Effects Of Physical Activity Program Research Articles

The Effect of a Physical Activity Program on Subjective Well-Being, Happiness and Problem-Solving Skills in Patients with Schizophrenia: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

The aim of this randomized controlled trial was to examine the effect of Physical Activity Program applied to patients with schizophrenia on subjective well-being, happiness and problem-solving skills levels. This study was conducted with a total of 86 individuals diagnosed with schizophrenia (43 intervention and 43 control) registered in a family health center. Subjective Well-Being Scale, the Short Form of the Oxford Happiness Questionnaire and Problem-Solving Inventory were used to collect the data at baseline and, post-intervention. Significant increases in subjective well-being, happiness, and problem-solving skills were found in the intervention group after the total of 12 weeks of the Physical Activity Program, which included walking and exercises, compared to the control group. Accordingly, it can be said that the Physical Activity Program is an effective method that increases subjective well-being, happiness and problem-solving skills. ClinicalTrials.gov Identifier number is NCT15976921 and date of registration is 21/11/2023, retrospectively registered.

Effects of physical training on body weight, pulmonary function and dietary patterns in adolescents with obesity

Physical activity offers a powerful tool to address the challenges faced by obese teenagers. By promoting social inclusion, improving physical health, and boosting mental well-being, sports can significantly enhance their overall quality of life. Our research discusses the negative effects of obesity in adolescents and the benefits of a sports program when addressing these issues. The study involved 60 participants (30 males and 30 females) aged 14-16 for a period of eight months. Results showed significant weight loss for most participants: 26 participants lost around 10% of their body weight, another group lost around 8%, and only 4 subjects did not experience significant weight change. The study also observed a 9.5% improvement in motor skills on average. The mean weight loss difference between intervention and control was 9.30%. The study emphasizes the detrimental effects of obesity in adolescents and highlights the effectiveness of physical activity programs in promoting weight loss, enhancing respiratory function and induce healthy eating habits among obese adolescents. It also underscores the positive social and lifestyle benefits associated with regular physical activity. Keywords: physical activity; obesity; exercise; inclusion; nutrition

Effectiveness of Physical Activity Programs for Older Adults during COVID-19 across Districts with Different Healthcare Resource: A Case Study of Keelung City in Taiwan.

While past research has largely supported the importance of physical activity for the health of older adults, during the COVID-19 pandemic, older individuals may have reduced their opportunities and levels of physical activity to lower the risk of infection by minimizing outings or interactions with others. Additionally, the adequacy of medical resources in a region is often closely related to factors such as infrastructure and economic resources. Therefore, it is important to consider whether there are differences in health promotion among older adults living in areas with varying levels of medical resources. This study aimed to implement a physical activity program for older adults, selecting Keelung City, Taiwan, as the implementation area, and comparing the differences in implementation effectiveness among administrative districts with different levels of medical resources in the city. The study employed a two-way analysis of variance to examine the differences in the effectiveness of the physical activity program among administrative districts, where the average service population in medical institutions was higher or lower than the city average. The results revealed significant improvements in participants' right-hand grip strength and the number of sit-to-stand repetitions in the overall sample after the program intervention. Moreover, in administrative districts where the average service population in medical institutions was higher than the city average, participants showed greater improvement in grip strength, while in districts where it was lower than the city average, participants demonstrated greater improvement in sit-to-stand repetitions. Future research could draw upon these findings to design physical activity programs tailored to different regions with distinct allocations of medical resources. Tailored program designs considering local medical resources are necessary to optimize effectiveness. Governments and organizations should focus on elderly health, especially in resource-scarce areas, by increasing investment and support for these programs to promote well-being and bridge disparities.

The effect of physical activity programs on improving motor, social and attitude abilities of students with autism spectrum disorders in inclusive schools

The effect of physical activity programs on improving motor, social and attitude abilities of students with autism spectrum disorders in inclusive schools

