Mixed
A 12-week moderate-intensity aerobic and resistance exercise training program significantly reduces Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) severity, measured by Apnea-Hypopnea Index (AHI), in sedentary overweight/obese adults, independent of significant body weight loss.
If you have moderate Obstructive Sleep Apnea and are overweight, committing to a structured exercise program can significantly reduce the severity of your condition, even if you don't lose weight. Aim for 150 minutes of moderate aerobic activity (like brisk walking or cycling) spread over 4 days a week, plus two days of resistance training. You should see improvements in your sleep apnea index and sleep quality within 12 weeks.
Compared with stretching, exercise resulted in a significant AHI reduction (exercise: 32.2 ± 5.6 to 24.6 ± 4.4, stretching: 24.4 ± 5.6 to 28.9 ± 6.4; P < 0.01)... Reductions in AHI and ODI were achieved without a significant decrease in body weight.
Why this rating
Randomized Controlled Trial with a control group, though sample size is modest (n=43) and follow-up is short-term (12 weeks).
Source
The Effect of Exercise Training on Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Sleep Quality: A Randomized Controlled Trial
Christopher E. Kline et al. · SLEEP · 2011
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