Quantifying the effect of afternoon moderate-intensity exercise on sleep quality and quantity in healthy adult males using polysomnography

Matthew Morrison PhD; Jonathon Weakley; Gregory D. Roach; Charli Sargent; Dean J. Miller; Carissa Gardiner; Shona L Halson

doi:10.1016/j.jsams.2025.04.008

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Quantifying the effect of afternoon moderate-intensity exercise on sleep quality and quantity in healthy adult males using polysomnography

Journal article

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Quantifying the effect of afternoon moderate-intensity exercise on sleep quality and quantity in healthy adult males using polysomnography

Matthew Morrison PhD, Jonathon Weakley, Gregory D. Roach, Charli Sargent, Dean J. Miller, Carissa Gardiner and Shona L Halson

Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Vol.28(9), pp.740-747

2025

DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jsams.2025.04.008

PMID: 40393848

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Abstract

Cycling

Health

Physical activity

Sleep architecture

Sleep duration

Sleep hygiene

Objectives To investigate the effect of afternoon moderate-intensity cycling exercise on objective and subjective sleep in healthy adult males. Design Repeated-measures, counter-balanced, crossover study design. Methods To assess the effect of moderate-intensity afternoon exercise on sleep quality and quantity, 12 healthy adult males who were identified as good sleepers (< 5 on Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index) completed either moderate-intensity cycling exercise for 40 min at 70 % HRmax at ~ 15:30 h or sedentary activities. Polysomnography was used to measure sleep during a 9-hour sleep opportunity (23:00 h to 08:00 h). Sleep was subjectively assessed using questionnaires 30 min after waking. Results There were no statistically significant changes in objective or subjective sleep quality or quantity between conditions. The inter-quartile range for total sleep time (exercise: 51.5 min vs no exercise: 13.4 min) and sleep efficiency (exercise: 9.5 % vs no exercise: 2.5 %) suggests that there was more individual variability in subsequent sleep after afternoon exercise compared to no exercise. Exercise appeared to have a moderate effect on reducing total sleep time (mean ± SD; control 493.7 ± 12.6 min vs exercise: 471.5 ± 55.2 min; Cohen's d: − 0.56), sleep efficiency (control 91.4 ± 2.3 % vs exercise: 87.3 ± 10.2 %; Cohen's d: − 0.56), and delaying REM onset latency (control: 76.1 ± 45.1 min vs exercise: 102.8 ± 46.9 min; r: 0.33), although the results did not reach statistical significance (p > 0.05). Conclusions Healthy adult males can complete moderate-intensity exercise in the afternoon without compromising subsequent sleep. Individual responses in objective sleep outcomes may vary after exercise.

Details

Title: Quantifying the effect of afternoon moderate-intensity exercise on sleep quality and quantity in healthy adult males using polysomnography
Authors: Matthew Morrison PhD (Corresponding Author) - University of the Sunshine Coast, Queensland, Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science
Jonathon Weakley - Leeds Beckett University
Gregory D. Roach - Central Queensland University
Charli Sargent - Central Queensland University
Dean J. Miller - Central Queensland University
Carissa Gardiner - Australian Catholic University
Shona L Halson - Australian Catholic University
Publication details: Journal of Science and Medicine in Sport, Vol.28(9), pp.740-747
Publisher: Elsevier Australia
Date published: 2025
DOI: 10.1016/j.jsams.2025.04.008
ISSN: 1878-1861
PMID: 40393848
Data Availability: Data may be made available by contacting the corresponding author.
Grant note: This work was supported by Australian Catholic University (Grant Number: 2019001260).
Organisation Unit: Centre for Human Factors and Systems Science
Language: English
Record Identifier: 991128803402621
Output Type: Journal article

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