Philip P, Taillard J, Micoulaud-Franchi JA. Sleep Restriction, Sleep Hygiene, and Driving Safety: The Importance of Situational Sleepiness. Sleep Med Clin. 2019;14(4):407–412. doi: 10.1016/j.jsmc.2019.07.002. - DOI - PubMed

[9] Baglioni C, Battagliese G, Feige B, Spiegelhalder K, Nissen C, Voderholzer U, et al. Insomnia as a predictor of depression: a meta-analytic evaluation of longitudinal epidemiological studies. J Affect Disord. 2011;135(1–3):10–19. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2011.01.011. - DOI - PubMed

[10] Baglioni C, Battagliese G, Feige B, Spiegelhalder K, Nissen C, Voderholzer U, et al. Insomnia as a predictor of depression: a meta-analytic evaluation of longitudinal epidemiological studies. J Affect Disord. 2011;135(1–3):10–19. doi: 10.1016/j.jad.2011.01.011. - DOI - PubMed

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The effect of physical activity on sleep disturbance in various populations: a scoping review of randomized clinical trials

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The effect of physical activity on sleep disturbance in various populations: a scoping review of randomized clinical trials

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