Effects of a Physical Activity Program that Incorporates Exercises Targeting Balance, Strength, and Proprioception on Cognitive Functions and Physical Performance in Old Adults with Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Aging often leads to cognitive function decline, sensory structure deterioration, and musculoskeletal system weakening. This impacts postural control during static and dynamic activities like walking, increasing the fall risk among the elderly. Older adults with mild cognitive impairment (MCI) face an elevated fall risk and cognitive decline, magnifying the public health concern. This study aimed to explore solutions by investigating the effects of a multi-component physical activity program on cognitive and motor functions in MCI patients. Twenty-three participants were enrolled in the study and assigned into two groups: an intervention group (n = 13; age = 85.7±5.5 years) and a control group (n = 9; age = 85±6.7 years). The study spanned two months, with participants engaging in three 60-minute weekly physical exercise sessions. The intervention focused on improving proprioception, muscle strength, and balance. Results demonstrated significant enhancements in physical performance, fall risk reduction, and balance (p < 0.05). Various tests, including the timed up and go test, Unipedal Stance test, Tinetti test, Short Physical Performance Battery, and 6-minute walking test, indicated these improvements. Cognitive function was evaluated with the Mini-Mental State Examination, revealing non-significant progress (p > 0.05). Predictive models for outcomes were developed using linear regression analysis during the follow-up stage. This study underscores the effectiveness of a multi-component physical activity program encompassing balance, proprioception, and muscle-strengthening exercises as a non-pharmaceutical approach in improving balance skills and playing a key role in mitigating the risk of falls among old adults with MCI.

S3-1 Explorations of physical activity programmes among people with chronic diseases

Abstract Regular physical activity throughout life contributes to optimized mental, social, and physical health of individuals. Yet, a significant ratio of the global population does not meet WHO’s recommended levels of physical activity (WHO, 2022). Promoting physical activity is particularly important among people with chronic diseases, as those longterm noncommunicable conditions are the world’s leading cause of mortality and represent an increasing burden on healthcare systems, economic development, and wellbeing of a large proportion of the population, particularly those aged 50 or above. When a chronic disease is first identified, the health care sector is generally well organized to provide healthcare management of the condition itself, but there isn’t a consistent approach to adopt and maintain a healthy lifestyle as people move back into community settings. Promoting physical activity as part of routine patient care is a particularly important approach for reaching the least active people, and those living with (or at risk of) chronic disease. Although many healthcare professional believe they should play a role in supporting people to be more active there are barriers to doing so in terms of time and know-how. To overcome those barriers, programmes have been developed to bridge health care into community settings with a common goal to optimise the adoption and maintenance of physical activity longterm. These programmes are very diverse according to their location (in- or out- of hospital), their duration, the type and frequency of activity proposed, the level of education of the coaches, or the individual characteristics of each participant. The studies presented in this symposium explore then the effectiveness of physical activity programmes amongst people with chronic diseases. These explorations are carried out using both quantitative and qualitative approaches, in order to identify as accurately as possible the ins and outs of successful and meaningful support. Holistic consideration of the people’s pathway to an active lifestyle is explored in those studies, embracing particularly the concept of physical literacy.

Effects of Physical Activity Program on Body Composition, Physical Performance, and Neuromuscular Strategies during Walking in Older Adults with Sarcopenic Obesity: Randomized Controlled Trial.

The potential impact of a specific physical activity program on biomechanical gait parameters and neuromuscular strategies around the ankle joint in older adults with sarcopenic obesity (SO) remains largely unexplored. The objective of this study was to investigate the effectiveness of a 24-week posture, strengthening, and motricity (PSM) program on improving neuromuscular strategies and biomechanical gait parameters in older adults with SO. 40 participants were randomly assigned to either the trained group (TG) and the control group (CG). Only the TG received the PSM program. Standardized evaluations were performed before and after the intervention, including walking tests on an instrumented gait analysis treadmill to evaluate biomechanical gait parameters and EMG activity of ankle muscles. After the PSM program, TG exhibited an increase in comfortable walking speed (+80%, p < 0.001) and step length (+38%, p < 0.05). Moreover, TG demonstrated a reduction in CoP velocity (-26%, p < 0.01). These gait modifications were associated with decreased muscle activity during the different gait phases (p < 0.05). The PSM program effectively improved gait and neuromuscular capacities in older adults with SO. Notably, these results shed light on the remarkable trainability of neuromuscular capacities in older adults with SO, despite the adverse effects of aging and obesity.

