The effect of walking with pedometer on sleep subjective quality in postmenopausal women

Sleep disturbance is one of the most obvious symptoms in menopause. Hormone replacement treatment improves menopausal symptoms such as insomnia. However، women do not select hormone therapy because of its adverse effects. This study was performed with aim to determine the effect of regular walking with pedometer on sleep subjective quality in postmenopausal women at medical-health centers of Ahvaz. This randomized clinical trial was performed on 112 qualified postmenopausal women in medical-health centers of Ahvaz in 2014. The subjects were randomly placed in two groups of intervention and control. The intervention group had walking at least five times a week، each time for one hour، and their steps were recorded with a pedometer. Data collection tool was Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index questionnaire that were collected in four stages (before intervention، four weeks، eight weeks، and twelve weeks later). Data was analyzed using SPSS software (version18) and t-test، Chi-square test، non-parametric Mann-Whitney test، and Friedman repeated measurement. Mean score of sleep subjective quality in intervention group was significantly reduced from 2. 1±0. 6 to 1. 2±0. 6 (P=0. 001) Which indicate improvement of sleeping. and in control group from 2. 1±0. 5 to 2±0. 6 which was not significant (P=0. 08). Regular walking in postmenopausal women maintains sleep subjective quality and promotes their sleep subjective quality. Therefore، according to the results of the study and the access to supportive sources in health system، the necessity of holding the training sessions about physical activity and walking at health centers has been much more evident.