Research

Mixed

In older women, objectively measured poor sleep (short/long duration, high fragmentation, or excessive napping) is associated with significantly worse neuromuscular performance and higher odds of functional limitations.

For older women, maintaining sleep between 6 and 7.5 hours and minimizing nighttime awakenings is crucial for preserving walking speed and the ability to perform daily tasks like standing from a chair. Excessive daytime napping (over 1 hour) is also linked to functional limitations. Prioritizing consolidated nighttime sleep over long naps may help preserve physical independence.

GoodSupportsHIGH confidence
Objectively measured poorer sleep was associated with worse physical function.
Suzanne E. Goldman et al. · SLEEP · 2007

Why this rating

Large sample size (n=2,889), objective actigraphy measures, and adjustment for multiple confounders, though the design is cross-sectional.

Source

Poor Sleep is Associated with Poorer Physical Performance and Greater Functional Limitations in Older Women

Suzanne E. Goldman et al. · SLEEP · 2007

DOI 10.1093/sleep/30.10.1317

cohort · n=2889Cited 277×
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DOI resolved against Crossref · corpus check 2026-06-10

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