The Role of Physical Activity in Improving Metabolic Syndrome Components: A Literature Review

Introduction: Metabolic syndrome represents a worldwide cardiometabolic challenge linked with excess adiposity, insulin insensitivity, type 2 diabetes mellitus, elevated blood pressure, lipid metabolism disorders, and cardiovascular disease. Structured physical activity has been recommended as a non-pharmacological strategy to improve metabolic syndrome components. Methods: This literature review analyzed experimental studies published between January 2021 and April 2026. Articles were searched through PubMed, ScienceDirect, and Google Scholar using the keywords “physical activity,” “exercise,” and “metabolic syndrome” with the Boolean operator “AND.” Research articles were chosen according to specific inclusion and exclusion parameters, subjected to rigorous evaluation utilizing the JBI Critical Appraisal Tool, and synthesized narratively. Eight experimental studies met the eligibility criteria. Results: Physical activity interventions improved waist circumference, body mass index, body weight, blood pressure, lipid profile, cardiorespiratory fitness, fasting glucose, and insulin resistance. Aerobic exercise and the integration of aerobic and resistance training exhibited the most reliable advantages in comparison to interventions that utilized a single modality or were less systematically organized. Conclusion: Structured physical activity is clinically relevant for physiotherapy management of metabolic syndrome. Exercise prescription should prioritize aerobic and combined training with individualized intensity, duration, and progression to optimize cardiometabolic outcomes.