Table 2 Exercise effects on sleep disorders

Insomnia

• Exercise is recommended to improve sleep in individuals with insomnia²⁶.

• Sleep quality influences aerobic exercise more than exercise affects sleep²⁶.

• An intensive lifestyle modification program reduced insomnia symptoms by 64%¹³⁸.

• Exercise training improved sleep quality in middle-aged and older adults⁷⁰.

• Moderate-intensity aerobic exercise combined with sleep hygiene therapy increased total sleep time¹³⁹.

• Acute physical exercise improved sleep parameters in patients with chronic primary insomnia²⁸.

• Regular exercise and enhancement of adenosine A_2AR signaling could be beneficial^26,145.

Sleep apnea

• The direct relationship between sleep apnea and exercise is unclear, but exercise is crucial for weight loss, which improves sleep apnea symptoms¹⁴⁹.

• Exercise has positive effects on sleep apnea, suggesting the potential efficacy of a combined approach with weight loss and CPAP treatment

•^151,152.

• Exercise is linked to a lower occurrence of sleep-disordered breathing, independent of BMI¹⁵³.

• Exercise can reduce OSA severity based on the Apnea-Hypopnea Index by up to 50%, independent of weight loss⁷².

• Exercise benefits include decreased sleepiness and enhanced daytime function for OSA patients¹⁵⁶.

Restless leg syndrome (RLS)

• Aerobic exercise improves symptoms and sleep quality in patients with RLS and uremic RLS¹³².