OBJECTIVE: To measure the impact of each type of exercise on sleep quality and identify the exercise that enhances sleep quality the most. STUDY SELECTION: Eligible randomised controlled trials that compare physical exercise to routine activities, usual care, non-physical activity, or health education to measure the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index. DATA SOURCE: Studies retrieved from Medline, Embase, CINAHL, Scopus, ClinicalTrial.gov and ThaiJo from the database's inception to October 2022. DATA EXTRACTION AND SYNTHESIS: Two reviewers independently identified studies, collected data and assessed bias. In the absence of heterogeneity, a fixed effect model was used for pairwise meta-analysis. Alternatively, a random effect model was used. A two-stage network meta-analysis used the surface under the cumulative ranking curve (SUCRA) to compare exercise efficacy. MAIN OUTCOME: Global Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (GPSQI) and subdomain score. RESULTS: This review comprised 2170 people from 25 trials. Direct meta-analysis revealed significant improvement in GPSQI with combined exercise (unstandardised mean difference (USMD) -2.35, 95% CI -3.13 to -1.57, p < 0.001, I2 69.13%). GPSQI decreased considerably with aerobic activity (USMD -4.36, 95% CI -7.86 to -0.86, p = 0.01, I2 97.83%). For the network meta-analysis, strengthening, aerobic and combination exercise significantly lowered GPSQI (USMD -5.75, -3.76 and -2.54, respectively). Strength training improved GPSQI scores most effectively (SUCRA 94.6%). CONCLUSION: Exercise that strengthens muscles, rather than aerobic or combination exercises, is the most effective way to enhance sleep quality.

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