IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v16y2019i8p1352-d222945.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

The Effects of Green Exercise on Physical and Mental Wellbeing: A Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Ian Lahart

    (Faculty of Education Health & Wellbeing, University of Wolverhampton, Walsall WS1 3BD, UK)

  • Patricia Darcy

    (Centre for Health and Development, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DF, UK)

  • Christopher Gidlow

    (Centre for Health and Development, Staffordshire University, Stoke-on-Trent ST4 2DF, UK)

  • Giovanna Calogiuri

    (Faculty of Social and Health Sciences, Inland Norway University of Applied Sciences, Postboks 400 2418 Elverum, Norway)

Abstract

We aimed to examine the evidence for the proposed additive effect of exercise in the presence of nature (green exercise) by systematically reviewing studies that investigated the effects of outdoor or virtual green exercise compared with indoor exercise. Our review updates an earlier review, whose searches were conducted in April 2010. Trials were eligible if: (a) participants in an outdoor or virtual exercise condition were exposed to views of nature (green exercise); (b) green exercise was compared with indoor exercise with no exposure to nature; (c) included an outcome related to physical or mental health; (d) used comparative or crossover trial design. We searched the following databases from 1st January 2010 to 28th June 2018: PubMed, CENTRAL, EMBASE, PsycINFO, GreenFile, and Sports DISCUS. We assessed risk of bias using the Cochrane “risk of bias” tool. Where possible we conducted a meta-analysis using the inverse variance random-effects method, and where this approach was not possible we presented the results qualitatively and in harvest plots. We identified 28 eligible trials. In a meta-analysis of just three longitudinal trials, the only statistical finding was slightly lower post-intervention perceived exertion with green versus indoor exercise (mean difference: −1.02; 95% confidence intervals: −1.88, −0.16). Compared with indoor exercise, acute bouts of outdoor green exercise may favorably influence affective valence and enjoyment, but not emotion, perceived exertion, exercise intensity, and biological markers. No other consistent statistical differences were observed, apart from a higher enjoyment of outdoor green versus virtual green exercise. We found a high risk of bias across trials and an overall low quality of evidence. In conclusion, there was limited evidence to support the view that green exercise offers superior benefits to exercise without exposure to nature. The low quality of evidence prohibits clear interpretation of trial findings. Future robust and rigorously designed trials are needed to evaluate the effects of long-term and multiple-bout exposure to nature during exercise compared with exercise indoors.

