The effect of Gyrokinesis exercise on fatigue and sleep quality in female office workers
Article information
Abstract
Fatigue is a state of difficulty maintaining voluntary activity. Cortisol, which is essential for stress regulation, can cause tissue damage when elevated for long periods of time, which is a common problem for office workers in stressful environments. Sleep quality is important for health and cognitive function, while sleep deprivation increases the risk of physical and mental health disorders. Gyrokinesis combines circular, spiral, and wave movements influenced by yoga, tai chi, and ballet to provide a calming effect on the sympathetic nervous system. This study investigated the effects of Gyrokinesis exercise on lower extremity edema, muscle strength, fatigue, and sleep quality in sedentary office workers. Twenty-seven adult women aged 20–40 years were randomly assigned to a Gyrokinesis exercise group (n=14) or a control group (n=13). The exercise group participated in 60-min Gyrokinesis sessions twice a week for 8 weeks, while the control group used elastic compression stockings during their working hours. Results showed a significant decrease in fatigue and an improvement in sleep quality in the exercise group. Cortisol and serotonin levels showed a significant between-group interaction effect, with within-group changes observed only in the exercise group. Sleep quality indices improved significantly over time. In conclusion, Gyrokinesis exercise has the potential to improve physical and psychological well-being in sedentary office workers by positively influencing fatigue, sleep quality, and related hormone levels.
INTRODUCTION
Fatigue is broadly defined as a condition characterized by difficulty in initiating or maintaining voluntary activity (Evans and Lambert, 2007). Employees who work in environments with high job demands, limited autonomy, and limited coworker support are more likely to experience increased levels of fatigue due to stress. In particular, office workers have higher levels of stress than manual workers, due to greater job-related strain and reduced energy activation (Rose et al., 2017).
Cortisol, a hormone secreted from the pituitary gland as a physiological response to mental stress, increases significantly during physical stress responses (Knezevic et al., 2023). Normal cortisol levels are essential for maintaining homeostasis under stress, but prolonged elevated cortisol levels can cause tissue damage (Bhake et al., 2019). In the case of office workers, long-term exposure to stressful work environments often leads to persistently elevated cortisol levels. The physical and psychological benefits of exercise have been highlighted as an effective strategy for stress management (Stults-Kolehmainen and Sinha, 2014).
Sleep quality is an important factor in determining overall health and physiological function. Adequate and restorative sleep supports physical and mental recovery, improves cognitive functions such as memory and concentration, and strengthens the immune system while maintaining homeostasis (Desai et al., 2024). Conversely, poor sleep quality has been shown to increase the risk of various physical conditions, including obesity, diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular disease, as well as mental health disorders such as depression, anxiety, and suicidal ideation (Uchida et al., 2012).
Serotonin is a precursor of melatonin that regulates the activity-rest cycle, and plays an essential role in the pathophysiology of mental health conditions such as depression. Serotonin, a neurotransmitter in the central nervous system, regulates key behaviors, including sleep, appetite, and emotional stability (Daut and Fonken, 2019; Mavanji et al., 2022). It is particularly involved in sleep regulation, mediated through interactions with the midbrain nuclei and cortex, particularly during nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep (Knoop et al., 2021). Consequently, serum serotonin levels serve as an important biomarker for diagnosing sleep disorders and assessing whether sleep quality has improved (Wieckiewicz et al., 2023). Regular physical activity has been shown to positively affect serotonin levels, suggesting that exercise may potentially help improve sleep quality and overall mental health (Melancon et al., 2014).
Developed by Juliu Hovarth in the late 1970s, Gyrokinesis draws inspiration from a variety of disciplines, including yoga, tai chi, swimming, gymnastics, and ballet. Gyrokinesis and similar exercises, such as tai chi and Pilates, have shown significant benefits in improving self-efficacy, mood, stress levels, and sleep quality in college students (Campbell and Miles, 2006). Campbell and Miles (2006) reported that the basic principles of Gyrokinesis exercise consist of movements characterized by circular, spiral, and undulating patterns.
However, empirical research on the effectiveness of Gyrokinesis is still limited both domestically and internationally. This study aims to investigate the benefits of Gyrokinesis exercise in reducing fatigue and improving sleep quality in adult female office workers who mainly lead sedentary lives.
MATERIALS AND METHODS
Participants
This study was conducted on 30 working women in their 20s and 40s who voluntarily expressed their willingness to participate. Ethical approval for this study was obtained from the Institutional Ethics Committee of Korea University (approval No. SM-202105-051-2). Participants were selected from office workers who sat for more than 8 hours a day. The 30 participants were randomly assigned to the exercise group (EG) that participated in the Gyrokinesis exercise program and the control group (CG) that did not participate in the program according to the order of study registration. The physical characteristics of the subjects are shown in Table 1.
