The effects of physical activity on sleep: a meta-analytic review
Kredlow MA, Capozzoli MC, Hearon BA, Calkins AW, Otto MW · Journal of Behavioral Medicine 38(3):427–449 · 2015
Key finding
Regular exercise modestly improves total sleep, efficiency and deep sleep.
Citation
Related guides
Related studies
Effects of exercise on the resting heart rateEndurance training lowers resting heart rate by ~5 bpm on average; yoga also lowers it.Effects of evening exercise on sleep in healthy participantsEvening exercise does not harm sleep — unless vigorous exercise ends within ~1 h of bedtime.The bidirectional relationship between exercise and sleepBetter sleep → more exercise → better sleep: a loop worth starting anywhere.Effects of chronic exercise on feelings of energy and fatigueAcross 70 trials, regular exercise reliably increased feelings of energy and reduced fatigue — Galpin's 'stress inoculation'.The post-lunch dip in performanceThe early-afternoon dip is a normal circadian feature, largely independent of lunch — 'that's the point'.
Track it, don't guess it
SleepShred turns this research into a 20-second daily habit: log your night, see which of your own behaviours move your sleep, and screen for the disorders nobody diagnoses.
Get SleepShred for iPhoneEducational summary of published research, not medical advice. Screening scores are not diagnoses. If a score is elevated or you feel unwell, talk to a clinician.