Health Technology/clinical-trials

Aerobic Exercise vs Digital CBT-I for Student Insomnia: Brazilian RCT Challenges Current Treatment Paradigms

247 Health News Editorial

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1 May 2026

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4 min read

·clinical-trials

Brazilian researchers are comparing aerobic exercise to digital CBT-I for treating insomnia in university students. This RCT could reshape treatment approaches by positioning exercise as first-line therapy rather than adjunctive treatment.

Originally reported by ClinicalTrials.gov

References

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  2. 2.Craig, C. L., Marshall, A. L., Sjöström, M., Bauman, A. E., Booth, M. L., Ainsworth, B. E., ... & Oja, P. (2003). International physical activity questionnaire: 12-country reliability and validity. Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise, 35(9), 1381-1395. https://doi.org/10.1249/01.MSS.0000078924.61453.FB
  3. 3.Gaultney, J. F. (2010). The prevalence of sleep disorders in college students: impact on academic performance. Journal of American College Health, 59(2), 91-97. https://doi.org/10.1080/07448481003621418
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  6. 6.Passos, G. S., Poyares, D., Santana, M. G., D'Aurea, C. V., Youngstedt, S. D., Tufik, S., & de Mello, M. T. (2011). Effects of moderate aerobic exercise training on chronic primary insomnia. Sleep Medicine, 12(10), 1018-1027. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2010.09.007
  7. 7.Qaseem, A., Kansagara, D., Forciea, M. A., Cooke, M., & Denberg, T. D. (2016). Management of chronic insomnia disorder in adults: a clinical practice guideline from the American College of Physicians. Annals of Internal Medicine, 165(2), 125-133. https://doi.org/10.7326/M15-2175
  8. 8.Reid, K. J., Baron, K. G., Lu, B., Naylor, E., Wolfe, L., & Zee, P. C. (2010). Aerobic exercise improves self-reported sleep and quality of life in older adults with insomnia. Sleep Medicine, 11(9), 934-940. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2009.09.014
  9. 9.Seyffert, M., Lagisetty, P., Landgraf, J., Chopra, V., Pfeiffer, P. N., Conte, M. L., & Rogers, M. A. (2016). Internet-delivered cognitive behavioral therapy to treat insomnia: a systematic review and meta-analysis. PLoS One, 11(2), e0149139. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0149139
  10. 10.Universidade Federal de Goias. (2024). Effects of Aerobic Exercise Versus Digital Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Insomnia in University Students With Insomnia Complaints. ClinicalTrials.gov. https://clinicaltrials.gov/study/NCT06636006
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