Physical characteristics of the subjects
Experimental method
The EG performed Gyrokinesis exercise for 60 min twice a week for 8 weeks, and the non-EG wore elastic compression stockings during work hours for 8 weeks. Blood samples were taken from the forearm vein before and after the experiment to assess fatigue and stress levels, and blood samples were taken from the finger before and after the experiment to assess peripheral fatigue. In addition, questionnaires on fatigue and sleep quality were administered before and after the experiment.
Blood panel test
Blood samples were collected before and after the experiment to assess changes in serotonin and cortisol levels, as described previously (Payne et al., 2008). Venous blood samples (6 mL) were obtained from the antecubital vein using a disposable syringe between 8:00 a.m. and 10:00 a.m. after a fasting period of at least 8 hr. Capillary blood samples were also obtained via the fingertip method, with a minimum volume of 0.3 μL collected for analysis using a portable lactate analyzer.
Proinflammatory cytokines
The Fatigue Severity Scale (FSS) developed by Krupp et al. (1989) was used as a subjective fatigue measurement tool. The FSS consists of nine items rated on a 7-point Likert scale that assesses fatigue severity over the past week. A total score of less than 36 indicates low fatigue, while a score of 36 or more indicates high fatigue and requires further investigation. The FSS showed high reliability with a Cronbach α of 0.93. Subjective sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) developed by Buysse et al. (1989). The PSQI consists of 19 items classified into seven components, each rated on a 4-point scale. A total score of 5 or more indicates poor sleep quality, while a score of 5 or less indicates good sleep quality. The reliability of the PSQI was confirmed with a Cronbach α of 0.84.
Gyrokinesis exercise program
The Gyrokinesis exercise program is a 60-min program that focuses on seven basic movements. Details of the specific exercise program are listed in Table 2.
Gyrokinesis exercise program
Compression stockings
As described in a previous method (Guedes et al., 2020), participants wore therapeutic compression stockings. These stockings are commonly used to prevent lower extremity circulation problems in individuals with early signs of edema or in those whose jobs require prolonged sitting or standing. These stockings have a silicone-treated band at the top to minimize slippage and skin irritation, extend below the knee, and have a compression range of 20–30 mmHg.
Data analysis
The data collected in this study were analyzed using IBM SPSS Statistics ver. 26.0 (IBM Co., Armonk, NY, USA). Two-way repeated measures analysis of variance was performed to evaluate the differences in dependent variables between the groups before and after the treatment. Paired samples t-test was used to analyze the differences within the groups before and after the intervention, and independent samples t-test was used to compare the differences between the groups. The significance level for all statistical analyses was set at α=0.05.
RESULTS
Lactate levels
The changes in resting lactate levels before and after exercise intervention for the EG and CG are presented in Table 3. After 8 weeks of Gyrokinesis exercise intervention, there was no statistically significant interaction effect between groups and the measurement times on resting lactate levels (F=0.001, P=0.974). In addition, there was no significant difference between groups (F= 0.527, P=0.475) or between measurement times (F=1.913, P= 0.685).
Changes of lactate
Cortisol levels
The changes in cortisol levels before and after exercise intervention for the EG and the CG are presented in Table 4. After 8 weeks of Gyrokinesis exercise intervention, there was no statistically significant interaction effect between the groups and the measurement time in the cortisol levels (F=6.135, P=0.572), and there was no significant difference according to the measurement time (F=1.298, P=0.265). However, there was a significant difference between the groups (F=9.862, P<0.005).
Changes of cortisol
FSS levels
The changes in FSS before and after exercise intervention for the EG and the CG are presented in Table 5. After 8 weeks of Gyrokinesis exercise intervention, a statistically significant interaction effect was observed between the group and the measurement time in the fatigue index (F=10.304, P<0.005). A post hoc test based on the interaction effect revealed that there was no significant difference in the change in the fatigue index between the EG and the CG after 8 weeks of Gyrokinesis exercise intervention (t=1.413, P=0.170). Compared to before exercise intervention, no significant difference was observed in the CG (t=1.730, P=0.109), but a significant difference was observed in the EG (t=6.991, P<0.001). In the main effect comparison, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (F=0.016, P=0.900), but a significant difference was observed according to the measurement time (F=34.393, P<0.001).
