{"status":"ok","message-type":"work","message-version":"1.0.0","message":{"indexed":{"date-parts":[[2026,3,13]],"date-time":"2026-03-13T21:37:04Z","timestamp":1773437824241,"version":"3.50.1"},"reference-count":41,"publisher":"Frontiers Media SA","license":[{"start":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,5]],"date-time":"2025-02-05T00:00:00Z","timestamp":1738713600000},"content-version":"vor","delay-in-days":0,"URL":"https:\/\/creativecommons.org\/licenses\/by\/4.0\/"}],"content-domain":{"domain":["frontiersin.org"],"crossmark-restriction":true},"short-container-title":["Front. Public Health"],"abstract":"<jats:sec><jats:title>Background and aim<\/jats:title><jats:p>Caring for someone can be physically and psychologically demanding, predisposing caregivers to muscle injuries, fatigue, exhaustion, depression, anxiety, and burnout. The literature suggests several approaches to reducing caregiver burden, one of which is physical exercise. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the effectiveness of exercise-based programs or muscle relaxation in reducing caregiver burden and stress among family caregivers.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Method<\/jats:title><jats:p>A systematic literature review was conducted following the PRISMA guidelines. The search was performed in the Web of Science, Cochrane Library and Scopus databases and through the EBSCOhost aggregator (CINAHL Plus, MEDLINE, and SportDiscus). Studies were selected based on the PICOD acronym.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Results<\/jats:title><jats:p>Eleven randomized controlled trials (RCTs) and two other experimental studies were included. The reviewed programs encompassed aerobics, strengthening, and muscle relaxation exercises, delivered by various professionals in diverse settings, such as caregivers' homes, gyms, and hospital environments. Although the programs varied in type, duration, and structure, the majority of the studies demonstrated positive effects on caregivers' physical and psychological well-being, along with reductions in burden and stress.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Conclusion<\/jats:title><jats:p>The results suggest that physical exercise interventions are effective in reducing caregiver burden and stress, while also enhancing overall well-being. Future strategies should emphasize the importance of raising awareness among caregivers about adopting healthy lifestyles, with a particular focus on regular physical activity, as a means of relaxation and self-care. To maximize the effectiveness of these interventions, incorporating flexible, home-based components and engaging multidisciplinary teams could enhance accessibility, adherence, and impact.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec><jats:sec><jats:title>Systematic review registration<\/jats:title><jats:p><jats:ext-link>https:\/\/www.crd.york.ac.uk\/prospero\/display_record.php?ID=CRD42023446129<\/jats:ext-link>, PROSPERO 2023 CRD42023446129.<\/jats:p><\/jats:sec>","DOI":"10.3389\/fpubh.2025.1474913","type":"journal-article","created":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,5]],"date-time":"2025-02-05T07:39:03Z","timestamp":1738741143000},"update-policy":"https:\/\/doi.org\/10.3389\/crossmark-policy","source":"Crossref","is-referenced-by-count":12,"title":["Effects of physical exercise in reducing caregivers burden: a systematic review"],"prefix":"10.3389","volume":"13","author":[{"given":"Carla","family":"Cardoso","sequence":"first","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Maria Jos\u00e9","family":"Lumini","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]},{"given":"Teresa","family":"Martins","sequence":"additional","affiliation":[]}],"member":"1965","published-online":{"date-parts":[[2025,2,5]]},"reference":[{"key":"B1","unstructured":"Geneva\n          WHO\n          World Report on Ageing and Health, Vol. 7\n          \n          2015"},{"key":"B2","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1431","DOI":"10.1186\/s12889-019-7762-5","article-title":"Consequences of chronic diseases and other limitations associated with old age\u2014a scoping review","volume":"19","author":"Maresova","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMC Public Health"},{"key":"B3","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"635","DOI":"10.1146\/annurev-psych-010419-050754","article-title":"Family caregiving for older adults","volume":"71","author":"Schulz","year":"2020","journal-title":"Ann Rev Psychol"},{"key":"B4","unstructured":"Lisboa\n          Minist\u00e9rio da Sa\u00fade\n          Plano Nacional de Sa\u00fade 2021-2030\n          \n          2020"},{"key":"B5","unstructured":"33713723\n          Madrid\n          Instituto Nacional de Estat\u00edstica\n          Censos 2021.\n          \n          2022"},{"key":"B6","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"1","DOI":"10.1186\/s12877-019-1274-0","article-title":"Needs and skills of informal caregivers to care for a dependent person: a cross-sectional study","volume":"19","author":"Dixe","year":"2019","journal-title":"BMC Geriatr"},{"key":"B7","volume-title":"Reviews of Health Systems: Portugal, Country Profile 2019","year":"2019"},{"key":"B8","unstructured":"Carta Social"},{"key":"B9","first-page":"e79093","article-title":"Older people caring for older people: A challenge to the organization of home care","volume":"26","author":"Bento M da","year":"2021"},{"key":"B10","unstructured":"Estrat\u00e9gia Nacional para um Envelhecimento Ativo e Saud\u00e1vel 2017-2025\n          \n          2017"},{"key":"B11","unstructured":"1\n          26\n          \n          35776669\n          Decade of Healthy Ageing: Plan of Action 2021\u20132030\n          \n          2020"},{"key":"B12","doi-asserted-by":"publisher","first-page":"64","DOI":"10.33233\/eb.v22i1.5228","article-title":"Impacto da sobrecarga em cuidadores informais de pessoas idosas","volume":"22","author":"Silva","year":"2023","journal-title":"Enfermagem, Brasil."},{"key":"B13","first-page":"98","article-title":"WHO consolidated guideline on self-care interventions for health","volume":"23","year":"2019","journal-title":"Omega"},{"key":"B14","unstructured":"UK\n          Publisher dh.gov.uk\n          Your Health, Your Way. 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