Download PDF
Int J Sports Med 2022; 43(09): 768-772
DOI: 10.1055/a-1756-5005
Review

Technology and Sleep Quality: Friend or Foe? Let the Exergames Come into Play!

João Paulo Pereira Rosa 
1   Faculdade Educação Física e Dança, Universidade Federal de Goias – Campus Samambaia, Goiania, Brazil
,
Paulo Gentil 
1   Faculdade Educação Física e Dança, Universidade Federal de Goias – Campus Samambaia, Goiania, Brazil
,
Beat Knechtle 
2   Medbase St. Gallen Am Vadianplatz, St. Gallen, Switzerland
3   Institute of Primary Care, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland
,
Rodrigo Luiz Vancini 
4   Centro de Educação Física e Desportos, Universidade Federal do Espírito Santo, Vitória, Brazil
,
Mário Hebling Campos 
1   Faculdade Educação Física e Dança, Universidade Federal de Goias – Campus Samambaia, Goiania, Brazil
,
Carlos Alexendre Vieira 
1   Faculdade Educação Física e Dança, Universidade Federal de Goias – Campus Samambaia, Goiania, Brazil
,
Marília Santos Andrade 
5   Departamento de Fisiologia, Universidade Federal de São Paulo, São Paulo, Brazil
,
Claudio Andre Barbosa de Lira 
1   Faculdade Educação Física e Dança, Universidade Federal de Goias – Campus Samambaia, Goiania, Brazil
› Author Affiliations Funding This study was financed in part by the Coordenação de Aperfeiçoamento de Pessoal de Nível Superior – Brasil (CAPES) – Finance Code 001. CABL and PG are productivity fellowship at the Conselho Nacional de Desenvolvimento Científico e Tecnológico (CNPq, Brazil).
› Further Information
Also available at
    Permissions and Reprints

Abstract

Low sleep quality is associated with many health problems. Although physical exercise is a nonpharmacological tool that positively impacts sleep quality, there are many barriers (lack of energy, lack of motivation, lack of skills, lack of resources, and fear of injury) for people to adopt an active lifestyle. Exergames are an alternative way of physical exercise that are funnier and more attractive than traditional forms of physical exercise and, therefore, has the potential to increase adherence to a physical exercise program. Given that previous studies showed that exergames presents similar physiological and psychological outcomes to traditional forms of exercise, we aimed to discuss in this narrative review potentials applications, limitations and perspectives of using exergames to improve sleep quality.

Key words

sleep - exergames - exercise - circadian rhythm


Publication History

Received: 16 July 2021

Accepted: 24 January 2022

Article published online:
21 March 2022

© 2022. Thieme. All rights reserved.

Georg Thieme Verlag
Rüdigerstraße 14,70469 Stuttgart, Germany

 

