SynthesisMedicine2026
Aerobic exercise and sleep-related outcomes in children and adolescents: A systematic review and meta-analysis of randomized controlled trials.
Synthesis in Medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.
The trial behind it
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3 authors.
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Abstract
backgroundSleep problems are increasingly prevalent among children and adolescents, contributing to impaired daytime functioning, reduced academic performance, and long-term health risks. Aerobic exercise has been proposed as a promising behavioral strategy to promote sleep health in youth; yet, evidence from randomized controlled trials (RCTs) remains variable. This systematic review and meta-analysis synthesized randomized controlled trials to estimate the effects of aerobic exercise on sleep-related outcomes in children and adolescents and to explore potential sources of heterogeneity.
methodsSeveral major English and Chinese databases, including PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, Cochrane Library, Scopus, and CNKI, were systematically searched up to August 2025. Fourteen studies were included. Effect sizes were expressed as standardized mean differences (SMDs) and oriented so that positive values indicated improvement in sleep-related outcomes. A random-effects meta-analysis using restricted maximum likelihood estimation and the Hartung-Knapp adjustment was performed, with 95% prediction intervals calculated. Prespecified exploratory subgroup analyses examined intervention duration, measurement modality, and age group, with formal tests for subgroup differences where feasible.
resultsAerobic exercise was associated with improved sleep-related outcomes (SMD = 0.91, 95% CI: 0.40-1.43), with considerable heterogeneity (I2 = 91.5%) and a 95% prediction interval of -0.98 to 2.80. Exploratory subgroup estimates varied by intervention duration, measurement modality, and age; however, tests for subgroup differences were not statistically significant (P = .291, P = .868, and P = .873, respectively). These findings should be interpreted cautiously because several subgroups contained few studies.
conclusionsAerobic exercise may improve sleep-related outcomes in children and adolescents. However, the magnitude and consistency of the benefit remain uncertain because of considerable heterogeneity, a prediction interval crossing the null, heterogeneous outcome definitions, and the limited number of studies in several subgroups. Further well-designed RCTs using standardized sleep outcomes and objective measures, where feasible, are needed.
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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.