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Applied Sciences
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Children's Exercise Medicine: Bridging Science and Healthy Futures
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Children's Exercise Medicine: Bridging Science and Healthy Futures

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 May 2026 | Viewed by 2750

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Andrew Sortwell

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. School of Health Sciences, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Australia
2. Research Centre in Sports, Health and Human Development, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
Interests: pediatric exercise science; physical education
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Daniel Almeida Marinho

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Sport Science, University of Beira-Interior (UBI/CIDESD), 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
Interests: training; evaluation; performance; biophysics; aquatics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Ben G. Piggott

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Education, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Australia
Interests: strength and conditioning; physical education; well-being; youth sport
Prof. Dr. Ricardo Manuel Pires Ferraz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Center in Sports, Health Sciences and Human Development, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
Interests: exercise science; sport performance; training load monitoring and assessment; physical education; pedagogy and didactics of physical education; motor learning and development; applied sport sciences in football
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Jenny Conlon

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Health Sciences, University of Notre Dame Australia, Fremantle, Australia
Interests: clinical exercise physiology; chronic disease; exercise rehabilitation; healthy aging; physical activity promotion; strength and conditioning; mental health

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Over the years, the concept of health has evolved significantly. What once meant the absence of illness now encompasses a holistic understanding of mental, social, and physical well-being. This shift is particularly critical for children, as the rise in sedentary lifestyles among young populations not only threatens the development of motor skills but also contributes to an increased prevalence of physical and mental health challenges.

Research has consistently shown that physical activity has numerous benefits for children, including improved physical fitness, enhanced motor development, reduced anxiety, heightened well-being, and even better academic performance. Consequently, fostering physical activity in children and youth has become a focal point for educators, health professionals, and policymakers alike.

This Special Issue, “Children's Exercise Medicine: Bridging Science and Healthy Futures”, aims to present cutting-edge research on the effects of physical exercise and its potential benefits for children's health and development. We invite submissions that explore methodological and instrumental innovations, highlight evidence-based interventions, and propose actionable strategies to support health promotions and reviews that cover novel insights in children’s exercise medicine. Through these insights, this Special Issue seeks to bridge science with practice, paving the way for healthier futures for children worldwide.

Dr. Andrew Sortwell
Prof. Dr. Daniel Almeida Marinho
Dr. Ben G. Piggott
Dr. Ricardo Ferraz
Dr. Jenny Conlon
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 250 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for assessment.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Applied Sciences is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • physical exercise sport
  • physical activity
  • health, rehabilitation
  • children, lifestyle
  • motor development
  • training
  • posture
  • chronic diseases
  • physical education

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Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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13 pages, 282 KB  
Article
Serum 25-Hydroxyvitamin D Concentration and Aerobic Performance in Estonian Female Adolescent Athletes
by Jaak Jürimäe, Liina Remmel, Priit Purge and Vallo Tillmann
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 3643; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16083643 - 8 Apr 2026
Viewed by 405
Abstract
Vitamin D insufficiency is highly prevalent in athletic populations residing at northern latitudes, particularly among young athletes training predominantly indoors. The impact of vitamin D on musculoskeletal health is well-established, while its influence on physical performance is not entirely clear. The aim of [...] Read more.
Vitamin D insufficiency is highly prevalent in athletic populations residing at northern latitudes, particularly among young athletes training predominantly indoors. The impact of vitamin D on musculoskeletal health is well-established, while its influence on physical performance is not entirely clear. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of vitamin D insufficiency in Estonian female adolescent athletes and to examine associations of serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D [25(OH)D] with body composition, energy intake, physical performance and ferritin. Seventy-three female athletes aged 14–18 years participated. Body composition was assessed by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry; physical performance by peak oxygen consumption (VO2peak/kg) and countermovement jumps; dietary intake was estimated using repeated 24 h recalls; and fasting blood samples were analyzed for 25(OH)D and ferritin. The mean serum 25(OH)D concentration was 67.6 ± 21.4 nmol.L−1 and ranged from 27.4 to 118.0 nmol.L−1. Vitamin D insufficiency (25(OH)D < 75 nmol.L−1) was present in 67% of participants, leaving only one-third with sufficient levels. Serum 25(OH)D concentration was positively associated with VO2peak/kg (r = 0.26; p = 0.043) independent of confounding variables. In conclusion, these findings suggest that vitamin D insufficiency is highly prevalent among Estonian female adolescent athletes, and 25(OH)D concentration is associated with aerobic performance. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children's Exercise Medicine: Bridging Science and Healthy Futures)

