Razi Journal of Medical Sciences

  Background: Physical activity is an effective factor in pulmonary functions and sleep quality. However information on the rate of changes in exercise-induced respiratory parameters associated with sleep quality is not available. The aim of this study was to compare the parameters of the sleep quality and respiratory function in active and none active men.

  Methods : The present study is a semi-experimental . Thirty healthy young men with an age range of 20-24 years were enrolled in this study. Then the participants were randomly assigned to either an active (N=15) or none active (N=15) groups. Respiratory parameters including FEV1 (forced expiratory volume in 1second (% , FEV1, MVV (maximum voluntary ventilation VC (vital capacity), FVC ) forced vital capacity), MEF25% and MEF75% ) maximum forced flow rates at 25and 75% of expired FVC) were measured by spirometer. Pittsburg Sleep Quality Index questionnaire (PSQI) was used to evaluate sleep quality. The research data were analyzed using the independent t test, Pearson’s correlation coefficient and Multiple Linear Regression .

  Results: The active group showed significant increased in FVC(p=0.023), VC(p=0.002), MVV(p=0.001), FEV1(p=0.001), %FEV1(p=0.031), MEF25%(p=0.026), EF75%(p=0.042) when compared with the none active group. Score of Sleep Quality Index was significantly lower in the active group (p= 0.002). In the active group with regarding to increasing in per unit of, FEV1, MVV, VC, FVC and MEF75 % respectively equal to 0.217, 0.127, 0.370, 0.386 and 0.194 a reduction in per unit score of sleep quality was observed(p>0.05).

  Conclusions: The results of this study show the beneficial effect of physical activity by increasing pulmonary volumes and capacities and as a result improving sleep quality. However, correlation analyses show no significant relationship between respiratory parameters and score of sleep quality.