Physical Activity and Post-COVID-19 Syndrome in Older Adults: A Systematic Review

Background: Physical activity (PA) may play a significant role in managing post-Coronavirus Disease (COVID)-19 syndrome, a significant public health concern among older adults. This study aimed to systematically review the evidence on post-COVID-19 symptoms, signs, risk factors, and the effects of PA programs in managing post-COVID-19 syndrome among older adults. Method: This systematic review followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) recommendation. The systematic search was conducted in August 2022 using Scopus and MEDLINE (via PubMed) databases. Results: There were 51 documents screened, among which 10 (7 observational and 3 experimental studies) met the selection criteria. The reported post-COVID-19 symptoms and signs associated with physical health included dyspnea, fatigue, diarrhea, and sarcopenia, abnormal lung function, cardiac pathology, immunological changes, reduced physical performance, respectively, while those associated with mental health included depression, poor concentration and memory, and anxiety. Patients with higher body mass indexes were more likely to experience more symptoms. Older patients had greater difficulties in performing daily activities and mobility. A multidisciplinary-based PA program is suggested to be feasible and effective in improving fatigue, ability to walk, balance, and cognitive function. For patients with sarcopenia, a low-intensity aerobic training exercise appears to improve muscle strength, kinesiophobia, and quality of life. Conclusion: Various post-COVID-19 symptoms have been reported along with their risk factors, and PA programs are potentially used for managing these symptoms. More research, however, is recommended to explore the PA program for specific post-COVID-19 symptoms.

The Effect of Physical Activity Programs on Dynamic Balance of Older Adults during Covid-19

Dynamic balance has been found to be a very important ability for older adults to improve posture control and prevent falls, injuries and hospitalisation. The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of two different physical activity (PA) programmes on the dynamic balance ability of older adults. A total of 39 people (mean age: 62.31) from Tel-Aviv, Israel, participated in this research, which was initiated a few weeks before the Covid-19 restrictions. They were divided into three groups: 16 people participated in the Harmonic Gymnastics programme; the second group also consisted of 16 people who regularly practised moderate-to-high intensity fitness exercise; the third group included 7 participants who did not practise PA (No PA). Dynamic balance was measured using the Y-Balance Test before and after three months of the programme. The results showed that participants in the two PA groups increased their dynamic balance for both legs, although only the Harmonic Gymnastics group achieved significant results (p = 0.001). In the two PA groups, the number of falls decreased (p = 0.017 for both groups), and the No PA group recorded lower scores for both legs, although the decrease was significant only for the left leg (p = 0.043). The study emphasises the importance of PA for older age groups, especially in Covid-19 conditions, and the importance of the Harmonic Gymnastics PA programme that involves body awareness, coordination, vestibular and proprioceptive abilities.

The effect of a physical activity intervention on burden and healthy lifestyle behavior in family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia: A randomized controlled trial

AimThe aim of this study is to investigate the efficacy of a physical activity intervention on burden and healthy lifestyle behavior in family caregivers of schizophrenia. MethodA randomized, controlled trial was conducted to evaluate the effect of physical activity program on burden and healthy lifestyle behavior in family caregivers of patients with schizophrenia. The “Physical Activity Program” consisted of 5 min of warm-up activities as the initial segment, 20 min of rhythmic exercises as the activity segment, 5 min of cool down exercises as the final segment and 30 min of free walking. The program consisted of 8 sessions. The Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale and the Healthy Lifestyle Behavior Scale were applied to the physical activity and control groups ahead of the program's implementation. A total of 60 caregivers were randomly distributed to the intervention (n = 30) and control groups (n = 30). Post-intervention measurement was completed by 60 caregivers and all the caregivers completed the intervention. ResultsSignificant differences were found on the Zarit Caregiver Burden Scale score and Healthy Lifestyle Behavior score between the groups. ConclusionFuture research should examine with larger sample groups, carry out interventions, and apply the physical activity intervention by targeting caregivers, along with different interventions.

Psychosocial Effects of Physical Activity Interventions for Preschoolers, Children, and Adolescents: Role of Intervention Settings.

Physical activity interventions are potential strategies to enhance psychosocial health of children and adolescents. Interventions are performed at diverse settings (e.g., school, home, community), but little research has addressed whether and how the effectiveness of these programs vary by setting type. The aim of this review is to summarize the psychosocial effects of physical activity programs for preschoolers, children, and adolescents at various intervention settings. A systematic search of five electronic databases, MEDLINE-PubMed, CINAHL, PsycINFO, CENTRAL, and Scopus was performed. Included studies had participants between 3-18 years, physical activity intervention duration of at least four weeks, experimental design, and at least one psychosocial health outcome. Data on participants, intervention, comparison, outcomes, and findings were extracted. Data were synthesized by the intervention setting; school, home, and community. Of the thirty-five included studies, 74% were performed at schools. Although fewer studies used community (17%)- and home-based (9%) interventions, these were similarly effective in improving psychosocial health as school-based interventions. Community- and home-based intervention settings may be underutilized despite being similarly effective as school-based settings. A large proportion of time is spent out of school during weekends and summer-break. Community- and home-based physical activity programs may be pragmatic strategies to deliver improvements in psychosocial health of preschoolers, children, and adolescents.

