Comparison of the Effect of Acupressure and Pilates-Based Exercises on Sleep Quality of Postmenopausal Women: A Randomized Controlled trial

Maryam Ahmadinezhad, Marzieh Kargar, Fatemeh Vizeshfar Vizeshfar, Mohammad J Hadianfard

Abstract


Abstract
Background: Postmenopausal women experience a variety of symptoms, among which sleep disorder is one of the most common problems. Acupressure and Pilates exercise programs are effective nonpharmaceutical treatments which can improve sleep quality. In the present study, we aimed to compare the effects of acupressure and Pilates‑based exercises on the sleep quality of postmenopausal women referred to medical clinics.

Materials and Methods: In this single‑blinded randomized controlled clinical trial, we recruited 108 women aged 40–60 years who were randomly assigned into one control and two intervention groups using balanced block randomization method (three groups of 36 each). The patients in the Pilates exercise group participated in an exercise training program of three 1‑hour sessions per week for 6 consecutive weeks. The participants of acupressure group received acupressure intervention three times a week for 6 weeks. The sleep quality of all participants was assessed and recorded using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) once before and once after the intervention.

Results: The results showed no statistically significant difference among the three groups on the total scores of sleep quality after the intervention. The intragroup comparison revealed that the changes in the mean total scores were significant in both the intervention groups (P ˂ 0.001) but not in the control group (P = 0.76).

Conclusions: Pilates‑based exercises and acupressure can
effectively improve women’s sleep quality. Both techniques can be applied as effective alternative and complementary methods for improving sleep quality during the postmenopausal period.


Keywords


Acupressure; exercise movement techniques; Iran; post menopause; sleep

Full Text:

PDF

References


Staessen J, Celis H, Fagard R. The epidemiology of the association between hypertension and menopause. J Hum Hypertens 1998;12:587‑92.

Pérez JAM, Garcia FC, Palacios S, Pérez M. Epidemiology of risk factors and symptoms associated with menopause in Spanish women. Maturitas 2009;62:30‑6.

Danfurs. Gynecology. 2, editor. Tehran: Sobhan; 2008. 4. Fritz M, Speroff L. Clinical gynecologic endocrinology and infertility. Westford: Wolters Kluwer Health/Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2011.

Sakala EP. High‑yield obstetrics and gynecology. Lippincott Williams & Wilkins; 2006.

Taibi DM, Landis CA, Vitiello MV. Concordance of polysomnographic and actigraphic measurement of sleep and wake in older women with insomnia. J Clin Sleep Med 2013;9:217‑25.

Blackwell T, Redline S, Ancoli‑Israel S, Schneider JL, Surovec S, Johnson NL, et al. Comparison of sleep parameters from actigraphy and polysomnography in older women: The SOF study. Sleep 2008;31:283‑91.

Scott JR, Disaia PJ, Hammond CB, Spellacy WN, Gordon JD. Danforth’s handbook of obstetrics and gynecology. Lippincott‑Raven, Philadelphia, PA; 1996.

Gooneratne NS. Complementary and alternative medicine for sleep disturbances in older adults. Clin Geriatr Med 2008;24:121‑38.

Cherniack EP. The use of alternative medicine for the treatment of insomnia in the elderly. Psychogeriatrics 2006;6:21‑30.

Agarwal A, Ranjan R, Dhiraaj S, Lakra A, Kumar M, Singh U. Acupressure for prevention of pre-operative anxiety: A prospective, randomised, placebo controlled study. Anaesthesia 2005;60:978‑81.

Sun JL, Sung MS, Huang MY, Cheng GC, Lin CC. Effectiveness of acupressure for residents of long‑term care facilities with insomnia: A randomized controlled trial. Int J Nurs Stud 2010;47:798‑805.

Kober A, Scheck T, Schubert B, Strasser H, Gustorff B, Bertalanffy P, et al. Auricular acupressure as a treatment for anxiety in prehospital transport settings. J Am Soc Anesthesiol 2003;98:1328‑32.

Tsay SL, Rong JR, Lin PF. THIS ARTICLE HAS BEEN RETRACTED Acupoints massage in improving the quality of sleep and quality of life in patients with end-stage renal disease. J Adv Nurs 2003;42:134‑42.

Shafiei M, Atri B. Pilates exercise program. 1st, editor. Tehran: Talia; 2006. [In perssion].

Kloubec JA. Pilates for improvement of muscle endurance, flexibility, balance, and posture. J Strength Cond Res 2010;24:661‑7.

