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CC BY-NC-ND 4.0 · Sleep Sci 2019; 12(02): 116-121
DOI: 10.5935/1984-0063.20190064
REVIEW

Exercise as a favorable non-pharmacologic treatment to Sleep-Related Movement Disorders: a review

Beatriz Franco
1   Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Educação Física - Campinas - São Paulo - Brazil.
,
Paulo Daubian-Nosé
2   Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Aplicadas - Limeira - São Paulo - Brazil.
,
Marco Túlio De-Mello
3   Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais, Professor Associado II do Departamento de Esportes, da Escola de Educação Física, Fisioterapia e Terapia Ocupacional - Belo Horizonte - Minas Gerais - Brazil.
,
Andrea Maculano Esteves
2   Universidade Estadual de Campinas, Faculdade de Ciências Aplicadas - Limeira - São Paulo - Brazil.
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Non-pharmacologic treatments of Sleep-Related Movement Disorders (SRMD) are already well described in the literature. The physical activity has been presented as a factor to improve quality of life and in several aspects related to sleep disorders. Thus, the purpose of this review was to analyze the benefits of physical exercise and your indication to improve to SRMD. In the research, 19 studies were found that evaluate the efficacy of physical exercise on SRMD in both human and animal models. The results demonstrate that both acute and chronic physical exercises are effective in reducing symptoms of SRMD. However, most studies were performed with aerobic exercise. Three studies evaluated the efficacy of combined exercise, and no studies have investigated the relationship of resistance exercise. Regarding the mechanisms involved, a study discusses the relationship between the release of beta-endorphin and the exercise practice, and two studies with animal models show the changes of the dopaminergic system after physical exercise. From this evidences, we suggested that physical exercise is a favorable non-pharmacological treatment for SRMD. However, more studies should be available for a better understanding of the molecular mechanisms involved, as well of the type, duration and better time of the day to practice.

Restless Legs Syndrome - Movement Disorders - Physical Exercise - Sleep Wake Disorders


Publication History

Received: 22 January 2018

Accepted: 03 April 2019

Article published online:
31 October 2023

© 2023. Brazilian Sleep Association. This is an open access article published by Thieme under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution-NonDerivative-NonCommercial License, permitting copying and reproduction so long as the original work is given appropriate credit. Contents may not be used for commercial purposes, or adapted, remixed, transformed or built upon. (https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/)

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