How Exercise Can Lead To a Better Night’s Sleep

February 10 2014

How Exercise Can Lead To a Better Night’s Sleep

Do you lay in bed at night staring at the ceiling for hours on end? It’s downright frustrating when you get in bed at a decent time but can’t seem to fall asleep. You may catch a few hours of shut eye, but once the alarm clock goes off in the morning, you’ll feel like it was all for nothing. But there may be a solution to your long, restless nights: exercise.

According to the Centers For Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), there are an estimated 50-70 million Americans suffering from a sleep or wakefulness disorder. Sleep disorders affect the body in a number of ways, some of which includes the following:

• Increase risk of high blood pressure

• Increase risk of diabetes

• Increase risk of depression

• Increase risk of obesity

• Leads to memory problems

• Lowers immune system function

• and even increases the rate or mortality

How Exercise and Sleep Are Linked

It’s really no secret that regular exercise leads to better sleep. When you physically push your body to its limits, you’ll fall asleep faster and stay asleep longer at night. The body uses this time to repair muscle tissue and rejuvenate itself for the following day, so it only makes sense that exercise encourages sleep.

Recently, however, researchers at the Feinberg School of Medicine at Northwestern University performed a study to reveal the true link between exercise and sleep. Researchers split participants into two groups: one group that did not exercise and another that spend 30 minutes on a stationary bike or treadmill every other day.

After 16 weeks, they found that participants who exercises on a regular basis (in the second group) slept an average of 45 minutes longer than participants who did not exercise, and they reported feeling more rejuvenated and energetic in the morning.

Wait, There’s More…

This study also suggests that getting a good night’s sleep leads to a better workout. Researchers found that participants who slept for a minimum of 7 full hours at night experienced longer and more beneficial workout routines.

The Bottom Line

The bottom line is that exercise and sleep go hand in hand. Whether you’re trying to lose weight or build muscle (or both), you should make it a point to get a good night’s sleep. Doing so will improve your energy levels and mental clarity, which ultimately translates into a better workout session.