Effects of exercise program on sleep quality in postmenopausal women

Abstract

Purpose: The aim of this study was to determine the effect of regular walking program on sleep quality in postmenopausal women.

Materials and Methods: The study has semi-experimental design with pretest-posttest control group. The sample consisted of 66 women (33 training, 33 controls) who were at least literate, who went through menopause by natural means, did not exceed 65 years of age, did not receive hormone replacement therapy, did not have any chronic disease. The data were collected with Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and Introductory Information Form. The women in the training group were asked to take regular and paced walking for at least 30 minutes three days a week for six weeks, and they were followed up by telephone. No attempt was made to women in the control group.

Results: There was no statistically significant difference between pretest sleep quality and PSQI mean scores of women in the training and control groups. In the last test after six weeks of regular and paced walking application, it was found that the good sleep quality of the training group increased from 6.1% to 39.4%. On the other hand, control group it was found that the rate of good sleep quality, which was 15.2% in the pretest, decreased to 12.1% after 6 weeks. The difference between training and control groups pretest-posttest sleep quality was found to be statistically significant.

Conclusion: It has been shown that regular and paced walking for 6 weeks increases the sleep quality of postmenopausal women.