The study by researchers at the University of Pennsylvania shows that other types of physical activity - such as household and childcare-work are associated with increased cases of poor sleep habits.
Physical activity is already well associated with healthy sleep, but the new study, led by Michael Grandner yields insight into whether specific types of physical activities may impact sleep quality.
Using data on sleep and physical activities of 429,110 adults from the 2013 Behavioural Risk Factor Surveillance System, the Penn researchers measured whether each of 10 types of activities was associated with typical amount of sleep, relative to both no activity and to walking.
Compared to those who reported that they did not get physical activity in the past month, all types of activity except for household/childcare were associated with a lower likelihood of insufficient sleep.
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To assess whether these effects are just a result of any activity, results were compared to those who reported walking as their main source of activity.
Compared to just walking, aerobics/calisthenics, biking, gardening, golf, running, weight-lifting and yoga/Pilates were each associated with fewer cases of insufficient sleep, and household/childcare activity was associated with higher cases of insufficient sleep.
"Although previous research has shown that lack of exercise is associated with poor sleep, the results of this study were surprising," said Grandner.
"Not only does this study show that those who get exercise simply by walking are more likely to have better sleep habits, but these effects are even stronger for more purposeful activities, such as running and yoga, and even gardening and golf.
"It was also interesting that people who receive most of their activity from housework and childcare were more likely to experience insufficient sleep - we know that home and work demands are some of the main reasons people lose sleep," Grandner added.