Insomnia and Exercise

Put insomnia to rest with daily exercise. Regular aerobic activity improves sleep quality, mood and vitality.
Looking for a drug-free way to increase the number of zzz’s you get at night? Start pounding the pavement. In a recent small study of sedentary adults 55 and older with insomnia, those who embarked on a regular exercise program improved both their sleep quality and duration.
Sleep problems increase with age, but sleep medication can pose risks for older adults. Seniors are more likely to be taking other drugs that could potentially interact with sleep medication. Seniors are also at greater risk of falling, so pills that cause grogginess or sedation can be particularly dangerous.
Over the course of 16 weeks, the study’s participants exercised for 30 to 40 minutes four days per week. In addition to reporting better sleep, exercisers said they felt less depressed and more alert during the day.