Low Intensity Aerobic Exercise Improves the Motor Perceptual Functions in Aged Males with Insomnia

A growing literature supports the detrimental consequences of insomnia on cognitive, motor functioning and psychomotor performance such as motor and cognitive reaction time in aged populations. Thus, the purpose of the research was to investigate the effect of low intensity aerobic on perceptual motor functions in aged males with insomnia. 31 elderly males with insomnia were randomly assigned to either exercise (n=16) or control groups (n=15). Exercise group engaged in 30 min of aerobic exercise 3 times per week for 16 weeks with intensity of 40-50% of maximal heart rate. Perceptual motor functions and self-reported sleep quality were assessed at baseline and at 16 weeks by the Vienna System Test and Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) respectively. Independent and dependent t-tests were used to analyze the data. It was suggested that both motor and cognitive reaction time were improved after exercise training (p=0.001), meanwhile no significant change was found in the control group (p≥0.05). Furthermore, quality of sleep was improved significantly in the exercise group (p=0.001). Although insomnia could result in perceptual motor functions in aged populations, the aerobic exercise would alleviate the deleterious effect of insomnia in decisive task among elderly. The result raises the possibility that doing the light aerobic exercise may be a key strategy for increasing the potentials of perceptual motor functions of aged population.