Comparative Study of the Effect of Resistance Exercises versus Aerobic Exercises in Postmenopausal Women Suffering from Insomnia

STUDY OBJECTIVES: The main objective of the study is to compare the effectiveness of resistance exercises versus aerobic exercises in postmenopausal women suffering from insomnia using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). MATERIALS AND METHODS: Sixty postmenopausal women with menopause <10 years, suffering from insomnia for >1 month and on no supplementary exercises were recruited and categorized conveniently into two groups of 30 each. Group A received resistance exercises and Group B aerobic exercises. PSQI was used to screen postmenopausal women. Women on hormone replacement therapy, with artificial menopause, with diagnosed osteoporosis (t > 2) were excluded. Group A underwent general strengthening program in the form of closed-chain exercise. Group B received aerobic exercises after calculating target heart rate (HR) using Karvonen’s formula in the form of brisk walking three times a week at 30%–60% of HRmax. RESULTS: Paired t-test done to evaluate pre- and postmean values of PSQI for Group A. P < 0.001 which is highly statistically significant. Paired t-test done to evaluate pre- and postmean values of PSQI for Group B. P < 0.001, which is highly statistically significant. Unpaired t-test was carried out to compare the mean difference (pre-post) of PSQI values of both the groups. P < 0.001 which is highly significant. The mean difference of Group A (i.e., 4) is more than the mean difference of Group B (i.e., 2.63) indicating that the intervention of resistance exercises is more effective. CONCLUSION: Aerobic exercises and resistance exercises, both are effective in reducing insomnia in postmenopausal women, but resistance exercises are more beneficial than aerobic exercises.