Effectiveness of aerobic gymnastic exercise on stress, fatigue, and sleep quality during postpartum: A pilot randomized controlled trial. (January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Yang, Chiu-Ling; Chen, Chung-Hey
• Is Part Of: International journal of nursing studies. Volume 77(2018)
• Page Start: 1
• Page End: 7
• Publication Date: 2018-01
• Subjects: Gymnastic exercise -- Postpartum -- Perceived stress -- Fatigue -- Sleep quality; Nursing -- Periodicals; Nursing -- Periodicals; Soins infirmiers -- Périodiques; Nursing; Periodicals; 610.73
• DOI: 10.1016/j.ijnurstu.2017.09.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0020-7489

Abstract

Abstract: Background: Gymnastics is a preferable safe exercise for postnatal women performing regularly. Objective: The aim of this pilot randomized controlled trial was to determine whether the aerobic gymnastic exercise improves stress, fatigue, sleep quality and depression in postpartum women. Design: Single-blinded, randomized controlled trial held from December 2014 until September 2015. Setting: Postnatal clinic of a medical center in southern Taiwan. Participants: 140 eligible postnatal women were systematically assigned, with a random start to experimental (n = 70) or a control (n = 70) group. Interventions: Engage in aerobic gymnastic exercise at least three times (15 min per section) a week for three months using compact disc in the home. Outcome measures: Perceived Stress Scale, Postpartum Fatigue Scale, Postpartum Sleep Quality Scale, and Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Results: In a two-way ANOVA with repeated measures, the aerobic gymnastic exercise group showed significant decrease in fatigue after practicing exercise 4 weeks and the positive effects extended to the 12-week posttests. Paired t -tests revealed that aerobic gymnastic exercise participants had improved significantly in perceived stress and fatigue after 4 weeks gymnastic exercise; these positive effects extended to the 12-week posttests. In addition, the changes in physical symptoms-related sleep inefficiency after 12 weeks gymnastic exercise were significantly decreased in the experimental group compared with the control group. Relevance to clinical practice: The findings can be used to encourage postnatal women to perform moderate-intensity gymnastic exercise in their daily life to reduce their stress, fatigue and improve sleep quality.