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. 2025 Feb 7;13(4):354.
doi: 10.3390/healthcare13040354.

Tele-Exercise for Fitness: Physical and Psychological Outcomes in Athletes and Non-Athletes' Trainees

Enzo Iuliano  1 , Giovanna Zimatore  1 , Antonio Fabbrizio  1 , Andrea De Giorgio  1 , Martina Sausa  1 , Barbara Maria Matteo  1 , Sonia Angilletta  1 , Victor Machado Reis  2   3 , Nuno D Garrido  2   3 , José Vilaça-Alves  2   3 , Rafael Peixoto  2   3 , Paulina Perusina  4 , Aleksandra Aristova  5 , Carlo Baldari  1 , Filippo Macaluso  6 , Alberto Fucarino  1 , Manuela Cantoia  1
Affiliations

Tele-Exercise for Fitness: Physical and Psychological Outcomes in Athletes and Non-Athletes' Trainees

Enzo Iuliano et al. Healthcare (Basel). .

Abstract

Background: This research explored how tele-exercise influenced physical fitness and mental well-being in individuals with and without disabilities and with different training habits. Methods: One hundred and ninety-three participants were categorized into two groups: athletes and non-athletes. Participants were involved in either synchronous or asynchronous tele-exercise programs of two or three sessions of workouts per week, lasting eight weeks. Psychological well-being was evaluated pre- vs. post-intervention by the WHO-Five Well-Being Index (WHO-5), Psychological General Well-Being Index (PGWBI), and Perceived Stress Scale (PSS-10). Fitness assessment tools included the 2-minute step test, curl-up test, forward bending test, and squat test. Body weight was also assessed pre- and post-intervention. Results: The analysis showed a significant increment in all fitness scores (p-value ranged from <0.001 to 0.015) with no change in body weight. Psychological tests indicated an overall increment in the participants' well-being measured by the WHO-5 and unexpectedly, also in the stress level assessed through PSS-10. Conclusions: Enabled by technology, tele-exercise provides a flexible and convenient complementary approach to conventional workouts, helping individuals maintain an active lifestyle and improve their well-being. Positive effects on the sedentary population's lifestyles are discussed.

Keywords: disabilities; lifestyle; physical fitness; remote training; stress; tele-exercise; training monitoring; well-being.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflicts of interest. The funders had no role in the design of the study; in the collection, analyses, or interpretation of data; in the writing of the manuscript; or in the decision to publish the results.

Figures

Figure 1
Figure 1
Flowchart of the study.
Figure 2
Figure 2
Graphical representation of the main results obtained in both the psychological and physical fitness tests. Data are displayed as means (columns) and standard deviations (error bars). The labels MIN and MAX on the y-axis of some tests respectively indicate the minimum and maximum values that can be obtained in those tests. Tests that do not display these labels do not have a maximum score.
See this image and copyright information in PMC

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