Effect of Aerobic vs Resistance Exercises on Sleep Quality, Insomnia and Functional Capacity among Postmenopausal Women

Background:

The global population of postmenopausal women is increasing over 26% of women aged 50 accounted globally in the year 2021, which was at 22% a decade earlier. A woman undergoing the process of menopausal transition goes through lots of physiological changes with her age and faces new symptoms. Upon reaching this phase, more than 50% of women reports problem with their sleep. Sleep disorders have many negative effects on health, including an increase in risk of chronic diseases, decreased daily functioning, decreased mood, reduced use of healthcare and female sexual dysfunction. One of the major symptoms that a woman faces during her menopause is insomnia; poor sleep initiation, maintenance, duration of quality that impairs daily functioning is often described as insomnia; loss of functional capacity among postmenopausal women is also a common feature.

Need of the Study:

There exists evidence that poor sleep quality and insomnia is associated with deteriorated functional capacity. To the best of our knowledge, there is scarcity of researches comparing the effect of resistance exercises vs aerobic exercises on sleep quality, insomnia and functional capacity among postmenopausal women.

Aim:

The aim of this study is to study the effect of aerobic vs resistance exercise on sleep quality, insomnia and functional capacity among postmenopausal women.

Methodology:

In this study, postmenopausal women will be screened first and those fulfilling the inclusion criteria of our study will be selected. The written consent will be signed from the patient to ensure that they are willingly participating in the study. The consent shall be taken before commencement of the study. The participants will be explained about the study procedures. The women will be randomly divided into two groups (A and B) of equal participants i.e. 12 women in each group using block randomization method. Then, the baseline assessments of sleep quality, insomnia and functional capacity will be done; and all the evaluative measures will be done at the start and after the end of the study.

In this study, postmenopausal women will be screened first and those fulfilling the inclusion criteria of our study will be selected. The written consent will be signed from the patient to ensure that they are willingly participating in the study. The consent shall be taken before commencement of the study. The participants will be explained about the study procedures. The women will be randomly divided into two groups (A and B) of equal participants i.e. 12 women in each group using block randomization method. Then, the baseline assessments of sleep quality, insomnia and functional capacity will be done; and all the evaluative measures will be done at the start and after the end of the study.

Protocol for aerobic exercise:

The exercise session will be of 50 minutes that consists of 10 minutes of warm up, 30 minutes on the treadmill and 10 minutes of cool down for three days per week for 4 weeks.  Participants will receive moderate aerobic training in the form of 30 min of treadmill walking. The maximum heart rate (MHR) will be estimated by subtracting 220 by the age of the participant (MHR = 220- age); and the corresponding value to a target heart rate of 65-75% of HR max will be calculated and achieved by the participant. Warm up and cool down will be performed before and after the session respectively.

Protocol for resistance exercise:

6 exercises will be taught to the subjects using the theraband and they are the diagonal flexion, concentration curl, dynamic hug, seated row, side bend and extension of hips and legs. 8 repetitions for 3 set per exercise with 2 minutes rest periods for the subjects in 3 days of a week for 4 weeks will be the time period for the resistance exercises. Warm up and cool down will be performed before and after the session respectively.