Bidirectional Effects of Physical Activity and Sleep on Health
Frontiers in Sports and Active Living · 2026 · Clemente-Suárez VJ, Redondo-Flórez L, Beltrán-Velasco AI, et al.
Study type
Narrative Review
A comprehensive review examining the two-way relationship between sleep and physical activity: how regular movement improves sleep quality and duration, and how good sleep in turn improves physical performance and recovery — alongside the role nutrition plays in this relationship.
What the research suggests
That sleep and movement continuously influence one another, and that treating them as an interconnected system works better than addressing each in isolation.
What it does not prove
This is a narrative review synthesising evidence from multiple studies, not a single field trial. It does not prove a specific percentage of improvement that applies to every individual.
Full citation
Clemente-Suárez VJ, Redondo-Flórez L, Beltrán-Velasco AI, Ramos-Campo DJ, Ruisoto P, Yáñez-Sepúlveda R, Martín-Rodríguez A, Tornero-Aguilera JF. Bidirectional effects of physical activity and sleep on health: evidence and future directions. Front Sports Act Living. 2026 Feb 20;8:1739588. doi:10.3389/fspor.2026.1739588
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