Accepted for/Published in: Journal of Medical Internet Research
Date Submitted: Jul 29, 2024
Open Peer Review Period: Aug 6, 2024 - Oct 1, 2024
Date Accepted: May 5, 2025
(closed for review but you can still tweet)
The effectiveness of online exercise on physical activity, motor function and mental health: A systematic review with meta-analysis
ABSTRACT
Background:
Regular engagement in exercise is associated with a multitude of physical and mental health benefits. In view of the technical progress, the ageing society and the recent public life restrictions during the COVID-19 pandemic, the delivery of interventions using digital devices has become highly popular. This systematic review with meta-analysis examined the effects of online exercise programs on physical activity (PA), motor performance, and mental health.
Objective:
To examine the effects of online exercise programs on physical activity (PA), motor performance, and mental health.
Methods:
A systematic literature search was performed using PubMed, Cochrane and Google Scholar. Randomized, controlled trials assessing the effects of online exercise (OE) vs. no exercise (NEX) or face-to-face exercise (FFE) in healthy adults were included. Effect sizes (standardized mean difference/SMD) were pooled using robust variance estimation and the certainty about the evidence was rated by means of the GRADE criteria.
Results:
A total of 18 articles with moderate to high methodological quality (8/11 points on the PEDro scale) were identified. OE was superior to NEX regarding strength (SMD=0.61), balance (SMD=0.52), endurance (SMD=0.85), PA (SMD=0.46), depression (SMD=1.08), mood/emotion (SMD=0.47), mental wellbeing (SMD=0.79), and self-efficacy (SMD=1.1). Compared to FFE, OE was non-inferior for all tested outcomes. The certainty about the evidence was low to moderate.
Conclusions:
OE represents an effective strategy to improve PA, physical function and mental health in healthy adults. However, in view of the partly limited certainty about the evidence, additional well-designed studies are warranted to further delineate the value of OE. Clinical Trial: PROSPERO registration number: CRD42022338871
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