  • References

  • 1 Chaput J-P, Dutil C, Featherstone R. et al. Sleep timing, sleep consistency, and health in adults: a systematic review. Appl Physiol Nutr Metab 2020; 45: S232-S247
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 2 Grandner MA, Hale L, Moore M. et al. Mortality associated with short sleep duration: the evidence, the possible mechanisms, and the future. Sleep Med Rev 2010; 14: 191-203
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 3 Chattu VK, Manzar M, Kumary S. et al. The global problem of insufficient sleep and its serious public health implications. In: Healthcare. Multidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute; 2019: 1
    Google Scholar
  • 4 McCall WV. Sleep in the elderly: burden, diagnosis, and treatment. Prim Care Companion J Clin Psychiatry 2004; 6: 9-20
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 5 Ohayon MM, Caulet M, Arbus L. et al. Are prescribed medications effective in the treatment of insomnia complaints?. J Psychosom Res 1999; 47: 359-368
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 6 Schroeck JL, Ford J, Conway EL. et al. Review of safety and efficacy of sleep medicines in older adults. Clin Ther 2016; 38: 2340-2372
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 7 Vanderlinden J, Boen F, van Uffelen J. Effects of physical activity programs on sleep outcomes in older adults: a systematic review. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2020; 17: 11
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 8 Christensen MA, Bettencourt L, Kaye L. et al. Direct measurements of smartphone screen-time: relationships with demographics and sleep. PLoS One 2016; 11: e0165331
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 9 Silva DR, Werneck AO, Tomeleri CM. et al. Screen-based sedentary behaviors, mental health, and social relationships among adolescents. Mot Rev Educ Fis 2017; 23: e101786
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 10 Sigman A. Time for a view on screen time. Arch Dis Child 2012; 97: 935-942
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 11 Mougharbel F, Goldfield GS. Psychological correlates of sedentary screen time behaviour among children and adolescents: a narrative review. Curr Obes Rep 2020; 9: 493-511
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 12 Robinson TN, Banda JA, Hale L. et al. Screen media exposure and obesity in children and adolescents. Pediatrics 2017; 140: S97-S101
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 13 Green A, Cohen-Zion M, Haim A. et al. Evening light exposure to computer screens disrupts human sleep, biological rhythms, and attention abilities. Chronobiol Int 2017; 34: 855-865
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 14 Amaral FGd, Cipolla-Neto J. A brief review about melatonin, a pineal hormone. Arch Endocrinol Metab 2018; 62: 472-479
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 15 Reiter RJ. Pineal melatonin: cell biology of its synthesis and of its physiological interactions. Endocr Rev 1991; 12: 151-180
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 16 West KE, Jablonski MR, Warfield B. et al. Blue light from light-emitting diodes elicits a dose-dependent suppression of melatonin in humans. J Appl Physiol (1985) 2011; 110: 619-626
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 17 Chang A-M, Scheer FA, Czeisler CA. et al. Direct effects of light on alertness, vigilance, and the waking electroencephalogram in humans depend on prior light history. Sleep 2013; 36: 1239-1246
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 18 Chinoy ED, Duffy JF, Czeisler CA. Unrestricted evening use of light-emitting tablet computers delays self-selected bedtime and disrupts circadian timing and alertness. Physiol Rep 2018; 6: e13692
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 19 Boone JE, Gordon-Larsen P, Adair LS. et al. Screen time and physical activity during adolescence: longitudinal effects on obesity in young adulthood. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2007; 4: 26
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 20 Youngstedt SD. Effects of exercise on sleep. Clin Sports Med 2005; 24: 355-365
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 21 Nguyen MH, Kruse A. A randomized controlled trial of Tai chi for balance, sleep quality and cognitive performance in elderly Vietnamese. Clin Interv Aging 2012; 7: 185-190
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 22 Graves LE, Ridgers ND, Williams K. et al. The physiological cost and enjoyment of Wii Fit in adolescents, young adults, and older adults. J Phys Act Health 2010; 7: 393-401
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 23 Wu P-T, Wu W-L, Chu I-H. Energy expenditure and intensity in healthy young adults during exergaming. Am J Health Behav 2015; 39: 556-561
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 24 da Silva WF, Viana RB, Morais NS. et al. Acute effects of exergame-based calisthenics versus traditional calisthenics on state-anxiety levels in young adult men: a randomized trial. Sport Sci Health. 2021 Online ahead of print. doi: 10.1007/s11332-021-00841-9
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 25 Viana RB, Alves CL, Vieira CA. et al. Anxiolytic effects of a single session of the exergame Zumba Fitness on healthy young women. Games Health J 2017; 6: 365-370
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 26 Viana RB, Vancini RL, Vieira CA. et al. Profiling exercise intensity during the exergame Hollywood Workout on XBOX 360 Kinect. PeerJ 2018; 6: e5574
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 27 Viana RB, Dankel SJ, Loenneke JP. et al. The effects of exergames on anxiety levels: A systematic review and meta-analysis. Scand J Med Sci Sports 2020; 30: 1100-1116
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 28 de Oliveira V, Viana R, Morais N. et al. State anxiety after exergame beach volleyball did not differ between the single and multiplayer modes in adult men. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18: 10957
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 29 Schoene D, Lord SR, Delbaere K. et al. A randomized controlled pilot study of home-based step training in older people using videogame technology. PLoS One 2013; 8: e57734
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 30 Morais NS, Viana RB, Silva WF. et al. Effect of both dance exergame and a traditional exercise on state anxiety and enjoyment in women. J Sports Med Phys Fitness . 2021 Online ahead of print. doi: 10.23736/S0022-4707.21.12237-6
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 31 Moreira NB, Rodacki AL, Costa SN. et al. Perceptive-cognitive and physical function in prefrail older adults: exergaming versus traditional multicomponent training. Rejuvenation Res 2021; 24: 28-36
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 32 Fang Q, Ghanouni P, Anderson SE. et al. Effects of exergaming on balance of healthy older adults: a systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials. Games Health J 2020; 9: 11-23
