The Effect of Strength Training on Quality of Sleep and Psychomotor Performance in Elderly Males

Sleep and Hypnosis: A Journal of Clinical Neuroscience and Psychopathology 2018;20(3):160-165

Khadijeh Irandoust, Morteza Taheri

http://dx.doi.org/10.5350/Sleep.Hypn.2017.19.0148

Study Objective: physical weakness in elderly is a key factor that affects the psychomotor performance such as speed processing and selective attention in elderly persons and they tend to experience difficulty sleeping compared to younger adults. Therefore, the aim of this study was to investigate the Effect of Strength Training on quality of sleep and Psychomotor performance in elderly males with sleep disorders

Methods: A quasi experimental with pre and posttest design were conducted in this research by which 36 elderly males were recruited from Preventive healthcare Center and randomly divided into two groups either strength training (3 sessions a week for 12 wk.), or a control group. The participants were asked to fill the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) at the beginning and end of the study to identify sleep problems. Body composition measures [Waist Hip Ratio (WHR), and Percent Body Fat (PBF)] which are supposed to have effect on psychomotor performance and sleep quality were controlled using body composition analyzer. Cognitrone test (COG) in Vienna system was used to measure speed processing and selective attention as psychometric performance.

Results: The results suggested that quality of sleep and psychomotor performance including speed processing and selective attention were significantly improved in experimental group (p?0.05).

Conclusions: As a result, strength training in the elderly is of utmost importance in improving quality of sleep and psychomotor characteristics improvement.

Keywords: Elderly, strength training, attention, concentration.