Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42180658›Full record

ReviewJournal of exercise science and fitness2026

Characterizing virtual community exercise programs for people with mobility limitations: a scoping review.

Renato Barbosa Dos Santos, Jing Lin, Anchal Badwal, Hardeep Singh, Susan B Jaglal, Chavon Niles, Nancy M Salbach

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Journal of exercise science and fitness, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
0citing 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

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

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

7 authors.

Renato Barbosa Dos SantosRehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada.
Jing LinRehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada.
Anchal BadwalDepartment of Physical Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada.
Hardeep SinghRehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada.
Susan B JaglalRehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada.
Chavon NilesDepartment of Physical Therapy, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada.
Nancy M SalbachRehabilitation Sciences Institute, Temerty Faculty of Medicine, University of Toronto, 160-500 University Ave, Toronto, ON, M5G 1V7, Canada.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Virtual delivery of exercise programs can overcome barriers associated with accessing in-person programs for people with mobility limitations. Despite the growing number of virtual programs, several gaps remain, including how these programs are delivered and the specific strategies used to engage participants safely. We aimed to describe the intervention and methodological characteristics of virtual community exercise programs for adults with mobility limitations. We conducted a scoping review of virtual community exercise programs for adults with health conditions associated with mobility limitations. Data were summarized descriptively, and outcomes were classified using the International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health. A total of 36 studies were included. Pre-post studies (39%) and randomized trials (28%) were the most common study designs. Studies frequently targeted individuals with Parkinson's disease (31%), multiple sclerosis (11%), and stroke (11%). Programs were commonly group-based (44%), 2 classes/week (47%) lasting 60 min (63%), for 8 weeks (33%). Interventions frequently included strength (44%), aerobic (31%), and balance training (19%), and synchronous delivery (80%) by physiotherapists (39%) using Zoom™ (68%). Safety strategies included guidance for space and technology setup (19%), and pre-session safety checks (11%). A wide range of outcomes were evaluated, most commonly health-related quality of life (44%) and physical function (28%). This scoping review shows that virtual community exercise programs for adults with mobility limitations primarily involved physiotherapist-led, 60-min group sessions delivered via Zoom™, focusing on a combination of strength and aerobic training, and emerging mind-body modalities, and high attendance. Findings highlight the need for larger, well-powered trials with standardized outcomes to support scalability and real-world implementation.

Identifiers

PMID42180658
PMCPMC13193778

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

None linked

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.