Physical exercise programmes to improve insomnia or poor sleep quality in non-hospitalised elderly people: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

Meta-analyses confirmed statistically significant benefits of physical exercise on sleep latency and sleep efficiency in non-hospitalised older adults.

• Seven experimental or quasi-experimental studies with intervention groups and/or controls published in the last decade were analyzed.
• Interventions included aerobic exercise, resistance training, tai chi, and aquatic activities.
• Objective measurement methods including actigraphy and polysomnography were used to assess outcomes.
• Participants had a mean age above 60 years and presented with sleep problems, insomnia, or an interest in improving sleep quality.

Physical exercise interventions resulted in improvements across multiple sleep parameters including sleep latency, sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and wake time after sleep onset.

• All four sleep parameters (sleep latency, sleep efficiency, total sleep time, and wake time after sleep onset) showed improvements following exercise interventions.
• Particularly notable statistically significant benefits were observed in sleep latency and sleep efficiency.
• The review included studies from a search period spanning the last decade.
• Searches were conducted across PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL Complete, and Scopus databases.

The systematic review and meta-analysis included seven experimental or quasi-experimental studies identified through a structured search of four major databases.

• The search was conducted between January 1, 2025 and March 31, 2025 following PRISMA guidelines.
• The review was registered in PROSPERO with the number CRD420251009838.
• Databases consulted included PubMed, Web of Science, CINAHL Complete, and Scopus.
• Study quality was assessed using the RoB-2 tool for randomized and crossover studies and the Joanna Briggs Institute critical appraisal tool.

Physical activity programs are supported as cost-effective, safe, and practical interventions to enhance sleep quality in community and healthcare settings for older adults.

• Findings support implementation in both community and healthcare settings.
• Exercise interventions were characterized as cost-effective, safe, and practical.
• The study population was non-hospitalised elderly people, making findings applicable to community-dwelling older adults.
• Insomnia and poor sleep quality among older people were noted to increasingly affect both physical and psychological health.