The Effects of Calisthenic Exercises on Sleep Quality, Fatigue, and Depression in Elder Adults

Abstract

Purpose: The physical, psychological, even economic and environmental changes emerged with age cause problems in sleep. The lack of exercise habits could increase the incidence of unfavorable sleep disorders with depression and fatigue. The aim of this non-randomized controlled study was to investigate the considerable effects of calisthenic exercises on sleep disorders, depression, and fatigue in elder adults. 
 Methods: The study was conducted at Pamukkale University and Hatay Mustafa Kemal University. Sixty-two individuals participated in the study between May 2018-October 2019. While the Calisthenic Group (n=32) performed calisthenic exercises for 30-45minutes/session and 3days/6weeks, and Control Group (n=30) did not performed. Fatigue, depression, and sleep quality levels were assessed using the Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS), Beck Depression Scale (BDI), and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), respectively. 
 Results: Statistically significant differences among FSS (p≤0.001), BDI (p=0.022), and PSQI (p=0.006) scores were found in the Calisthenic Group after the intervention, while there were differences only in fatigue (p=0.035) and total sleep quality (p=0.035) for the Control Group. We found that the Calisthenic Group’s PSQI latency, PSQI sleep duration and PSQI total scores decreased in post-treatment. Both fatigue severity (p≤0.001) and depression levels (p≤0.001) were highly correlated with PSQI-subscores, except for sleep duration subscore (FSS p=0.934, BDI p=0.276).
 Conclusion: Regular calisthenic exercise programs may enable elders to better manage changes in the aging process. Physiotherapists should consider including calisthenic exercises in the rehabilitation programs for its effects on all parameters of sleep, fatigue, mental and emotional status in this population.