Cantoia Manuela, Zimatore Giovanna, Matteo Barbara, Sausa Martina, Fabbrizio Antonio, De Giorgio Andrea, Sonia Angilletta, Garrido Nuno Domingos, Reis Victor Machado, Vilaça-Alves José Manuel, Lucas Gabriela Chaves, Peixoto Rafael, Macaluso Filippo, Baldari Carlo, Fucarino Alberto, Iuliano Enzo
Department of Theoretical and Applied Sciences, eCampus University, Novedrate, Italy.
Department of Biomedicine, Neuroscience and Advanced Diagnostics (BIND), University of Palermo, 90133, Palermo, Italy.
Sci Rep. 2025 Jul 24;15(1):26878. doi: 10.1038/s41598-025-10697-5.
Tele-exercise has significant potential as a tool to promote physical activity, particularly for individuals facing barriers to accessing gyms or sports centres due to geographical, physical, or financial constraints. While tele-exercise derives from telemedicine, it remains a less defined field with no established guidelines to regulate or standardize its implementation. This gap highlights the need for structured frameworks to ensure the safety, effectiveness, and accessibility of tele-exercise. This study aimed to establish a consensus on some fundamental aspects of tele-exercise through a structured four-round process. A mixed-method approach combined analyses of scientific literature with a modified Delphi approach of 4 rounds of experts' opinions collected via focus groups and an ad hoc questionnaire. A consensus criterion of ≥ 60% agreement was applied. Experts (n = 17 internal, n = 14 external) validated 7 thematic areas and 25 operational recommendations, including fitness training design (e.g., 2-10 participants/session in synchronous mode), safety protocols, and technology requirements. In detail, the following fundamental aspects were addressed: (1) operative definitions of tele-exercise, (2) fitness training programs design, (3) requirements for spaces and equipment, (4) safety protocols for remote exercise, (5) the role and impact of technology, (6) relational and communication strategies to enhance engagement, and (7) monitoring methods for asynchronous and synchronous training sessions. Answers were analysed through a manual content analysis. The guidelines provide a comprehensive examination of these aspects, addressing current gaps and limitations while outlining opportunities for improvement. The study underscores the importance of developing standardized practices to ensure safe and effective implementation of tele-exercise. These findings establish a preliminary framework for tele-exercise implementation, highlighting consensus on technical and psychological features critical for scalability and safety in diverse populations.
远程锻炼作为促进身体活动的工具具有巨大潜力，尤其对于因地理、身体或经济限制而难以进入健身房或体育中心的个人而言。虽然远程锻炼源自远程医疗，但它仍是一个定义不太明确的领域，没有既定的指南来规范或标准化其实施。这一差距凸显了需要有结构化框架来确保远程锻炼的安全性、有效性和可及性。本研究旨在通过一个结构化的四轮过程就远程锻炼的一些基本方面达成共识。采用混合方法，将科学文献分析与通过焦点小组和特设问卷收集的四轮专家意见的改进德尔菲法相结合。应用了≥60% 一致同意的共识标准。专家（17名内部专家，14名外部专家）验证了7个主题领域和25条操作建议，包括健身训练设计（例如，同步模式下每次训练2 - 10名参与者）、安全协议和技术要求。详细而言，探讨了以下基本方面：（1）远程锻炼的操作定义，（2）健身训练计划设计，（3）空间和设备要求，（4）远程锻炼的安全协议，（5）技术的作用和影响，（6）增强参与度的关系和沟通策略，以及（7）异步和同步训练课程的监测方法。通过人工内容分析对答案进行了分析。这些指南对这些方面进行了全面审视，解决了当前的差距和局限性，同时概述了改进机会。该研究强调了制定标准化实践以确保安全有效地实施远程锻炼的重要性。这些发现为远程锻炼的实施建立了一个初步框架，突出了在技术和心理特征方面达成的共识，这些特征对于不同人群的可扩展性和安全性至关重要。