Bernardo LM. The effectiveness of Pilates training in healthy adults: An appraisal of the research literature. J Bodywork Mov Ther 2007;11:106‑10.

Adamany K, Loigerot D. The pilates edge: An athlete’s guide to strength and performance: Penguin; 2004.

Nordio M, Romanelli F. Efficacy of wrists overnight compression (HT 7 point) on insomniacs: Possible role of melatonin? Minerva Med 2008;99:539‑47.

Cerrone R, Giani L, Galbiati B, Messina G, Casiraghi M, Proserpio E, et al. Efficacy of HT 7 point acupressure stimulation in the treatment of insomnia in cancer patients and in patients suffering from disorders other than cancer. Minerva Med 2008;99:535‑7.

Akiyoshi J. Neuropharmacological and genetic study of panic disorder. Nihon Shinkei Seishin Yakurigaku Zasshi 1999;19:93‑9.

Kotani N, Hashimoto H, Sato Y, Sessler DI, Yoshioka H, Kitayama M, et al. Preoperative intradermal acupuncture reduces postoperative pain, nausea and vomiting, analgesic requirement, and sympathoadrenal responses. Anesthesiology 2001;95:349‑56.

Basampur S, Nikbakht A, Mehran A. Effect of acupressure on anxiety and vital signs of patients before abdominal surgery. J Nurs Midwifery Tehran Univ Med Sci 2008;2:23‑44.

Hoseinabadi R, Nourozi K, Pouresmail Z, Karimlu M, Sadat SM, Cheraghi M. The effect of acupressure on quality of sleep in Iranian elderly nursing home residents. Rehabil Sci Res 2008;9:8‑14.

Malekzadegan A, Moradkhani M. The effect of relaxation on sleep disturbance during the third trimester. J Iran Univ Med Sci 2010;23:52‑8.

Rasuli F, Hagiamiri P. Mental health problems in postmenopausal women. Life Magazine 2004;20:4‑16.

Sedighi J, Maftoon F, Moshrefi F. Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM). knowledge, attitude and practice in Tehran. Iran Payesh 2004;4:279‑89.

Chen ML, Lin LC, Wu SC, Lin JG. The effectiveness of residents. J Gerontol A Biol Sci Med Sci 1999;54:M389‑94.

da Silva JBG, Nakamura MU, Cordeiro JA, Kulay L. Acupuncture for insomnia in pregnancy–A prospective, quasi‑randomised, controlled study. Acupuncture Med 2005;23:47‑51.

Marques NR, Morcelli MH, Hallal CZ, Gonçalves M. EMG activity of trunk stabilizer muscles during Centering Principle of Pilates Method. J Bodywork Mov Ther 2013;17:185‑91.

MirMohammadalie M, Ashrafinia F, Rajabi H. Effects of exercise on sleep quality in postpartum women. J Nurs Midwifery Tehran Univ Med Sci 2012;1:20‑9.

Arab Z, Shariaty A, Bahrami H. Effect of acupressure on quality of sleep in patients undergoing hemodialysis. Orumiye School Nurs Midwifery 2012;2:237‑45.

Caldwell K, Harrison M, Adams M, Travis Triplett N. Effect of Pilates and taiji quan training on self‑efficacy, sleep quality, mood, and physical performance of college students. J Bodywork Mov Ther 2009;13:155‑63.

Leopoldino AAO, Avelar NCP, Passos Jr GB, Santana Jr NÁP, Teixeira Jr VP, de Lima VP, et al. Effect of Pilates on sleep quality and quality of life of sedentary population. J Bodywork Mov Ther 2013;17:5‑10.

Rizk SA. Effect of acupressure on menopausal symptoms among women. J American Sci 2013;9:416-24.

Oral EA, Simha V, Ruiz E, Andewelt A, Premkumar A, Snell P, et al. Leptin‑replacement therapy for lipodystrophy. N Eng J Med 2002;8:570‑8.

Karimian N, Rezaeian M, Nassaji F, Velaei N, Gachkar L. The effects of physical activity on premenstrual‑syndrome. J Zanjan Univ Med Sci 2006;13:8‑15.

Nikbakht M, Ebadi G. The comparison of two training methods of walking and runing on the premenstrual syndrome (PMS) in high school girls of Ahwaz. Res Sport Sci 2007;14:54‑69.


Refbacks

  • There are currently no refbacks.