Shen Jing, Yu Jiahua, Zhang Hao, Lindsey Michael A, An Ruopeng
Department of Physical Education, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China.
Department of Physical Education, China University of Geosciences (Beijing), Beijing 100083, China.
J Sport Health Sci. 2025 Apr 24:101045. doi: 10.1016/j.jshs.2025.101045.
The aging global population necessitates innovative strategies to enhance older adults' health and quality of life. Physical activity (PA) is crucial for healthy aging, yet many older adults struggle to exercise regularly. Artificial intelligence (AI)-powered social robots offer an interactive, engaging, and personalized solution to promote PA among this demographic. This systematic review investigates the role of AI-powered social robots in encouraging PA in older adults.
We conducted a systematic literature search in databases including PubMed, IEEE Xplore, Scopus, Cochrane Library, and Web of Science, focusing on studies published until February 2024. We included peer-reviewed articles reporting empirical findings on designing, implementing, and evaluating AI-enabled social robots to promote PA among older adults. Studies were conducted in nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, community centers, and home environments.
A total of 19 studies were included in the review. Analysis reveals that AI-powered social robots effectively motivate older adults to engage in PAs, leading to increased exercise adherence, higher engagement levels, and extended training durations. Social robots have demonstrated effectiveness across various environments, including nursing homes, rehabilitation centers, community centers, home environments, and elder care facilities. In structured environments like nursing homes and rehabilitation centers, robots help maintain regular exercise routines, improving adherence and recovery outcomes. In community and elder care centers, robots promote PA and social engagement by facilitating group exercises and enhancing participation. In home environments, robots provide personalized support for daily activities, offering reminders and engagement, which fosters long-term activity engagement. User acceptance and satisfaction are high, with participants finding the robots engaging and enjoyable. Additionally, several studies indicate potential health benefits, such as improved medication adherence, better sleep patterns, and enhanced overall well-being. Nevertheless, additional research is imperative to address unresolved issues concerning the technological maintenance costs, design constraints, and adaptability of AI-powered social robots to specific user demographics.
AI-powered social robots play a promising role in promoting PA among older adults, enhancing their health, well-being, and independence. This review provides insights for researchers, designers, and healthcare professionals developing AI-enabled social robotic systems for older adults.
全球人口老龄化需要创新策略来提升老年人的健康水平和生活质量。身体活动对健康老龄化至关重要，但许多老年人难以坚持定期锻炼。人工智能驱动的社交机器人提供了一种互动、有趣且个性化的解决方案，以促进这一人群的身体活动。本系统综述调查了人工智能驱动的社交机器人在鼓励老年人进行身体活动方面的作用。
我们在包括PubMed、IEEE Xplore、Scopus、Cochrane图书馆和Web of Science在内的数据库中进行了系统的文献检索，重点关注截至2024年2月发表的研究。我们纳入了同行评审的文章，这些文章报告了关于设计、实施和评估人工智能驱动的社交机器人以促进老年人身体活动的实证研究结果。研究在养老院、康复中心、社区中心和家庭环境中进行。
本综述共纳入19项研究。分析表明，人工智能驱动的社交机器人能有效激励老年人参与身体活动，从而提高锻炼依从性、增强参与度并延长训练时间。社交机器人在各种环境中都显示出有效性，包括养老院、康复中心、社区中心、家庭环境和老年护理机构。在养老院和康复中心等结构化环境中，机器人有助于维持规律的锻炼习惯，改善依从性和康复效果。在社区和老年护理中心，机器人通过促进团体锻炼和增强参与度来推广身体活动和社交互动。在家庭环境中，机器人为日常活动提供个性化支持，提供提醒和互动，从而促进长期的活动参与。用户接受度和满意度较高，参与者认为机器人有趣且令人愉快。此外，多项研究表明了潜在的健康益处，如提高药物依从性、改善睡眠模式和增强整体幸福感。然而，必须进行更多研究以解决有关人工智能驱动的社交机器人的技术维护成本、设计限制以及对特定用户群体的适应性等未解决问题。
人工智能驱动的社交机器人在促进老年人身体活动、增强他们的健康、幸福感和独立性方面发挥着有前景的作用。本综述为研究人员、设计师和医疗保健专业人员开发适用于老年人的人工智能驱动的社交机器人系统提供了见解。
