Autonomic Nervous System responses assessment and sleep quality changes following eight weeks selected swimming training in untrained females

The evidence has shown a relation between autonomic nervous system response and sleep quality; and the beneficial effects of exercises on these two subjects. The present study was aimed to investigate the effect eight weeks selected swimming training on Autonomic Nervous System responses assessment and sleep quality changes in untrained females. In this semi-experience study 24 sedentary healthy untrained females were randomly assigned in two exercise training (n=12) and control (n=12) groups. The swimming training protocol includes sessions with 60 minutes at 60 to 80 percent of maximum heart rate, three sessions per week for eight weeks. Resting and maximal Heart rate assessed before and after intervention. Participants sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI). The data was processed by using SPSS version 22 and Independent and dependent t-test. findings showed an insignificant decrease in Resting and maximal Heart rate in training group (P=0.071, P=0.071; respectively). Score of sleep quality decreased significantly in training group (P=0.000). swimming exercises led to significant decrease in Score of sleep quality and maximal Heart rate in training group as compared to control group (P=0.002, P=0.017). according to the findings, swimming exercises through improving the sympathovagal balance led to decrease Heart rate and improve sleep quality in untrained females. Thus it should be considered as a viable non-pharmacological strategy to improve sleep quality in untrained females