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SYSTEMATIC REVIEW article

Front. Public Health
Sec. Public Health Education and Promotion
Volume 13 - 2025 | doi: 10.3389/fpubh.2025.1474913
This article is part of the Research Topic The Role of Nursing in Public Health Promotion and Education View all 23 articles

Effects of Physical Exercise in Reducing Caregivers Burden: A Systematic Review

Provisionally accepted
Carla Cardoso Carla Cardoso 1*Teresa Martins Teresa Martins 2Maria José Lumini Maria José Lumini 2
  • 1 Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto Francisco Gentil, Porto, Portugal
  • 2 Escola Superior de Enfermagem do Porto, Porto, Portugal

The final, formatted version of the article will be published soon.

    Background and aim: Caring for someone can be physically and psychologically demanding, predisposing caregivers to muscle injuries, fatigue, exhaustion, depression, anxiety, and burnout. The literature suggests several approaches to reducing caregiver burden, one of which is physical exercise. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the effectiveness of exercise-based programs or muscle relaxation in reducing caregiver burden and stress among family caregivers. Method: A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. The search was performed in the Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Scopus databases and through the EBSCOhost aggregator (CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE, and SportDiscus). Studies were selected based on the PICOD acronym. Results: Ten randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and two other experimental studies were included. The reviewed programs encompassed aerobics, strengthening, and muscle relaxation exercises, delivered by various professionals in diverse settings, such as caregivers' homes, gyms, and hospital environments. Although the programs varied in type, duration, and structure, the majority of the studies demonstrated positive effects on caregivers' physical and psychological well -being, along with reductions in burden and stress.The results suggest that physical exercise interventions are effective in reducing caregiver burden and stress, while also enhancing overall well-being. Future strategies should emphasize the importance of raising awareness among caregivers about adopting healthy lifestyles, with a particular focus on regular physical activity, as a means of relaxation and self-care. To maximize the effectiveness of these interventions, incorporating flexible, home-based components and engaging multidisciplinary teams could enhance accessibility, adherence, and impact.

    Keywords: family caregivers, Exercise Program, Muscle Relaxation, Burden, stress, Systematic review

    Received: 02 Aug 2024; Accepted: 17 Jan 2025.

    Copyright: © 2025 Cardoso, Martins and Lumini. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY). The use, distribution or reproduction in other forums is permitted, provided the original author(s) or licensor are credited and that the original publication in this journal is cited, in accordance with accepted academic practice. No use, distribution or reproduction is permitted which does not comply with these terms.

    * Correspondence: Carla Cardoso, Instituto Português de Oncologia do Porto Francisco Gentil, Porto, Portugal

    Disclaimer: All claims expressed in this article are solely those of the authors and do not necessarily represent those of their affiliated organizations, or those of the publisher, the editors and the reviewers. Any product that may be evaluated in this article or claim that may be made by its manufacturer is not guaranteed or endorsed by the publisher.