The purpose of this observational study is to determine whether moderate-intensity
exercises improve the quality of sleep for subjects with insomnia. The duration of this
observational study was four weeks. For the first two weeks of the observational study,
subjects served as their own control and completed a sleep log. At the beginning of
the third week, subjects were randomly split into (1) Group One with moderate-intensity
exercise or (2) Group Two with high-intensity exercise. Two-tailed t-tests displayed
significant improvements in quality of sleep with the implementation of both moderate
and high-intensity exercise. However, Group One participants were found to feel
significantly more well-rested than Group Two. The moderate-intensity exercise group
showed improvement in quality of sleep, the number of awakenings, and restfulness.
In comparison, the high-intensity exercise group demonstrated improvement in the
number of awakenings and daytime sleepiness; although, without reported improvement
in sleep quality. There were variables in participants’ sleeping environments, including
changes in sleep location, travel, sleep-inducing medication, alcohol use, anxiety,
unanticipated noise disturbances, and use of electronic devices before bed that was
not controlled for in this observational study.