Exercise and physiological monitoring in isolated, confined and extreme environments and space analogues: A scoping review.
5 affiliations
- 1Graduate Program in Medicine and Health (PPGMS), Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
- 2Department of Chemical Engineering, Federal University of Bahia (UFBA), Salvador, Bahia, Brazil.
- 3Department of Physical Education, State University of Maranhão (UEMA), São João dos Patos, Brazil.
- 4Department of Applied Physiology and Kinesiology, University of Florida, Gainesville, Florida, USA.
- 5Institute of Biological Sciences, Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil.
Abstract
This scoping review synthesized evidence on physical activity/exercise and physiological monitoring in isolated, confined and extreme (ICE) environments, with emphasis on Antarctic missions and space analogues. ICE exposures combine cold stress, confinement, disrupted light-dark cycles and psychosocial strain, which can challenge musculoskeletal integrity, cardiovascular regulation, sleep/circadian function and cognition. Following Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidance, we searched Web of Science, Embase, Scopus and PubMed/Medline, complemented by grey literature and AI-assisted citation chasing. Eligible reports included human studies in ICE/analogue settings that implemented or quantified physical activity/exercise and/or physiological monitoring. Seventeen studies published between 2003 and 2025 met inclusion criteria and were mapped across ICE characteristics, exercise protocols, monitoring technologies, outcomes and research gaps. Exercise was reported as a potential countermeasure to attenuate selected aspects of deconditioning and support sleep and psychophysiological adaptation, particularly in bed rest and simulated confinement studies. Antarctic field studies more often characterized spontaneous physical activity, sleep/activity rhythms and field-adapted monitoring. Assessment strategies varied, ranging from self-reported logs and actigraphy in operational field settings to laboratory-grade measures in bed rest and simulated confinement studies. Overall, exercise emerged as a pragmatic, domain-specific countermeasure against deconditioning in ICE settings, with effectiveness varying by modality and physiological target. However, heterogeneity in exposure characterization, exercise dose and monitoring methods, despite feasible wearable-based capture of behavioural and physiological signals, limited comparability and mechanistic inference. Future ICE research should prioritize harmonized reporting, standardized monitoring and longitudinal designs linking exercise exposure to physiological, behavioural and operational outcomes.
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BibTeX
@article{lima2026exercise,
title = {{Exercise and physiological monitoring in isolated, confined and extreme environments and space analogues: A scoping review.}},
author = {Gustavo S O Lima and Kaline V F Dinis and Leonardo P Silva and Nayanne B Sousa and Maria Keiliane F S Silva and Danilo C Talhari and Josélia S Almeida and Michele M Moraes and Rosa M E Arantes and Marcos A Nascimento and Thiago T Mendes},
journal = {Experimental physiology},
year = {2026},
month = nov,
doi = {10.1113/ep093836},
url = {https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42968398},
note = {CC BY},
}
RIS
TY - JOUR
TI - Exercise and physiological monitoring in isolated, confined and extreme environments and space analogues: A scoping review.
AU - Gustavo S O Lima
AU - Kaline V F Dinis
AU - Leonardo P Silva
AU - Nayanne B Sousa
AU - Maria Keiliane F S Silva
AU - Danilo C Talhari
AU - Josélia S Almeida
AU - Michele M Moraes
AU - Rosa M E Arantes
AU - Marcos A Nascimento
AU - Thiago T Mendes
PY - 2026
DA - 2026/11/01
JO - Experimental physiology
DO - 10.1113/ep093836
UR - https://europepmc.org/article/MED/42968398
AB - This scoping review synthesized evidence on physical activity/exercise and physiological monitoring in isolated, confined and extreme (ICE) environments, with emphasis on Antarctic missions and space analogues. ICE exposures combine cold stress, confinement, disrupted light-dark cycles and psychosocial strain, which can challenge musculoskeletal integrity, cardiovascular regulation, sleep/circadian function and cognition. Following Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology and PRISMA-ScR guidance, we searched Web of Science, Embase, Scopus and PubMed/Medline, complemented by grey literature and AI-assisted citation chasing. Eligible reports included human studies in ICE/analogue settings that implemented or quantified physical activity/exercise and/or physiological monitoring. Seventeen studies published between 2003 and 2025 met inclusion criteria and were mapped across ICE characteristics, exercise protocols, monitoring technologies, outcomes and research gaps. Exercise was reported as a potential countermeasure to attenuate selected aspects of deconditioning and support sleep and psychophysiological adaptation, particularly in bed rest and simulated confinement studies. Antarctic field studies more often characterized spontaneous physical activity, sleep/activity rhythms and field-adapted monitoring. Assessment strategies varied, ranging from self-reported logs and actigraphy in operational field settings to laboratory-grade measures in bed rest and simulated confinement studies. Overall, exercise emerged as a pragmatic, domain-specific countermeasure against deconditioning in ICE settings, with effectiveness varying by modality and physiological target. However, heterogeneity in exposure characterization, exercise dose and monitoring methods, despite feasible wearable-based capture of behavioural and physiological signals, limited comparability and mechanistic inference. Future ICE research should prioritize harmonized reporting, standardized monitoring and longitudinal designs linking exercise exposure to physiological, behavioural and operational outcomes.
SN - 0958-0670
SN - 1469-445X
ER -