Table 3.

Characteristics of the included studies and participants.

Acute effects of outdoor physical activity on affect and psychological well-being in depressed patients. A preliminary study
Frühauf et al. Austria [41]	Peer-review A within-subjects experimental study (a preliminary study)
Mild to moderate depression (n = 22) 8 patients dropped out due to acute sickness (4), early release (2), incomplete questionnaires (1) or different disease pattern (1) and were therefore excluded from the data analyses. 14 included in the analysis. 6 male, 8 female. 32.7 ± 10.8 years Recruited during treatment in a mental health centre
Riding the wave into wellbeing: a qualitative evaluation of surf therapy for individuals living with acquired brain injury
Gibbs et al. United Kingdom [42]	Peer-review A qualitative evaluation design gathering details accounting for service users experiences of the surfability intervention
Acquired brain injury. 18 included 15 participated in the interviews. Age: mean = 42.4; standard deviation 12.88; age range (29–69 years); median = 38. male = 10; female = 5 (type: traumatic brain injury, n = 8; mild acquired brain injury, n = 1; pontine cavernoma bleed to the brain, n = 1; subarachnoid haemorrhage, n = 1; multiple sclerosis, n = 1) time since injury: mean = 2 years and 9 months; standard deviation = 3.07; range = 6 months to 12 years; median = 2 years Employment status: employed n = 3; employed but on sickness leave; n = 2; medically retired n = 3; unemployed n = 7. As part of their ongoing treatment and rehabilitation, patients were invited to attend one of three Surfability interventions
Green exercise and Mg–Ca–SO4 thermal balneotherapy for the treatment of non-specific chronic low back pain: a randomized controlled clinical trial
Huber et al. Austria [43]	Peer-review A randomized controlled clinical trial with three arms
Low back pain (LBP) patients (n = 80) 19–65 years old. 35 men, 45 women The participants were recruited all over Austria through communication via the Wasser Tirol web page, advertisements in newspapers, and by physicians.
Relief of chronic posterior neck pain depending on the type of forest therapy: comparison of the therapeutic effect of forest bathing alone versus forest bathing with exercise
Kang et al. South Korea [44]	Peer-review Comparative intervention study
Posterior neck pain (more than VAS 4, lasted for more than 3 months) (n = 64) Age: forest bathing with exercises: 54.8 ± 9.78. Forest bathing: 50.0 ± 14.93 11 male, 53 female Visitors at the Department of Rehabilitation Medicine of Hanyang University Medical Center in May 2013 whom met certain inclusion criteria were recruited through a notice in the hospital, by phone or by email
Supporting aging through green exercise
Liu-Ambrose Canada [52]	Online register of planned trial Randomized controlled trial
Mild cognitive impairment (n = 68) 65–80 years Recruitment method not described.
Sense of well-being in patients with fibromyalgia: aerobic exercise program in a mature forest – a pilot study
López-Pousa et al. Spain [45]	Peer-review A randomized single-blind clinical trial of two groups
Fibromyalgia (n = 34 (4 dropouts)) Age: 62.3 years (SD = 7.7) 20–70 years old. All participants were women People with fibromyalgia, belonging to the Garrotxa Association of Chronic Fatigue and Fibromyalgia were invited to participate
Cancer survivors exercise at higher intensity in outdoor settings: the GECCOS trial
Miller et al. USA [46]	Peer-review A randomized cross-over group pilot trial
Adolescent and young adult survivors of any cancer (n = 19) Age: 19.7 (13.3–27.6). 9 male, 10 female. Participants recruited from the University of Minnesota Childhood Cancer Survivor Program Research Database and from survivors receiving follow-up care at the University of Minnesota Masonic Children’s Hospital and Masonic Cancer Center Clinic. Eligible survivors were invited through mailings, emails and phone calls
Effect of nature‐based physical activity on post‐traumatic growth among healthcare providers with post‐traumatic stress
Noushad et al. Pakistan [47]	Peer-reviewed Randomized control trial
Patients with a traumatic event in the last 12 months (n = 262) Age: walking group: 33.14 ± 9.45 (SD). Sitting group: 32.41 ± 9.84 (SD) Male: 129 (58 walking, 71 sitting) Female: 133 (73 walking, 60 sitting) Participants were recruited from five tertiary health care facilities based in Karachi, Pakistan. Participants were invited to the study through advertisements on the notice board of each centre
Effectiveness of a multicomponent treatment for fibromyalgia based on pain neuroscience education, exercise therapy, psychological support and nature exposure (NAT-FM): a pragmatic randomized controlled trial
Serrat et al. Spain [48]	Peer-review A pragmatic randomized controlled trial
Fibromyalgia (n = 169) Age: TAU + NAT-FM-group: 54.12 (8.62), TAU: 53.15 (9.06) Sex: TAU + NAT-FM- group: 1 male, 81 female , TAU-group: 85 female Patients visited consecutively by the physical therapist of the Central Sensitivity Syndromes Unit (CSSU) at the Vall d’Hebron University Hospital (Barcelona, Spain) were recruited from November to December 2020
Effect of forest walking on autonomic nervous system activity in middle-aged hypertensive individuals: a pilot study
Song et al. Japan [49]	Peer-review A within-subject experimental intervention Pilot Study
Hypertension (n = 20) (5 had a high-normal blood pressure (systolic 130–139 mmHg or diastolic 85–89 mmHg), 10 had hypertension stage 1 (systolic 140–159 mmHg or diastolic 90–99 mmHg), 5 had hypertension stage 2 (systolic 160–179 mmHg or diastolic 100–109 mmHg)) Mean age, 58.0 ± 10.6 years; Male 20, female: 0 Recruitment method not mentioned
Walk it off! The effectiveness of walk and talk coaching in nature for individuals with burnout- and stress-related complaints
van den Berg and Beute The Netherlands [50]	Peer-review A mixed method quasi-experimental design with a control group
Burnout/stress (n = 40) Age: intervention group 42.05 (SD 1.85), control group: 44.00 (SD 2.55). 9 male, 31 female Participants who registered for a walk and talk coaching program called ‘discover your talent’ were invited to participate in the study
Effect of a rehabilitation garden on rehabilitation efficacy in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease
Wen et al. China [51]	Peer-review A randomized controlled trial
Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (N = 60) Age: intervention 63.74 ± 3.24, control: 64.10 ± 3.56, male 29, female 31 (intervention 14/16, control: 15/15) Recruitment method not described