A Comparative Analysis of Stretching Exercise and Pregnancy Exercise on Sleep Quality in Pregnancy: A Quasi Experiment

NCT07367360 | Completed DMC

• 1 other identifier: 121/II/KE.PE/2024
• Study Type: interventional
• Target: 60
• Locations: 1 country
• Sites: 1

Brief Summary

The goal of this clinical trial is to learn whether pregnancy exercise or stretching exercise can improve sleep quality in third trimester pregnant women who experience sleep disturbances. The main questions it aims to answer are:

• Does traditional pregnancy exercise improve sleep quality more effectively than stretching exercise?
• Does either type of exercise reduce anxiety levels that may affect sleep? Researchers will compare a pregnancy exercise group with a stretching exercise group to see whether one approach leads to better sleep quality. Participants will:
• Attend guided exercise sessions twice a week for three weeks
• Complete questionnaires about sleep quality, anxiety, and physical activity
• Have basic health measurements taken (blood pressure, weight, height) before and after the program This study hopes to show whether moderate exercise can help pregnant women sleep better during the third trimester.

Conditions

Sleep Deprivation; Sleep Wake Disorders; Pregnancy; Anxiety Disorders; Stretching Exercises; Relaxation Therapy

Keywords

Pregnancy; Sleep Deprivation; Anxiety; Stretching Exercises; Exercise Therapy

Outcome Measures

Primary Outcomes (1)

• Sleep quality, assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), measured at baseline and after the 3-week intervention period

  Sleep quality is assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), a validated questionnaire that evaluates sleep patterns over the previous one-month period. The PSQI consists of 19 self-rated items\*\* that generate seven component scores: subjective sleep quality, sleep latency, sleep duration, habitual sleep efficiency, sleep disturbances, use of sleep medication, and daytime dysfunction. Each component is scored from 0 to 3, and the scores are summed to produce a global score ranging from 0 to 21, with higher scores indicating poorer sleep quality. A global PSQI score greater than 5 is commonly used to define poor sleep quality. Participants complete the PSQI at baseline and again after the three-week intervention period to determine changes in sleep quality associated with the exercise programs.

  From enrollment and baseline measurement to completion of the 3-week exercise program

Study Arms (2)

Intervention Group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in this arm take part in a structured traditional pregnancy exercise program designed specifically for women in the third trimester. The program follows guidelines from the Indonesian Ministry of Health and includes gentle movements, breathing techniques, posture training, pelvic floor exercises, and relaxation components intended to support comfort and well-being during late pregnancy. Sessions are conducted twice per week for three weeks, with each session lasting approximately 45-60 minutes and led by trained midwives or instructors at the participating clinic. Participants also receive printed and video materials to support safe practice at home. The intervention aims to improve sleep quality, reduce physical discomfort, and promote relaxation.

Other: Traditional Pregnancy Exercise Group; Other: Stretching Exercise Group (Control)

Control group

EXPERIMENTAL

Participants in the control group take part in a stretching exercise program designed to promote flexibility, reduce muscle tension, and support overall comfort during late pregnancy. The program consists of gentle, low-intensity stretching movements that target major muscle groups commonly affected during the third trimester, such as the back, hips, legs, and shoulders. Sessions are conducted twice per week for three weeks, with each session lasting approximately 45-60 minutes and guided by trained clinic staff. The stretching routine is simple, safe, and suitable for pregnant women, and participants receive printed and video materials to help them practise at home. This intervention serves as a comparison condition to evaluate whether traditional pregnancy exercise offers additional benefits for sleep quality and anxiety beyond those provided by basic stretching.

Other: Traditional Pregnancy Exercise Group; Other: Stretching Exercise Group (Control)

Interventions

Traditional Pregnancy Exercise Group OTHER

A structured exercise program for third-trimester pregnant women, following the Indonesian Ministry of Health guidelines. Includes breathing techniques, gentle movements, posture training, pelvic floor exercises, and relaxation. Conducted twice weekly for 3 weeks, 45-60 minutes per session, led by trained clinic staff.

