Effectiveness of Group Exercise on the Quality of Life in Older Adults: A Systematic Review

Purpose: The aim of this review was to determine the effectiveness of group exercise in improving the quality of life in older adults. Methods: A literature search was conducted in February 2025 in PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and Cochrane Library databases. Individuals aged 60 years or older, either healthy or with some condition, who had participated in group exercise programs as sole treatment or combined with other interventions, provided these were also applied to the control group were included. Randomized controlled trials published in the last 10 years, with no language restrictions and a minimum score of 7 on the Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale, were selected. Data extracted included sample characteristics (number of participants, age, sex, and health condition), intervention details (type of exercise and program characteristics), and evaluation measures (assessment times, scales used, and quality of life and psychosocial variables analyzed). Results: Thirteen randomized controlled trials were included. Group exercise showed significant improvements in quality of life compared to usual care, especially in health perception. Compared to individual exercise, no significant differences were observed, indicating comparable effectiveness between formats. Additionally, group exercise produced positive effects on depressive symptoms, self-efficacy, and cognitive function, although these variables were assessed in few studies. Social benefits included improved perceived support and high attendance rates, while loneliness was rarely evaluated. Most programs lasted 12-24 weeks with 3 sessions per week and included a majority of female participants. Conclusions: Group exercise is effective, and a socially supportive strategy to enhance quality of life in older adults. Future studies should expand the evaluation of psychological and social dimensions to better understand the comprehensive impact of exercise during aging.