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 33 Mat Rosly M, Mat Rosly H, Davis OAM GM. et al. Exergaming for individuals with neurological disability: a systematic review. Disabil Rehabil 2017; 39: 727-735
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 34 Villafaina S, Collado-Mateo D, Dominguez-Munoz FJ. et al. Benefits of 24-week exergame intervention on health-related quality of life and pain in women with fibromyalgia: A single-blind, randomized controlled trial. Games Health J 2019; 8: 380-386
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 35 Viana RB, Gentil P, Andrade MS. et al. Is the energy expenditure provided by exergames valid?. Int J Sports Med 2019; 40: 563-568
    Article in Thieme ConnectPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 36 Dolezal BA, Neufeld EV, Boland DM. et al. Interrelationship between sleep and exercise: a systematic review. Adv Prev Med 2017; 2017: 1364387
    PubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 37 Kline CE. The bidirectional relationship between exercise and sleep: implications for exercise adherence and sleep improvement. Am J Lifestyle Med 2014; 8: 375-379
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 38 Tremblay MS, Aubert S, Barnes JD. et al. Sedentary behavior research network (SBRN)–terminology consensus project process and outcome. Int J Behav Nutr Phys Act 2017; 14: 75
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 39 Yang Y, Shin JC, Li D. et al. Sedentary behavior and sleep problems: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Int J Behav Med 2017; 24: 481-492
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 40 McGinty D, Szymusiak R. Keeping cool: a hypothesis about the mechanisms and functions of slow-wave sleep. Trends Neurosci 1990; 13: 480-487
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 41 Flausino NH, Da Silva Prado JM, de Queiroz SS. et al. Physical exercise performed before bedtime improves the sleep pattern of healthy young good sleepers. Psychophysiology 2012; 49: 186-192
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 42 Montgomery l, John T, Paxton SJ. Energy expenditure and total sleep time: effect of physical exercise. Sleep 1982; 5: 159-169
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 43 Sultoni K, Suherman A. Barriers to physical activity on university student. IOP Conf Ser Mater Sci Eng 2017; 180: 012210
    PubMed
  • 44 dos Santos Ruivo JMA, Karim K, O’Shea R. et al. In-class active video game supplementation and adherence to cardiac rehabilitation. J Cardiopulm Rehabil Prev 2017; 37: 274-278
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 45 Taylor MJ, McCormick D, Shawis T. et al. Activity-promoting gaming systems in exercise and rehabilitation. J Rehabil Res Dev 2011; 48: 1171-1186
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 46 Benzing V, Schmidt M. Exergaming for children and adolescents: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats. J Clin Med 2018; 7: 422
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 47 Willems M, Bond T. Comparison of physiological and metabolic responses to playing Nintendo Wii Sports and brisk treadmill walking. J Hum Kinet 2009; 22: 43-49
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 48 Sween J, Wallington SF, Sheppard V. et al. The role of exergaming in improving physical activity: a review. J Phys Act Health 2014; 11: 864-870
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 49 Muscogiuri G, Barrea L, Annunziata G. et al. Obesity and sleep disturbance: the chicken or the egg?. Crit Rev Food Sci Nutr 2019; 59: 2158-2165
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 50 Muscogiuri G, Tuccinardi D, Nicastro V. et al. Sleep disturbances: one of the culprits of obesity-related cardiovascular risk?. Int J Obes Suppl 2020; 10: 62-72
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 51 Wan Yunus F, Tan XZ, Romli MH. Investigating the feasibility of exergame on sleep and emotion among university students. Games Health J 2020; 9: 415-424
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 52 Kredlow MA, Capozzoli MC, Hearon BA. et al. The effects of physical activity on sleep: a meta-analytic review. J Behav Med 2015; 38: 427-449
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 53 Wilson K, Brookfield D. Effect of goal setting on motivation and adherence in a six-week exercise program. Int J Sport Exerc Psychol 2009; 7: 89-100
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 54 Lyons EJ. Cultivating engagement and enjoyment in exergames using feedback, challenge, and rewards. Games Health J 2015; 4: 12-18
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 55 Buman MP, King AC. Exercise as a treatment to enhance sleep. Am J Lifestyle Med 2010; 4: 500-514
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 56 Miller D, Sargent C, Roach G. et al. Moderate-intensity exercise performed in the evening does not impair sleep in healthy males. Eur J Sport Sci 2020; 20: 80-89
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 57 Wang F, Boros S. The effect of physical activity on sleep quality: a systematic review. Eur J Physiother 2021; 23: 11-18
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 58 Stutz J, Eiholzer R, Spengler CM. Effects of evening exercise on sleep in healthy participants: a systematic review and meta-analysis. Sports Med 2019; 49: 269-287
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 59 Banno M, Harada Y, Taniguchi M. et al. Exercise can improve sleep quality: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PeerJ 2018; 6: e5172
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 60 Youngstedt SD, O’connor PJ, Dishman RK. The effects of acute exercise on sleep: a quantitative synthesis. Sleep 1997; 20: 203-214
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 61 Gabriel BM, Zierath JR. Circadian rhythms and exercise – re-setting the clock in metabolic disease. Nat Rev Endocrinol 2019; 15: 197-206
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 62 Vaghetti CAO, Monteiro Junior RS, Finco MD. et al. Exergames experience in physical education: A review. Phys Cult Sport Stud Res 2018; 78: 23-32
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 63 Sasseville A, Paquet N, Sévigny J. et al. Blue blocker glasses impede the capacity of bright light to suppress melatonin production. J Pineal Res 2006; 41: 73-78
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 64 Kayumov L, Casper RF, Hawa RJ. et al. Blocking low-wavelength light prevents nocturnal melatonin suppression with no adverse effect on performance during simulated shift work. J Clin Endocrinol Metab 2005; 90: 2755-2761
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 65 Kimberly B, James RP. Amber lenses to block blue light and improve sleep: a randomized trial. Chronobiol Int 2009; 26: 1602-1612
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar
  • 66 Madhav K, Sherchand SP, Sherchan S. Association between screen time and depression among US adults. Prev Med Rep 2017; 8: 67-71
    CrossrefPubMedGoogle Scholar