SynthesisBMC geriatrics2025
Optimal exercise type and dose to improve sleep quality in older adults: a systematic review and network meta-analysis.
Synthesis in BMC geriatrics, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 5 papers, 2 of them syntheses that pooled it.
What it found
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.
Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.
Who cites it
5 citing papers in PubMed, 2 syntheses or guidelines pooled it.
- Walking and subjective sleep quality in adults: a Bayesian three-level meta-analysis with probabilistic clinical relevance assessment and dose-response modeling.Frontiers in public health · 2026Pooled it
- Non-pharmacological therapies for sleep and occupational stress regulation among nightshift nurses: a systematic review and Bayesian network meta-analysis based on randomized controlled trials.Frontiers in public health · 2026Pooled it
- The Benefits of Non-Pharmaceutic Interventions on Intrinsic Capacity in Insulin-Resistant Adult and Geriatric Populations-A Narrative Review.Journal of clinical medicine · 2026Review
- Prevalence and Determinants of Poor Sleep Quality Among Patients with Established Coronary Heart Disease in Kazakhstan: A Multi-Center Cross-Sectional Study.Medical sciences (Basel, Switzerland) · 2026Article
- Longitudinal associations between exercise duration and sleep quality and poor sleep outcomes among college students: a latent growth curve modeling study.BMC psychology · 2026Article
Corrections and comments
PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.
Authors and funding
15 authors.
Funding
No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.
Abstract
backgroundSleep quality decreased can result in a major health issue in older people with age. While not all sleep changes are pathological in older people's life, severe disturbances may lead to depression, cognitive impairments, deterioration of quality of life, significant stresses for careers and increased healthcare costs. Despite the known benefits of exercise for improving sleep quality, it is necessary to identify the optimal exercise type and dose.
objectiveThis systematic review and network meta-analysis (NMA) combined to examine evaluated the existing evidence on the effectiveness of different exercises, and to examine the dose and response relationship between overall and specific types with improving sleep quality in older people.
methodsPubMed, Cochrane Central, Web of Science, and Embase were systematically searched for this review, including studies up to April 2025. Only randomized controlled trials were included. Studies involved at least one type of exercise intervention and reported changes in sleep quality assessments. To address the limitations of relying solely on statistical significance, we also calculated the minimal clinically important difference (MCID) to determine the smallest meaningful improvement in sleep quality among older people, both overall and across different exercise doses. Data analysis and visualization were conducted using the "meta", "netmeta", "MBNMA", and "ggplot2" packages in the R environment.
resultsA total of 62 RCTs involving 5005 older adults were included. Overall, exercise significantly improved sleep quality, with clinically meaningful improvements achieved from as early as 5 weeks of intervention. The optimal exercise type was combined aerobic and resistance training, followed by aerobic exercise, resistance training, walking, and yoga. The estimated optimal exercise dose was around 660 to 990 METs*min/week, with longer durations at 15 weeks producing the greatest benefits. Improvements were more pronounced among participants with poorer baseline sleep quality.
conclusionIf older people receive the most appropriate exercise intervention, they can obtain clinically meaningful benefits of improving sleep in the elderly within the WHO guidelines for exercise doses. The results support the WHO recommendation that combine aerobic exercise and resistance training should be an important part of interventions for the older people. PROTOCOL REGISTRATION: PROSPERO registration number: CRD42024566751.
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Registered trials
Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the Socratic graph.