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Effect of moderate intensity aerobic exercise training on electrophysiological and biochemical correlates of sleep

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Abstract

Background

Sleep disturbance (SD) is quite prevalent among collegiate students and is reflected upon various scales of measurements such as electrophysiological and biochemical. Despite its high prevalence and negative consequences, very few studies have focussed on the management of SD in collegiates. Aerobic exercise (AE) is associated with improvement in sleep and due to its extensive benefits, it has been now considered as an alternative management strategy for SD.

Aim

To investigate the effect of 12-week AE training on electrophysiological and biochemical correlates of sleep in collegiate students.

Methods

Twenty-eight collegiate students with Pittsburgh sleep quality index score > 5 were randomly assigned into two groups: AE and control. Both the groups were taught basic sleep hygiene (SH) at the beginning of study. AE group, in addition to SH, received 12 weeks of moderate intensity AE training on treadmill. Pre- and post-intervention measures were performed at baseline and after 12 weeks. Sleep latency (SL), total sleep time, percentage of N1, N2, N3, NREM, REM and sleep efficiency (SE%) were calculated from over-night polysomnography (PSG). Concentration of serum melatonin and cortisol were also measured pre and post intervention.

Results

2 × 2 mixed ANOVA resulted in significant decrease and increase in N1% and N3%, respectively, after 12 weeks of AE. Serum cortisol also showed a significant decrease in its concentration post-intervention. Serum melatonin and other PSG variables did not show any difference with AE training.

Conclusion

AE training for 12 weeks improved sleep on electrophysiological and biochemical scales in SD collegiates.

Trial registration number and date

CTRI/2019/05/019154.

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Data availability

Shall be made accessible on request.

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Acknowledgements

Authors would like to thank Mohd. Salman—Laboratory technician, for resolving technical issues related to the equipments during data collection procedure of this study.

Funding

None.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Sleep Research Group, Neurophysiology Lab, Centre for Physiotherapy and Rehabilitation Sciences, Jamia Millia Islamia (Central University), New Delhi, 110025, India

    Anam Aseem

  2. Department of Neurology, Vardhman Mahavir Medical College and Safdarjung Hospital, New Delhi, India

    Neera Chaudhry

  3. Faculty of Allied Health Sciences, Shree Guru Gobind Singh Tricentenary University, Gurugram, India

    Mohammed Ejaz Hussain

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  1. Anam Aseem
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  2. Neera Chaudhry
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  3. Mohammed Ejaz Hussain
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Correspondence to Anam Aseem.

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The present study was approved by Institutional Ethics Committee (IEC), Jamia Millia Islamia. Research guidelines provided by Helsinki’s declaration, 1964 and its later amendments were followed to implement all the procedures in the study.

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Prior to assessment, all the participants were given an information sheet explaining the purpose of study, methodology and their rights as research participants and a written consent was obtained from them before the commencement of study.

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Aseem, A., Chaudhry, N. & Hussain, M.E. Effect of moderate intensity aerobic exercise training on electrophysiological and biochemical correlates of sleep. Sport Sci Health 17, 891–899 (2021). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11332-021-00746-7

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