The Role of Green Spaces in Supporting Physical Activity and Functional Rehabilitation in Older Adults: A Scoping Review

Adelia Suryani; Sri Gunda Fahriana Fahruddin; Annisa Putri S

doi:10.14710/jphtcr.v9i1.30238

DOI: https://doi.org/10.14710/jphtcr.v9i1.30238

The Role of Green Spaces in Supporting Physical Activity and Functional Rehabilitation in Older Adults: A Scoping Review

Adelia Suryani¹ , Sri Gunda Fahriana Fahruddin², Annisa Putri S³

¹Public Health Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional "Veteran" Jakarta, Jakarta Selatan , Indonesia

²Physiotherapy Program, Faculty of Health Sciences, Universitas Pembangunan Nasional "Veteran" Jakarta, Jakarta Selatan , Indonesia

³Public Health Science Program, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, Universitas Jambi, Jambi , Indonesia

Received: 30 Nov 2025; Revised: 7 Apr 2026; Accepted: 15 Apr 2026; Published: 30 Apr 2026.

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License.

BibTex Citation Data :

@article{JPHTCR30238,
    author = {Adelia Suryani and Sri Gunda Fahriana Fahruddin and Annisa Putri S},
    title = {The Role of Green Spaces in Supporting Physical Activity and Functional Rehabilitation in Older Adults: A Scoping Review},
    journal = {Journal of Public Health for Tropical and Coastal Region},
  volume = {9},
    number = {1},
    year = {2026},
    keywords = {Older Adults; Green Open Space; Physical Activity; Functional Rehabilitation; Scoping Review},
    abstract = {  Introduction:    Healthcare systems are under increasing strain owing to the rapid growth of the global aging population, underscoring the urgent need for environments that support healthy aging. Green open spaces (GOS) are increasingly recognized as vital infrastructure capable of mitigating age-related functional decline.   Methods:    This scoping review systematically synthesized evidence on the impact of green open spaces (GOS) in promoting physical activity (PA) and supporting functional rehabilitation among older adults. Guided by the Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework, a structured search was conducted across the Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus databases. Of the records initially identified, ten articles published between 2015 and 2025 were included in the final synthesis.   Results:    The findings indicate that green open spaces (GOS) support four primary dimensions of rehabilitation: physical (38%), psychological (31%), social (25%), and spiritual (6%). Furthermore, the influence of GOS design on physical activity (PA) can be categorized into gentle, simple movements (40%), moderate-intensity exercises (30%), and nature-integrated therapeutic activities (30%).   Conclusion:    Optimizing the benefits of green open spaces (GOS) for older adults requires attention to modifiable design features, universal accessibility (e.g., even terrain and adequate seating), and adaptation to local climatic and social contexts. },
   issn = {2597-4378},   pages = {59--74}  doi = {10.14710/jphtcr.v9i1.30238},
    url = {https://ejournal2.undip.ac.id/index.php/jphtr/article/view/30238}
}

Citation Format:

Abstract

Introduction: Healthcare systems are under increasing strain owing to the rapid growth of the global aging population, underscoring the urgent need for environments that support healthy aging. Green open spaces (GOS) are increasingly recognized as vital infrastructure capable of mitigating age-related functional decline.

Methods: This scoping review systematically synthesized evidence on the impact of green open spaces (GOS) in promoting physical activity (PA) and supporting functional rehabilitation among older adults. Guided by the Population, Concept, and Context (PCC) framework, a structured search was conducted across the Google Scholar, PubMed, and Scopus databases. Of the records initially identified, ten articles published between 2015 and 2025 were included in the final synthesis.

Results: The findings indicate that green open spaces (GOS) support four primary dimensions of rehabilitation: physical (38%), psychological (31%), social (25%), and spiritual (6%). Furthermore, the influence of GOS design on physical activity (PA) can be categorized into gentle, simple movements (40%), moderate-intensity exercises (30%), and nature-integrated therapeutic activities (30%).

Conclusion: Optimizing the benefits of green open spaces (GOS) for older adults requires attention to modifiable design features, universal accessibility (e.g., even terrain and adequate seating), and adaptation to local climatic and social contexts.

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THE ROLE OF GREEN SPACE IN SUPPORTING PHYSICAL ACTIVITY AND FUNCTIONAL REHABILITATION IN OLDER ADULTS: A SCOPING REVIEW

Subject	Older Adults; Green Open Space; Physical Activity; Functional Rehabilitation; Scoping Review.
Type	Research Instrument
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Keywords: Older Adults; Green Open Space; Physical Activity; Functional Rehabilitation; Scoping Review

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Section: Articles

Language : EN

In Vol 9, No 1 (2026): Journal of Public Health for Tropical and Coastal Region

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