Review

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17 pages, 2324 KB  
Review
Tackling Paediatric Dynapenia: AI-Guided Neuromuscular Active Break Model for Early-Year Primary School Students
by Andrew Sortwell, Carmel Mary Diezmann, Rodrigo Ramirez-Campillo and Aron J. Murphy
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(8), 3654; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16083654 - 8 Apr 2026
Viewed by 477
Abstract
School-based neuromuscular training interventions have the potential to mitigate dynapenia in the paediatric population and enhance movement skill outcomes; however, translating research into practice in primary school settings has been slow due to the expertise and professional learning required for implementation. This review [...] Read more.
School-based neuromuscular training interventions have the potential to mitigate dynapenia in the paediatric population and enhance movement skill outcomes; however, translating research into practice in primary school settings has been slow due to the expertise and professional learning required for implementation. This review describes the new teacher-supported intervention ‘Kids Innovative Neuromuscular Enhancement & Teacher-supported Instructional Coaching with AI’ (Kinetic AI) and presents evidence supporting its use in primary school settings. The Scale for the Assessment of Narrative Review Articles (SANRA) was used to guide the narrative and conceptual review methodology employed to synthesise peer-reviewed literature on paediatric dynapenia, school-based neuromuscular training, and AI technology-supported instructional models. This synthesis informed the development of a conceptual approach to neuromuscular training delivery in primary schools. The newly developed Kinetic AI conceptual model provides a pathway to embed neuromuscular training within active class breaks, offering adaptive feedback and targeted teacher support to facilitate implementation. This approach has the potential to bridge gaps between research, access, and practice. The Kinetic AI application is designed to support children’s muscular fitness and movement skills through school-based neuromuscular training, while addressing barriers to research translation and teacher expertise. When applied during school breaks, this approach has the potential to reduce the risk of dynapenia and contribute to scalable improvements in paediatric health and wellbeing. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children's Exercise Medicine: Bridging Science and Healthy Futures)
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Other

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15 pages, 575 KB  
Systematic Review
Physical Activity-Based Interventions and Emotional Regulation in Individuals with Autism Spectrum Disorder: A Systematic Review
by Dámaris Cabezas-Durán, Almudena Martínez-Sánchez, Juan P. Fuentes-García and Santos Villafaina
Appl. Sci. 2026, 16(5), 2492; https://doi.org/10.3390/app16052492 - 5 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1006
Abstract
Background: Difficulties in emotional regulation are highly prevalent in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are closely associated with anxiety and reduced quality of life. Physical activity has been proposed as a complementary, non-pharmacological intervention to support emotional functioning in this population. [...] Read more.
Background: Difficulties in emotional regulation are highly prevalent in individuals with autism spectrum disorder (ASD) and are closely associated with anxiety and reduced quality of life. Physical activity has been proposed as a complementary, non-pharmacological intervention to support emotional functioning in this population. Objective: This systematic review examined the effects of physical activity-based interventions on emotional regulation in individuals with ASD, with anxiety considered as a related but secondary outcome. Methods: The review followed PRISMA guidelines. Searches were conducted in PubMed and Web of Science. Randomized controlled trials published in English or Spanish that evaluated physical activity interventions and reported outcomes related to emotional regulation or anxiety were included. Cochrane RoB 2 was used to assess the risk of bias. Results: Six trials involving 389 participants, including children and adults with ASD, were included. Interventions comprised aerobic exercise, motor skill and balance training, aquatic programs, and technology-assisted interventions, with durations of 5–10 weeks. Overall, intervention groups showed improvements in emotional regulation and reductions in anxiety compared with control conditions, although methodological limitations and risk of bias were present. Conclusions: Physical activity-based interventions may support emotional regulation in individuals with ASD; however, heterogeneity across studies and methodological concerns warrant cautious interpretation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Children's Exercise Medicine: Bridging Science and Healthy Futures)
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