Changes of FSS
Serotonin levels
The changes in serotonin levels before and after exercise intervention for the EG and the CG are shown in Table 6. After 8 weeks of Gyrokinesis exercise intervention, a statistically significant interaction effect was observed between the group and the measurement time in the serotonin levels (F=6.135, P<0.05). In a post hoc test based on the interaction effect, there was no significant difference in the serotonin changes between the CG and the EG after 8 weeks of Gyrokinesis exercise intervention (t=0.123, P= 0.903). Compared to before exercise intervention, no significant difference was observed in the CG (t=−0.137, P=0.893), but a significant difference was observed in the EG (t=−3.342, P<0.05). In the main effect comparison, there was no statistically significant difference between the groups (F=1.532, P=0.227), but a significant difference was observed according to the measurement time (F=7.016, P<0.05).
Changes of serotonin
PSQI levels
The changes in PSQI before and after exercise intervention for the EG and the CG are shown in Table 7. After 8 weeks of Gyrokinesis exercise intervention, there was no statistically significant interaction effect between the group and the measurement time in the Sleep Quality Index (F=2.756, P=0.109). However, there was a significant difference between the groups (F=0.730, P=0.401) and the measurement time (F=8.680, P<0.05).
Changes of PSQI
DISCUSSION
Fatigue can be caused by a variety of factors and is generally defined as difficulty in initiating or sustaining voluntary activity (Evans and Lambert, 2007). Among the numerous contributing factors, stress is recognized as an important determinant. Fatigue has been consistently identified as a prominent symptom of stress-related mental disorders in several studies (Kocalevent et al., 2011).
This study investigated changes in peripheral fatigue (measured by lactate), stress (measured by cortisol), and fatigue indices after an 8-week Gyrokinesis exercise program combined with elastic compression stockings. Peripheral fatigue, characterized by lactate accumulation, is attributed to decreased muscle efficiency and depletion of energy reserves (Finsterer, 2012). Resting lactate levels showed no significant interaction effects or variability across groups or measurement periods. In contrast to previous studies that primarily investigated lactate dynamics during or immediately after exercise (Mota et al., 2020), our results may have been influenced by the participants’ lack of previous exercise experience and high resting lactate levels (4.0–5.0 mmol/L).
Fatigue index showed a significant interaction effect, and a significant decrease was observed only in the EG. Pilates program, similar to Gyrokinesis, improves sleep quality and reduces fatigue (Amzajerdi et al., 2023). Our results are consistent with these studies, suggesting that 8 weeks of Gyrokinesis exercise contributes to fatigue reduction by increasing blood volume, increasing hemoglobin levels, and improving waste removal (McDonnell et al., 2013).
Sitting for long periods of time increases muscle tension, impedes blood circulation, and accumulates fatigue, which causes stress. The stress hormone cortisol is secreted in response to mental stress (Knezevic et al., 2023). In this study, we measured cortisol changes after an 8-week Gyrokinesis exercise program and the use of elastic compression stockings. Significant differences in cortisol levels were found between the groups, but no interaction effects or time-dependent changes were observed. A previous study showed that sitting and wearing compression stockings for 4 hr reduced cortisol (Liu et al., 2012). In our study, both interventions tended to lower cortisol, but no significant changes occurred. These results suggest that hormonal responses to exercise may be more pronounced in individuals with prior exercise experience (Govindaraj et al., 2016). This may explain the differences in previous results due to the participants’ limited exercise experience.
Serotonin is specifically associated with NREM sleep through the midbrain nuclei and cortex (Monti, 2011). Plasma serotonin levels are an important biomarker for diagnosing and managing sleep disorders (Mavanji et al., 2022; Monti, 2011). In this study, serotonin levels significantly increased only in the EG, which is consistent with evidence that regular physical activity improves serotonin levels (Melancon et al., 2014). Results vary, but most studies emphasize the importance of exercise type and intensity in modulating serotonin levels (Rethorst et al., 2009). This study supports the idea that Gyrokinesis exercise can improve serotonin and improve sleep quality.
Sleep quality includes factors such as sleep onset, interruption, depth, arousal, and daily impact (Krystal and Edinger, 2008). This study investigated the effects of an 8-week Gyrokinesis exercise program and elastic compression stockings on sleep quality using the Sleep Quality Index. No significant group or interaction effects were observed, but significant improvements were observed between pre- and post-exercise comparisons. Elastic compression stockings have been shown to help reduce discomfort during flights and improve sleep (Hagan and Lambert, 2008) and help alleviate sleep apnea symptoms (Liao et al., 2021).
Exercise, including Pilates, Taekwondo, and Gyrokinesis, has been associated with improved sleep quality in college students. The 8-week period of this study was relatively short, but it did show improvements in sleep quality, and further research is needed to determine the effects of exercise duration.
Notes
CONFLICT OF INTEREST
No potential conflict of interest relevant to this article was reported.
ACKNOWLEDGMENTS
The authors received no financial support for this article.