Currently submitted to: JMIR Rehabilitation and Assistive Technologies
Date Submitted: Jan 15, 2026
Warning: This is an author submission that is not peer-reviewed or edited. Preprints - unless they show as "accepted" - should not be relied on to guide clinical practice or health-related behavior and should not be reported in news media as established information.
Leisure-time physical activity interventions for health promotion in individuals with Rett syndrome: A scoping review
ABSTRACT
Background:
While half of individuals with Rett syndrome exceed 50 years of age, research shows that they have low levels of physical activity, especially for those of advanced age and poor ambulation. Despite this evidence, recent studies underscore the potential of leisure-time physical activity interventions to improve health outcomes and quality of life for individuals with Rett syndrome.
Objective:
This scoping review aimed to summarize the state of the science regarding physical interventions for individuals with Rett syndrome and their families across the lifespan, map the extent, range and nature of research activity in telehealth, and to describe outcomes targeted by interventions with a focus on health-related fitness.
Methods:
Systematic searches were performed within MEDLINE, SCOPUS, Google Scholar and CINAHL Plus. The data charted from eligible studies included specific details about the participants, study design, setting, intervention characteristics, outcomes, and relevant key findings. Inclusion criteria: (1) original, peer-reviewed research, (2) full text articles in English, (3) study reported a leisure-time physical activity intervention, (4) had a sample of individuals with RTT and or a caregiver.
Results:
Twenty-three studies enrolled a total of 200 participants (mean age of 13±7, range 2 to 48 years of age). Participants were all females and studies included mostly ambulatory individuals. Rett syndrome severity was reported in less than half of the studies; however, the participants with mild to severe scores were represented. Most of the studies used a case study design or single group repeated measures and only three randomized trials were identified. The focus was primarily on gross motor function, walking ability, and physical activity outcomes. Nine interventions implemented telehealth into their design primarily using remote video call between a physical therapist and the participant’s parent.
Conclusions:
The findings of this review provide a foundation for designing evidence-based, scalable physical activity programs tailored to the unique needs of individuals with RTT. The integration of telehealth strategies offers a promising avenue for enhancing accessibility and caregiver engagement.
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Copyright
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