Health-Related Outcomes of Stand-Up Paddle Across Diverse Populations: A Scoping Review

Background/Objectives: Stand-up paddle (SUP) is a rapidly growing water-based activity with potential physical- and mental-health-related outcomes. Although research on SUP has increased in recent years, the evidence remains dispersed across different populations and health outcomes, and no scoping review has specifically mapped its health-related effects. This scoping review aims to map the available evidence on the health-related outcomes of SUP across diverse populations and identify key directions for future research. Methods: A scoping review was conducted following the JBI methodology and reported according to the PRISMA-ScR guidelines. Searches were performed in PubMed, Web of Science, and RCAAP, including published and gray literature. Studies investigating the health-related effects of stand-up paddleboarding across any population were eligible. Data were summarized descriptively by main topics and health-related outcomes. Results: Eleven studies published between 2013 and 2026 met the inclusion criteria. The evidence was mapped into four thematic areas: physical conditioning and cardiovascular health, musculoskeletal strength and balance, mental health and psychological well-being, and long-term impact and mindset shifts. The available evidence was limited by small sample sizes, heterogeneous methodologies, and the absence of randomized controlled trials. Conclusions: The results from the present study identify research gaps on the health-related outcomes of regular participation in SUP and the underlying mechanisms that explain effects across multiple health domains. Finally, systematic reviews on the topic are recommended only if more robust and broader databases and search tools are used.