Scoping Review Protocol: Exercise-Based Management of Endometriosis in the Community

This project is a scoping review designed to explore and map the existing literature on aerobic exercise interventions for individuals with endometriosis, with a focus on intervention design, outcome measures, feasibility, and digital delivery methods. Endometriosis is a chronic and often debilitating condition that affects approximately one in seven females by midlife, causing significant physical and psychological impacts. Traditional treatments such as surgery and hormonal therapies can be invasive and inconsistent in their effectiveness, prompting a need for accessible, self-management strategies that promote autonomy and long-term wellbeing. Exercise has shown benefits for managing chronic pain and psychological distress in other populations, but its role in managing endometriosis symptoms remains under-investigated. This review will specifically examine aerobic exercise modalities such as walking, running, swimming, cycling, and similar continuous activities conducted for at least four weeks. It will also consider the emerging role of digitally delivered or self-managed programs, which offer flexible and scalable ways to support symptom management in the community. The review will be conducted following the Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) methodology for scoping reviews and will be registered on the Open Science Framework (OSF). A comprehensive three-step search strategy will identify both published and unpublished literature across databases including PubMed, CINAHL, EMBASE, Cochrane, Web of Science, and Medline, as well as grey literature sources such as ProQuest, ClinicalTrials.gov, and Google Scholar. Eligible studies will include a broad range of designs, from randomized and quasi-experimental trials to qualitative and descriptive studies that explore lived experiences and barriers to exercise. Data will be extracted and mapped according to the Population–Concept–Context (PCC) framework, focusing on: Population: Females aged 18–45 with diagnosed endometriosis or endometriosis-related symptoms. Concept: Aerobic exercise interventions of ≥4 weeks’ duration. Context: Any setting (clinical, community, or home-based). Findings will be reported using JBI guidelines, with visual summaries (tables, figures, flow diagrams) and narrative synthesis. The expected outcomes of this project are to: Provide a comprehensive overview of the current evidence on aerobic exercise interventions for endometriosis. Identify gaps and inconsistencies in the existing literature, particularly regarding feasibility, safety, and digital delivery. Inform the design of future interventions and guide clinicians, researchers, and community practitioners in developing accessible, evidence-based exercise programs for individuals with endometriosis.