"Insomniac Elderly Sleep Soundly After Using Muscles"

Thai Research Team Analyzes 24 Clinical Trial Datasets
"Most Effective Solution for Insomnia in Old Age"

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A study has found that muscle-strengthening exercises improve sleep quality in elderly individuals diagnosed with insomnia.

On the 5th, Yonhap News cited research results published on the same day by Professor Kittipong Nagaviroj's team at Mahidol University in Thailand in the medical journal 'Family Medicine and Community Health.' According to the report, the research team analyzed 24 international clinical trial datasets comparing the effects of various physical exercises, daily activities, and non-physical activities such as sleep education on 2,045 elderly people aged 60 and above with insomnia (average age 70). The clinical trials included aerobic exercises such as cycling, swimming, brisk walking, and gardening; muscle-strengthening exercises such as weight training and push-ups; balance exercises such as step-ups and walking on tiptoes; flexibility exercises such as gymnastics and yoga; and mixed exercises combining several types.

The effects of exercise were measured using the Global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (GPSQI). The GPSQI evaluates sleep quality based on seven components, including subjective experience and objective variables, each scored up to 3 points. A higher score indicates poorer sleep quality, with a score of 5 or above indicating severe sleep disorders. Statistical analysis combining direct and indirect effects of exercise showed that muscle-strengthening exercises led to the greatest improvement in insomnia, with a 5.75-point improvement in GPSQI.

The next most effective was aerobic exercise (3.76 points), followed by mixed exercises combining muscle-strengthening, aerobic, balance, and flexibility exercises, which showed a 2.54-point improvement. Among non-exercise therapies, sleep education was the most effective but did not achieve the same level of improvement as muscle-strengthening exercises.

The research team explained, "The improvement in sleep quality from muscle-strengthening and aerobic exercises was clinically significant compared to general activities," adding, "Although some exercises may be difficult for elderly individuals due to limited physical function, muscle-strengthening exercises can be considered the most effective exercise for resolving insomnia in old age."

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