Suggested Citation

  • Ian Lahart & Patricia Darcy & Christopher Gidlow & Giovanna Calogiuri, 2019. "The Effects of Green Exercise on Physical and Mental Wellbeing: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(8), pages 1-26, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:8:p:1352-:d:222945
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/8/1352/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/16/8/1352/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Hsiao-Pu Yeh & Joseph A. Stone & Sarah M. Churchill & Eric Brymer & Keith Davids, 2017. "Physical and Emotional Benefits of Different Exercise Environments Designed for Treadmill Running," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-11, July.
    2. J. Pretty & J. Peacock & R. Hine & M. Sellens & N. South & M. Griffin, 2007. "Green exercise in the UK countryside: Effects on health and psychological well-being, and implications for policy and planning," Journal of Environmental Planning and Management, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 50(2), pages 211-231.
    3. Martin Niedermeier & Carina Grafetstätter & Arnulf Hartl & Martin Kopp, 2017. "A Randomized Crossover Trial on Acute Stress-Related Physiological Responses to Mountain Hiking," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(8), pages 1-14, August.
    4. Sarah Jane Nolan & Ian Hambleton & Kerry Dwan, 2016. "The Use and Reporting of the Cross-Over Study Design in Clinical Trials and Systematic Reviews: A Systematic Assessment," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 11(7), pages 1-14, July.
    5. Michael J. Duncan & Neil D. Clarke & Samantha L. Birch & Jason Tallis & Joanne Hankey & Elizabeth Bryant & Emma L. J. Eyre, 2014. "The Effect of Green Exercise on Blood Pressure, Heart Rate and Mood State in Primary School Children," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 11(4), pages 1-11, April.
    6. Mathew P. White & Sabine Pahl & Katherine J. Ashbullby & Francesca Burton & Michael H. Depledge, 2015. "The Effects of Exercising in Different Natural Environments on Psycho-Physiological Outcomes in Post-Menopausal Women: A Simulation Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(9), pages 1-25, September.
    7. Christine M Schmucker & Anette Blümle & Lisa K Schell & Guido Schwarzer & Patrick Oeller & Laura Cabrera & Erik von Elm & Matthias Briel & Joerg J Meerpohl & on behalf of the OPEN consortium, 2017. "Systematic review finds that study data not published in full text articles have unclear impact on meta-analyses results in medical research," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(4), pages 1-16, April.
    8. Mike Rogerson & Valerie F. Gladwell & Daniel J. Gallagher & Jo L. Barton, 2016. "Influences of Green Outdoors versus Indoors Environmental Settings on Psychological and Social Outcomes of Controlled Exercise," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(4), pages 1-16, March.
    9. Martin Niedermeier & Jürgen Einwanger & Arnulf Hartl & Martin Kopp, 2017. "Affective responses in mountain hiking—A randomized crossover trial focusing on differences between indoor and outdoor activity," PLOS ONE, Public Library of Science, vol. 12(5), pages 1-17, May.
    10. Mike Rogerson & Jo Barton, 2015. "Effects of the Visual Exercise Environments on Cognitive Directed Attention, Energy Expenditure and Perceived Exertion," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(7), pages 1-16, June.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Carina Mnich & Susanne Weyland & Darko Jekauc & Jasper Schipperijn, 2019. "Psychosocial and Physiological Health Outcomes of Green Exercise in Children and Adolescents—A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(21), pages 1-19, November.
    2. Barbara Eigenschenk & Andreas Thomann & Mike McClure & Larissa Davies & Maxine Gregory & Ulrich Dettweiler & Eduard Inglés, 2019. "Benefits of Outdoor Sports for Society. A Systematic Literature Review and Reflections on Evidence," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(6), pages 1-21, March.
    3. Hsiao-Pu Yeh & Joseph A. Stone & Sarah M. Churchill & Eric Brymer & Keith Davids, 2017. "Physical and Emotional Benefits of Different Exercise Environments Designed for Treadmill Running," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-11, July.
    4. R. W. Salatto & Graham R. McGinnis & Dustin W. Davis & Bryson Carrier & Jacob W. Manning & Mark DeBeliso & James W. Navalta, 2021. "Effects of Acute Beta-Alanine Ingestion and Immersion-Plus-Exercise on Connectedness to Nature and Perceived Pain," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(15), pages 1-12, July.
    5. Matthew Fraser & Sarah-Anne Munoz & Sandra MacRury, 2019. "Does the Mode of Exercise Influence the Benefits Obtained by Green Exercise?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-19, August.
    6. Martin Niedermeier & Carina Grafetstätter & Martin Kopp & Daniela Huber & Michaela Mayr & Christina Pichler & Arnulf Hartl, 2019. "The Role of Anthropogenic Elements in the Environment for Affective States and Cortisol Concentration in Mountain Hiking—A Crossover Trial," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-16, January.
    7. Martin Niedermeier & Larissa Ledochowski & Hartmann Leitner & Helmut Zingerle & Martin Kopp, 2021. "Acute Effects of a Single Bout of Walking on Affective Responses in Patients with Major Depressive Disorder," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-12, February.
    8. Míriam Rocher & Bruno Silva & Gonçalo Cruz & Renato Bentes & Josep Lloret & Eduard Inglés, 2020. "Benefits of Outdoor Sports in Blue Spaces. The Case of School Nautical Activities in Viana do Castelo," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(22), pages 1-14, November.
    9. Elizabeth P.D. Koselka & Lucy C. Weidner & Arseniy Minasov & Marc G. Berman & William R. Leonard & Marianne V. Santoso & Junia N. de Brito & Zachary C. Pope & Mark A. Pereira & Teresa H. Horton, 2019. "Walking Green: Developing an Evidence Base for Nature Prescriptions," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(22), pages 1-18, November.
    10. Junia N. de Brito & Zachary C. Pope & Nathan R. Mitchell & Ingrid E. Schneider & Jean M. Larson & Teresa H. Horton & Mark A. Pereira, 2019. "Changes in Psychological and Cognitive Outcomes after Green versus Suburban Walking: A Pilot Crossover Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(16), pages 1-12, August.
    11. Mike Rogerson & Ian Colbeck & Rachel Bragg & Adekunle Dosumu & Murray Griffin, 2020. "Affective Outcomes of Group versus Lone Green Exercise Participation," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(2), pages 1-8, January.
    12. Ana Mª Pérez Pico & Ester Mingorance Álvarez & Rodrigo Martínez Quintana & Raquel Mayordomo Acevedo, 2019. "Importance of Sock Type in the Development of Foot Lesions on Low-Difficulty, Short Hikes," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(10), pages 1-13, May.
    13. Jules Pretty & Mike Rogerson & Jo Barton, 2017. "Green Mind Theory: How Brain-Body-Behaviour Links into Natural and Social Environments for Healthy Habits," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(7), pages 1-19, June.
    14. Elliott P. Flowers & Paul Freeman & Valerie F. Gladwell, 2017. "The Development of Three Questionnaires to Assess Beliefs about Green Exercise," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(10), pages 1-21, October.
    15. Johannes Machiel Dreyer & Noor Azlin Yahya & Nik Azyyati Abd Kadir, 2019. "Visitor’s perceptions of the Forest Research Institute of Malaysia (FRIM) as an urban open space for environmental learning: results of a qualitative study," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 21(4), pages 1933-1945, August.
    16. Yunjeong Yi & Eunju Seo & Jiyeon An, 2022. "Does Forest Therapy Have Physio-Psychological Benefits? A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(17), pages 1-21, August.
    17. Hyunju Jo & Chorong Song & Yoshifumi Miyazaki, 2019. "Physiological Benefits of Viewing Nature: A Systematic Review of Indoor Experiments," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(23), pages 1-23, November.
    18. Agnieszka Jaszczak & Ewelina Pochodyła & Katarina Kristianova & Natalia Małkowska & Jan K. Kazak, 2021. "Redefinition of Park Design Criteria as a Result of Analysis of Well-Being and Soundscape: The Case Study of the Kortowo Park (Poland)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-22, March.
    19. Jiang, Wenhao & Stickley, Andrew & Ueda, Michiko, 2021. "Green space and suicide mortality in Japan: An ecological study," Social Science & Medicine, Elsevier, vol. 282(C).
    20. Somajita Paul & Harini Nagendra, 2017. "Factors Influencing Perceptions and Use of Urban Nature: Surveys of Park Visitors in Delhi," Land, MDPI, vol. 6(2), pages 1-23, April.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:16:y:2019:i:8:p:1352-:d:222945. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.