Physical activity on cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular risk in premenopausal and postmenopausal women: a systematic review of randomized controlled trials.

The apparent cardioprotective effects of endogenous estrogens to prevent cardiovascular disease in premenopausal women are reduced with the loss of estrogen post-menopause. Cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular risk factors are closely related to physical activity levels. This study conducted a critical assessment of studies for health prevention that analyze the effects of physical activity programs on cardiorespiratory fitness and cardiovascular risk factors in women, comparing premenopausal and postmenopausal states, through a systematic review of randomized controlled trials. A computerized literature search was performed to include articles up until December 2021 in the following online databases: PubMed, Cochrane, Scopus, SportDiscus, and Web of Science. Regarding physical activity intervention, women of all ages were engaged. The PEDro scale and Oxford's evidence levels were used for the assessment of the risk of bias in the included articles. Fourteen scientific articles met the inclusion criteria. Great variability was found in physical activity variables. All the studies found an improvement in at least one variable. The risk of bias was high, with all the articles obtaining a low methodological quality, except two with high methodological quality. Only one article considered the differences in the menopausal state observing the effects of physical activity intervention and highlighting the importance of physical activity in both states. To strengthen the evidence for the benefits of physical activity programs in women and to observe the effects depending on their menopausal state, there is an ongoing need for more rigorous randomized controlled trials of appropriate length and dose, with individualized exercise intensity.

Systematic Review of COVID-19-Related Physical Activity-Based Rehabilitations: Benefits to Be Confirmed by More Robust Methodological Approaches.

The first emergency was to receive and treat COVID-19 patients in their acute phase; today, there is a clear need to propose appropriate post-acute rehabilitation programs. The aim of this research was to systematically review the effects of physical activity programs in the recovery of post-COVID-19 patients. The literature search followed the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis (PRISMA) guidelines, was registered in the PROSPERO database (CRD42022289219), and was conducted between August and December 2021. A total of 35 studies out of the 1528 initially identified were finally included in the analysis. The systematic review clearly showed the health benefits of rehabilitation including physical activity in post-COVID-19 recovery, regardless of exercise modalities. These positive results were even observed using minor muscle re-mobilization for severe cases (i.e., postural changes, few steps—2 times/day) or using low volumes of exercise for mild-to-moderate cases (i.e., 120 min/week). A total of 97% of the 29 studies that performed statistical analyses demonstrated a significant increase in at least one parameter of functional capacity, and 96% of the 26 studies that statistically investigated the effects on the quality of life, mental health, and general state reported improvements. Yet, most of the studies were retrospective, uncontrolled, and enrolled aged people with comorbidities presented in severe forms of COVID-19. Physical activity programs, in addition to their high heterogeneity, remained poorly described in 83% of the studies and were part of a multidisciplinary program for 89% of the studies. Despite promising results, there is today a real need for prospective well-designed studies specifically assessing the effects of physical activity. In addition, it might appear relevant to propose standardized programs further considering the main characteristics of patients such as age, comorbidities, or the severity of COVID-19.

Systematic review of physical activity interventions assessing physical and mental health outcomes on patients with severe mental illness (SMI) within secure forensic settings.