Also known as: Traditional Pregnancy Exercise

Control group; Intervention Group

Stretching Exercise Group (Control) OTHER

A low-intensity stretching routine targeting major muscle groups to reduce tension and support comfort during late pregnancy. Conducted twice weekly for 3 weeks, 45-60 minutes per session, guided by trained clinic staff.

Also known as: Stretching Exercise

Control group; Intervention Group

Eligibility Criteria

• Age: 20 Years - 49 Years
• Gender Eligibility Details: This study is open only to women who are currently pregnant. Because the research focuses on sleep quality and exercise during the third trimester of pregnancy, only individuals who identify as female and are carrying a pregnancy can take part. People who are not pregnant or who are not biologically able to become pregnant are not eligible for this study.
• Healthy Volunteers: Yes
• Age Groups: Adult (18-64)

You may qualify if:

• Pregnant women in their third trimester (28-30 weeks of gestation at enrollment).
• Having sleeping disturbance complaints.
• Aged more than 19 years old.
• Being under prenatal clinical follow-up
• Not having or participating in specific treatment for sleeping disturbance in the last 3 months
• Able to participate in light to moderate physical activity as assessed by clinic staff.
• Signing informed consent for study participation.

You may not qualify if:

• Failure to attend at least 70% of the 12 planned sessions
• Having pregnancy complication.
• Gestational ages \< 28 or \> 30 weeks.
• Not having bleeding history, abortion.
• Not having multiple pregnancy.
• Medical or obstetric conditions that make exercise unsafe (e.g., preeclampsia, placenta previa, risk of preterm labor, uncontrolled hypertension)
• Current participation in another structured exercise program.
• Severe musculoskeletal problems that limit movement.

Sponsors & Collaborators

• Health Polytechnic of Palangka Raya: lead

Study Sites (1)

Midwifery clinics

Palangkaraya, Central Kalimantan, 73111, Indonesia

Location

MeSH Terms

Conditions

Sleep Deprivation; Sleep Wake Disorders; Anxiety Disorders

Interventions

Muscle Stretching Exercises

Condition Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Dyssomnias; Nervous System Diseases; Neurologic Manifestations; Signs and Symptoms; Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms; Mental Disorders

Intervention Hierarchy (Ancestors)

Exercise Therapy; Rehabilitation; Aftercare; Continuity of Patient Care; Patient Care; Therapeutics; Physical Therapy Modalities; Exercise; Motor Activity; Movement; Musculoskeletal Physiological Phenomena; Musculoskeletal and Neural Physiological Phenomena

Study Officials

• Vissia Didin Ardiyani, Dr

  Health Polytechnic of Palangka Raya

  STUDY CHAIR

Study Design

• Study Type: interventional
• Phase: not applicable
• Allocation: NON RANDOMIZED
• Masking: NONE
• Purpose: SUPPORTIVE CARE
• Intervention Model: PARALLEL
• Sponsor Type: OTHER
• Responsible Party: SPONSOR

Model Details: This study uses a parallel assignment model with each group receiving a distinct exercise intervention. Clinics use their own staff and routines, creating natural variation in session delivery. Both groups follow structured exercise programs for pregnant women in the third trimester: Intervention Group: Traditional pregnancy exercises per Indonesian Ministry of Health guidelines. Control Group: Stretching focused on flexibility and relaxation. Participants complete two supervised sessions weekly for three weeks (45-60 minutes/session) and receive home practice materials. Sleep quality, anxiety, physical activity, and health indicators are measured before and after to compare changes. The design enables researchers to assess the impact of two exercise approaches on sleep quality, accounting for individual differences.

Study Record Dates

• First Submitted: January 17, 2026
• First Posted: January 26, 2026
• Study Start: August 4, 2025
• Primary Completion: October 4, 2025
• Study Completion: November 4, 2025
• Last Updated: January 27, 2026

Record last verified: 2026-01

Data Sharing

• IPD Sharing: Will not share

Locations

ID (1)