Unsupervised physical activity on cardiometabolic disorders management: a literature review

Abstract

Introduction: Unsupervised physical activity (PA) programs may be a complementary alternative in rehabilitation. Objective: To review the findings of studies investigating effectiveness of unsupervised PA programs in patients with predisposing factors for metabolic syndrome (MS). Method: A literature review in indexers (Medline and Pubmed) was conducted using the terms: physical activity, unsupervised, obesity, diabetes, hypertension, MS. Twenty-two articles published between 2003 and 2016 were included. Results: Unsupervised PA programs for adults or the elderly mostly guided the practice of aerobic PA, with a frequency of 3-5x/week or more than>150min/week, with a duration of 6-12 months, evidencing dropout usually between 14 and 35% and metabolic, anthropometric and/or hemodynamic benefits in obese, diabetic, hypertensive or MS patients. Conclusion: Unsupervised PA may represent an additional strategy to promote the management of dysfunctions and to increase adherence to a physically active lifestyle in populations under cardiometabolic risk.