Accessible SummaryWhat is known on the subject? Individuals with a severe mental illness (SMI) are less physically active and have a lower life expectancy than the general population due to increased risks of cardiometabolic diseases (obesity, diabetes and respiratory diseases) and other health risks.Physical activity has been used as an adjunct therapy for individuals with SMI yielding improvements in cognitive functioning, quality of life and a reduction in psychiatric symptoms.Individuals with SMI residing within a secure forensic setting have reduced physical activity opportunities, possibly due to a number of factors including low motivation and restricted access to exercise facilities combined with a lack of knowledge and/or confidence in staff members to assist in physical activity programmes. What the paper adds to existing knowledge? This review demonstrates that little is known around the effects of physical activity for people with SMI who reside in secure forensic settings, with little to no long‐term effects reported.Physical activity interventions have shown some positive results through decreasing weight and waist circumference as well as a reduction in negative symptom scores in an exercise group compared with the “no treatment” control group post‐intervention. What are the implications for practice? Service users’ reluctance to engage in physical activity may be overcome by improving staff commitment, creating a motivational atmosphere and promoting service user decision making. IntroductionParticipating in physical activity has many benefits, yet those with severe mental illness (SMI) living in forensic settings are less likely to be active, and more likely to experience ill‐health. The aim of this study was to systematically review the effectiveness of physical activity programmes on mental and physical health and specifically on reducing symptoms of SMI in forensic settings.MethodA systematic search of six databases was conducted, in addition to a grey literature search. Studies were included if they had participants with SMI; were based in a forensic setting; involved a physical activity programme and reported physical and mental health outcomes.ResultsA total of 112 participants were included in four studies. One study showed a significant improvement in negative symptom scores in the exercise group compared with a treatment as usual group. Two studies reported improvements in psychiatric symptoms with no significant difference between groups; however, statistically significant changes in weight and waist circumference were evident (p < .001). No adverse effects were reported.ConclusionOnly a small number of studies were included and of limited design and quality, with no follow‐up assessments; therefore, more research is needed to determine the true effects of physical activity for improving SMI symptoms in a forensic setting.This review highlights the need for further studies exploring the barriers and facilitators of physical activity in secure forensic settings. Studies are required that include a more thorough research design. Furthermore, interventions if designed with patients and caring staff in mind may lead to lowered psychiatric symptoms and increased physical health benefits for all in forensic settings.

Effect of Physical Exercise on Sleep Quality in Elderly Adults: A Systematic Review with a Meta-Analysis of Controlled and Randomized Studies

Introduction: Aging is directly related to sleep problems. Primary insomnia has a negative impact on the lives of elderly adults, altering cognitive and metabolic functions. Physical activity is positively related to improvement in sleep quality. The objective of this systematic review was to analyze the effects of physical activity programs in healthy elderly individuals aged 60 years or older, using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) as a tool. Methods: The search was performed in the PubMed and Scielo databases, July 2021. Only randomized clinical trials that evaluated the role of physical exercise in the sleep quality of elderly patients were selected by two independent reviewers. Results: The result of the PSQI analysis showed that compared with the control condition, the exercise intervention was beneficial for the groups with insomnia (SMD: −0.57; 95% CI: −0.73 to −0.4; p &lt; 0.00001; I2 = 53%) and without insomnia (SMD: −0.61; 95% CI: −0.75 to −0.47; p &lt; 0.00001; I2 = 73%) and for the two groups combined (SMD: −0.59; 95% CI: −0.70 to −0.49; p &lt; 0.0001, I2 = 68%). Conclusion: The systematic and continuous practice of physical exercise significantly improves perceived sleep quality in elderly individuals. Therefore, physical activities can be used as a tool to prevent sleep disorders and improve health in general. Future studies may clarify the comparison between aerobic and resistance exercises, evaluate the dose–response relationship and include more participants.

The Effect of Physical Activity Programs and School Environments on Movement Activities and Mental Health

The purpose of this study was to determine the effect of the physical activity program in the two groups of Physical Education and Physical Education + Out of School Hours Activity (OSHA) on movement activities and students' mental health based on the school environment where they studied. A total of 113 (57 students in a large school environment and 56 students in a narrow school environment) aged 16-19 years were involved in this study. Collecting data is to determine movement activities using the Barrow Motor Ability Test (BMT) and filling out a mental health questionnaire. The physical activity program was carried out for 12 weeks with a number of meetings once per week from each treatment group and for an additional Out of School Hours Activity program three times a week. The data were analyzed using the Kruskal Wallis test technique at a significance level of = 0.05. The results show that: 1) There is a difference in the effect of physical activity programs on Physical Education and Physical Education + OSHA on movement activities and mental health of students in a large school environment; 2) There are differences in the effect of physical activity programs on Physical Education and Physical Education + OSHA on movement activities and mental health of students in a narrow school environment. Thus, the physical activity program has an influence on movement activities and mental health even though in a large school environment, which is better than in a narrow school environment.

Development and Validation of the Workplace Decisional Balance Scale for Exercise (WDBex) in a French Sample.

