Evidence map›Paper›PMID 42506847›Full record

ReviewSports (Basel, Switzerland)2026

From Exercise Dose to Exercise Architecture: Lifestyle-Congruent Exercise Models for Contemporary Adults.

Mario Muñoz-López, Edgar Simón Sancho-Haro, Aitor Zabaleta-Korta, Alexandra Martín Rodríguez, José Francisco López-Gil, José Francisco Tornero-Aguilera, Rodrigo Yánez-Sepúlveda

Abstract readReview
In one paragraph

Review in Sports (Basel, Switzerland), 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.

Mario Muñoz-LópezDepartment of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Fit Generation Research Institute, AD500 Andorra la Vella, Andorra.ORCID 0009-0002-7422-1546
Edgar Simón Sancho-HaroDepartment of Nutrition and Dietetics, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Fit Generation Research Institute, AD500 Andorra la Vella, Andorra.ORCID 0009-0001-3947-0822
Aitor Zabaleta-KortaDepartment of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Fit Generation Research Institute, AD500 Andorra la Vella, Andorra.
Alexandra Martín RodríguezFaculty of Health Sciences, UNIE Universidad, Av. de Monforte de Lemos, 28, Fuencarral-El Pardo, 28029 Madrid, Spain.ORCID 0000-0002-0087-4379
José Francisco López-GilSchool of Medicine, Universidad Espiritu Santo, Samborondon 0901952, Ecuador.ORCID 0000-0002-7412-7624
José Francisco Tornero-AguileraDepartment of Sport Sciences, Faculty of Sport and Health Sciences, Fit Generation Research Institute, AD500 Andorra la Vella, Andorra.
Rodrigo Yánez-SepúlvedaFaculty of Education and Social Sciences, Universidad Andrés Bello, Viña del Mar 2200055, Chile.ORCID 0000-0002-9311-6576

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundContemporary adults face fragmented schedules, sedentary digital work, cognitive load, logistical barriers, and unstable routines that can make conventional session-based exercise difficult to sustain. Exercise snacks, vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA), movement breaks, low-volume high-intensity interval training (HIIT), workplace exercise, and digitally mediated physical activity may reflect a broader redesign of exercise for real-world lifestyles.

objectiveTo develop a conceptual framework for lifestyle-congruent exercise models: approaches that intentionally modify dose, timing, setting, delivery, autonomy, or routine integration to reduce lifestyle-related friction while preserving a plausible physiological or behavioral stimulus.

methodsThis evidence-based narrative review purposively identified sources through targeted searches, citation tracking, and manual verification across exercise science, sedentary behavior, workplace health, behavioral medicine, and digital health. Sources were selected for conceptual relevance, model-family representation, evidence-type diversity, and contribution to framework development, and then charted by model family, population, context, exercise architecture, delivery, outcomes, and implementation features. No systematic protocol, formal risk-of-bias assessment, or certainty grading were applied.

resultsThirty-one sources informed the framework. Five design logics were identified: dose compression, temporal distribution, routine embedding, sedentary substitution, and delivery mediation. These logics show that brief or time-efficient models are not interchangeable; they differ in intentionality, context, behavioral demand, safety considerations, implementation logic, and dominant friction addressed.

conclusionsLifestyle-congruent exercise models are complementary strategies, not replacements for structured aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise. Their value lies in matching exercise architecture to lifestyle-related friction while supporting progression toward guideline-consistent activity. Future research should test safety, equity, scalability, and long-term maintenance across diverse populations.

Indexed as

exercise architectureexercise frictionexercise snackslifestyle-congruent exercisemovement breaksphysical activity adherencesedentary behaviorVILPA

Identifiers

PMID42506847
PMCPMC13416577

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
Read underepoch 390

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.