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Applied Sciences
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The Impact of Sport and Exercise on Physical Health
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The Impact of Sport and Exercise on Physical Health

A special issue of Applied Sciences (ISSN 2076-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Applied Biosciences and Bioengineering".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 September 2025 | Viewed by 7221

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Cristina García-Muñoz

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Departamento de Ciencias de la Salud y Biomédicas, Universidad Loyola Andalucía, 41704 Seville, Spain
Interests: physical health; mental health; chronic conditions; exercise
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. María Jesús Casuso-Holgado

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Instituto de Biomedicina de Sevilla (IBIS), 41013 Seville, Spain
2. Department of Physiotherapy, University of Seville, 41009 Seville, Spain
Interests: new technologies in rehabilitation; neurological physiotherapy; oncology physiotherapy; electrotherapy
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The proposed Special Issue on "The Impact of Sport and Exercise on Physical Health" addresses a critical and timely topic within the scientific community. Physical activity and exercise are well-documented to contribute significantly to overall health. Physical exercise is especially beneficial in chronic conditions. The practice of exercise can reduce the risk of chronic diseases and their impact on the overall quality of life of subjects with different chronic disorders. However, adherence to daily exercise routines or active lifestyles is one of the great challenges for people with chronic conditions. Therefore, knowing the barriers or limiting factors when achieving adherence to exercise is essential to achieve therapeutic success. New technologies have been postulated as a new way of applying exercise, promoting adherences, as well as monitoring it. However, although there is an evident rise in the scientific literature on new technologies in physical exercise, we still have a long way to go.

This Special Issue aims to collate cutting-edge research and insights from multidisciplinary perspectives, providing a comprehensive understanding of how different types and intensities of physical activity impact both physical health. Given the rising prevalence of sedentary lifestyles and physical health issues globally, among other reasons, this Special Issue is highly relevant. It will not only advance scientific knowledge but also inform public health policies and individual practices, promoting healthier and more active lifestyles. Contributions will include studies on mechanisms underlying these benefits, intervention strategies, population-specific effects, and the role of environmental and social factors. By highlighting the interconnectedness of physical health through sport and exercise, this issue seeks to inspire further research and practical applications in the field.

Recommended topics include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Benefits of exercise and/or sports in physical health;
  • Multidisciplinary approaches of exercise and/or sports in chronic conditions;
  • Clinical guidelines and/or Delphi consensus of physical activity in chronic conditions;
  • Promotion of healthier and active lifestyle in chronic conditions;
  • Engagement or withdrawn factors of exercise routines;
  • Impact of team sports versus individual sports on social well-being;
  • Effect of different types and intensities of exercise in chronic conditions;
  • The role of physical activity in managing chronic symptoms (e.g., pain);
  • Exercise and sleep quality;
  • Exercise in elderly or frail population;
  • Gender differences in sports;
  • Epidemiological studies focus on sports and physical health;
  • New technologies approaches and exercise;
  • Cultural differences in exercise and physical health;
  • Artificial intelligence and exercise.

Dr. Cristina García-Muñoz
Dr. María Jesús Casuso-Holgado
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 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