Despite positive effects of physical activity programs in the workplace, an appropriate measurement instrument to capture employees' decisional balance to exercise is lacking. This study sought to develop and validate a decisional balance scale for exercise adapted to the workplace. Four complementary studies were carried out, with a total sample of 2398 French volunteer employees, to develop a preliminary version and examine its dimensionality, temporal stability, and construct validity. The Workplace Decisional Balance scale for Exercise (WDBex) consists of 21 items with two subfactors, respectively composed of 12 items (facilitators) and nine items (barriers); for each subfactor, three dimensions (ie, physical, psychological, and logistic) were distinguished and presented satisfactory psychometric properties. This instrument constitutes a reliable and valid instrument for studying the psychosocial determinants of physical activity engagement in the workplace and for developing health promotion strategies.

Effects of Physical Activity Programs on Health Outcomes of Family Caregivers of Older Adults with Chronic Diseases: A Systematic Review

This systematic review was conducted to analyze and capture the most recent trends in physical activity interventions for family caregivers of older adults with chronic disease as found in randomized clinical trials over the last 10 years (2010–2020). We used PubMed, CINAHL, Embase, PsycInfo, and the Cochrane Library. We synthesized participants’ demographics, physical activity interventions and family caregivers’ health outcomes. The Cochrane Collaboration Risk of Bias Tool was used to assess risk of bias of the included studies. Sixteen studies were included and most studies (n = 11) had a moderate risk of bias. Physical activity programs with mixed modes (e.g., aerobic and resistance exercise), mixed delivery methods (e.g., in-person and telephone) and mixed settings (e.g., supervised gym-based sessions and unsupervised home-based sessions) were used most frequently. Physical activity interventions significantly improved psychological health but had inconsistent effects on physical health. This review provides current trends and research findings that suggest types of physical activity interventions and components that improve family caregivers’ health and wellness.

Long-Term Effects of Pedometer-Based Physical Activity Coaching in Severe COPD: A Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background and ObjectiveLimited evidence on long-term effects of physical activity programs in COPD is available. The aim of the study was to investigate the effects of a three-month program combining physical activity counselling and pedometer-based feedback in addition to usual care, followed by a nine-month unsupervised observation period as compared to usual care in participants with severe to very severe COPD.MethodsParticipants were randomized to either a control group receiving usual care or an intervention group receiving motivational support, an activity diary with an individual step count goal (ie, an increase of ≥15% from baseline) and a pedometer in addition to usual care. The intervention ended after three months and an unsupervised observational period followed until twelve months. Primary outcome was daily step count after one year.ResultsSeventy-four participants were included, 61 (82%) completed the study. Linear regression modelling, adjusted for baseline step count, showed no significant difference in change in step count after 12 months between the groups (Β = 547.33, 95% CI = −243.55/1338.20).ConclusionA three-month program combining physical activity counselling and pedometer-based feedback in addition to usual care does not attenuate the declining course of physical activity in participants with severe and very severe COPD during a long term follow-up of one year as compared to usual care. This result was primarily determined by the low intervention response rates to the combined program.Clinical Trial Registrationwww.ClinicalTrials.gov, NCT03114241.

Physical activity in pregnancy prevents gestational diabetes: A meta-analysis

AimsThe effectiveness of physical activity (PA) programs for prevention of gestational diabetes (GDM) lacks conclusive evidence. The aim of this study was to generate clear evidence regarding the effectiveness of physical activity programs in GDM prevention to guide clinical practice. MethodsPubMed/Medline, ISI Web of Science, Scopus, and EMBASE were searched to identify the randomized trials (RCTs) published until June 2019. Randomised controlled trials enrolling women at high risk before the 20th week of gestation comparing the effect of PA interventions with usual care for prevention of GDM were retrieved. Data obtained were synthesised using a bias-adjusted model of meta-analysis. ResultsA total of 1467 adult women in 11 eligible trials were included. The risk of GDM was significantly lower with PA, but only when it was delivered in the healthcare facility (RR 0.53; 95% CI 0.38–0.74). The number needed to treat with PA in pregnancy (compared to usual care) to prevent one GDM event was 18 (95% CI 14 – 29). The overall effect of PA interventions regardless of location of the intervention was RR 0.69 (95% CI 0.51 – 0.94). ConclusionsThis study provides evidence that in-facility physical activity programs started before the 20th week of gestation can significantly decrease the incidence of GDM among women at high risk.