Evidence map›Paper›PMID 41658611›Full record

ArticleFrontiers in medicine2026

Feasibility and acceptability of a remotely delivered, home-based "exercise snacking" to improve physical function in community-dwelling older adults: a 28-day pilot study.

Zhongzhong Hu, Shuhuan Li, Xiaolong Shi, Keke Huang, Hao Huang, Xiaoyi Yuan

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Frontiers in medicine, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 1 paper.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
1citing papers in PubMed
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

1 citing paper in PubMed.

  1. Effectiveness of digital health exercise interventions on muscle function and physical performance in older adults with possible, confirmed, or severe sarcopenia: a systematic review and meta-analysis.European review of aging and physical activity : official journal of the European Group for Research into Elderly and Physical Activity · 2026
    Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

6 authors.

Zhongzhong HuSchool of Sports Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Shuhuan LiThe First Affiliated Hospital of Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Xiaolong ShiCapital University of Physical Education and Sports, Beijing, China.
Keke HuangSchool of Sports Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Hao HuangSchool of Sports Science, Wenzhou Medical University, Wenzhou, China.
Xiaoyi YuanSchool of Education, Beijing Sport University, Beijing, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: Age-related declines in muscle strength and physical function increase the risk of frailty, falls, and loss of independence in older adults. Traditional structured exercise programs often have low participation because of time constraints, limited access to facilities, and health-related barriers. "Exercise snacking" defined as brief bouts of resistance exercise accumulated across the day, may offer a more flexible and feasible option. Methods: In this 28-day pilot randomized controlled trial, 36 community-dwelling older adults aged 65-80 years were randomly assigned to a home-based "exercise snacking" (ES) group ( Results: Thirty-three participants (ES = 16, control = 17) completed follow-up (retention 88.9%). Among ES completers, mean adherence was 89.1%, with 49.9 ± 3.7 of 56 prescribed sessions completed. Acceptability was high (mean enjoyment 4.3/5), and 88.9% of participants reported intending to continue similar exercises independently. One minor adverse event (plantar fasciitis) and four mild musculoskeletal incidents were recorded, none leading to withdrawal. Compared with controls, the ES group showed significant improvements in SPPB total score, five-STS time, 4-m walk time, TUG time, and 60 s-STS repetitions, all with large effect sizes, while balance scores remained stable in both groups. Conclusion: A remotely delivered, home-based "exercise snacking" program appears feasible, acceptable, and safe for community-dwelling older adults and elicits meaningful short-term improvements in lower-limb strength and endurance, and gait speed. These findings support exercise snacking as a practical, low-burden strategy to counteract functional decline in aging populations and warrant larger, longer-term trials.

Indexed as

acceptabilityexercise snackingfeasibilityhome-based exerciselower-limb strengtholder adultsphysical function

Identifiers

PMID41658611
PMCPMC12879047

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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.