The effect of Pilates exercise on sleep quality and fatigue among female student dormitory residents

Abstract Background: Sleep quality and fatigue have been documented as a challenge for college students, with reports indicating impacts on daytime functioning and academic achievement. The present study evaluates the effect of Pilates exercise on sleep and fatigue among female student residents in the dormitory.Methods: This quasi-experimental study involving 67 participants consisted of one experimental group (assigned Pilates exercise) and one control group. Participants in the experimental group received three one-hour sessions of Pilates exercise weekly for eight-week. Sleep quality and fatigue levels were measured by the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and standard Multidimensional Fatigue Inventory (MFI-20), respectively. These variables were assessed at baseline, weeks four and eight of the study.Results: After four and eight weeks, findings showed an improvement in the sleep quality score (p < 0.001 and p < 0.0001, respectively). After four weeks of intervention, the mean score of the subjective sleep quality and daytime dysfunction in the Pilates group was significantly less than the control group (p < 0.001 and p < 0.002, respectively). Eight weeks of intervention had an additional effect on sleep duration and habitual sleep efficiency (p < 0.04 and p < 0.034, respectively). Also, Pilates exercise significantly reduced the total score of fatigue and its dimensions in weeks four and eight, compared to the control group (p < 0.001).Conclusions: Eight weeks of the Pilate's exercises had a significant improvement in most components of sleep quality; however, the effect of Pilates exercise on fatigue was evident from week four of the intervention.Trial registration: The study was registered on 6/2/2015 in the Iranian Registry of Clinical Trials (IRCT) with IRCT201412282324N15.