Exercise for Chronic Insomnia: Current and Future Perspectives

Giselle Soares Passos^* & Marcos Gonçalves de Santana

Universidade Federal de Goiás, Jataí, Goiás, Brazil

Dr. Giselle Soares Passos, Universidade Federal de Goiás, Jataí, Goiás, Brazil.

Keywords: Chronic Insomnia; Pharmacotherapy; Sleep Hygiene

Abstract

Chronic insomnia is one of the most prevalent sleep disturbances around the world affecting around 15% of the general population [1]. Insomnia is characterized by difficulty falling or staying asleep, waking up too early, or experiencing sleep dissatisfaction for at least 3 months [2,3]. Insomnia affects daytime functioning and causes deficits in attention, concentration, and memory, as well as fatigue and negative mood, decreasing the quality of life of patients.
In many countries, the pharmacotherapy is the first-choice treatment, although of its association with mortality, adverse side effects, tolerance and dependence, withdrawal effects [4], and high costs [5]. In the last decades, many alternative treatments have been studied on sleep, and mood consequences of chronic insomnia [6,7]. Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is the most studied and well-established technique to decrease insomnia symptoms [8]. In the last years, new techniques have been proposed. Exercise is a promising alternative treatment to improve sleep on insomniacs [9]. Considering it is a low cost, easy access and no side effects alternative therapy [10] improving immune function, quality of life and general health of insomnia patients [9], its clinical use have been be encouraged.

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