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

  • exercise
  • sport
  • physical health chronic conditions

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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11 pages, 518 KiB  
Article
The Impact of Karate and Yoga on Children’s Physical Fitness: A 10-Week Intervention Study
by Tomasz Rutkowski and Agnieszka Chwałczyńska
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(1), 435; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15010435 - 5 Jan 2025
Viewed by 1459
Abstract
This study investigated the effects of a 10-week intervention incorporating karate and yoga on the physical fitness of children aged 10–13. Conducted on a sample of 67 boys, the participants were divided into three groups: karate, yoga, and a control group. Each group [...] Read more.
This study investigated the effects of a 10-week intervention incorporating karate and yoga on the physical fitness of children aged 10–13. Conducted on a sample of 67 boys, the participants were divided into three groups: karate, yoga, and a control group. Each group underwent physical assessments before and after the intervention, focusing on various fitness components measured by the International Physical Fitness Test (MTSF). The intervention sessions were held twice a week and included warm-up exercises, karate or yoga elements, and cool-down. The results demonstrated significant improvements (p > 0.05) in most physical fitness parameters among the karate and yoga groups in trials: run 50 m, jump, run, endurance, hanging, run, agility, sit-ups, and forward bend. However, there was no significant improvement in hand strength, indicating that the intervention might not have adequately targeted this aspect of fitness. The overall MTSF values changed as follows. For the karate group, the results improved significantly, with the mean increasing by 6.95 ± 0.71. In the yoga group, the results also improved significantly, with the mean increasing by 8.74, while the standard deviation changed by −0.19. In contrast, the control group, which did not participate in additional activities, showed a decline in performance in some areas, notably hand strength and jumping ability. Total MTSF value decreased by −1.05, and the standard deviation changed by 0.71. The findings suggest that both karate and yoga can effectively enhance children’s physical fitness, bringing their performance closer to age-adjusted norms. The study highlights the value of structured physical activity programs in promoting the physical development of children. Although no significant differences were observed between the karate and yoga groups, both interventions contributed similarly to overall fitness improvements. Future research should explore additional factors, such as diet and other physical activities, to provide a more comprehensive understanding of the intervention’s effects. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Sport and Exercise on Physical Health)
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12 pages, 645 KiB  
Article
The Impact of a 12-Week Workplace Physical Activity Program on the Quality of Life of Sedentary Workers: A Pilot Study
by Fernanda Viomar Rocha, Rui Matos, Diogo Monteiro, Miguel Jacinto, Raúl Antunes, Nuno Amaro, Tiago Santos and Filipe Rodrigues
Appl. Sci. 2024, 14(21), 9835; https://doi.org/10.3390/app14219835 - 28 Oct 2024
Viewed by 5099
Abstract
Office workers frequently display behavioral patterns marked by extended periods of sedentary and seated work. In this context, the implementation of a workplace exercise program has been shown to be effective in mitigating health-related risk factors. This study aimed to evaluate the impact [...] Read more.
Office workers frequently display behavioral patterns marked by extended periods of sedentary and seated work. In this context, the implementation of a workplace exercise program has been shown to be effective in mitigating health-related risk factors. This study aimed to evaluate the impact of a 12-week workplace exercise program on the quality of life of employees whose primary occupational duties involve prolonged sitting. The final sample comprised 19 participants (6 females and 13 males), aged between 21 and 48 years (M = 32.26; SD = 9.03). Among these participants, 78.9% reported engaging in a hybrid work arrangement, 15.8% followed an on-site work regimen, and 5.3% worked remotely. Furthermore, 84.2% of participants reported sitting for 6 to 8 h per day, while 15.8% reported sitting for between 9 and 12 h daily. The quality of life of participants was assessed using the Medical Outcomes Study 36-Item Short Form Health Survey. A paired samples t-test was employed to examine differences between dependent variables. The results revealed a statistically significant improvement in general health (p < 0.01), vitality (p < 0.01), social functioning (p < 0.05), and the mental health summary measure (p < 0.04). Promoting physical activity through workplace exercise programs offers substantial benefits for workers’ health and quality of life, contributing to the prevention of occupational diseases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Sport and Exercise on Physical Health)
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26 pages, 5512 KiB  
Systematic Review
Effects of Exercise on Aerobic Capacity and Quality of Life in People with Heart Failure: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials
by Yin Liang, Hao Su, Ze Xu, Xiaojie Liu, Yuanyuan Lv, Lin Feng and Laikang Yu
Appl. Sci. 2025, 15(10), 5393; https://doi.org/10.3390/app15105393 - 12 May 2025
Viewed by 221
Abstract
This study aimed to investigate the effects of exercise on aerobic capacity and quality of life (QOL) in heart failure (HF) patients and to identify the optimal exercise prescription for improving aerobic capacity and QOL. A comprehensive search was conducted in Embase, PubMed, [...] Read more.
This study aimed to investigate the effects of exercise on aerobic capacity and quality of life (QOL) in heart failure (HF) patients and to identify the optimal exercise prescription for improving aerobic capacity and QOL. A comprehensive search was conducted in Embase, PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and Scopus covering data published up to 9 October 2024. The Population, Intervention, Comparison, Outcome (PICO) framework was used to define the inclusion. (a) Population: patients with HF; (b) Intervention: randomized controlled trials (RCTs) with subjects randomly assigned to either the intervention or control group; (c) Comparison: studies that measured peak oxygen uptake (VO2peak), maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max), or the Minnesota Living with Heart Failure Questionnaire (MLHFQ) at baseline and compared results post-intervention; (d) Outcome: the primary outcomes were aerobic capacity and QOL. The Physiotherapy Evidence Database (PEDro) scale and the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 (RoB-2) tool were used to assess the quality of the included studies. Weighted mean difference (WMD), standardized mean difference (SMD), and 95% confidence interval were used to pool data. A total of 47 studies met the inclusion criteria. Exercise significantly improved aerobic capacity (WMD, 2.85, p < 0.00001) and QOL (SMD, −0.79, p < 0.00001) in HF patients. Subgroup analyses indicated that combined exercise, session duration ≥ 60 min, ≥3 sessions per week, ≥180 min per week, and supervised exercise showed more significant improvements in aerobic capacity and QOL. Additionally, exercise had greater benefits in middle-aged patients. To improve aerobic capacity and QOL, the optimal exercise prescription for HF patients involves engaging in supervised combined exercise at least three times per week, with each session lasting at least 60 min, to achieve a total weekly duration of 180 min. These recommendations are particularly relevant for middle-aged patients, who may experience greater benefits from exercise interventions. The protocol has been registered on PROSPERO with the registration number CRD420250632915. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Impact of Sport and Exercise on Physical Health)
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