Exercise Interventions for Healthy Aging

A special issue of Geriatrics (ISSN 2308-3417). This special issue belongs to the section "Healthy Aging".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 October 2026 | Viewed by 564

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Exercise Intervention for Health—Research group (EXINGH), Department of Physiotherapy, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Interests: resistance and power training; multicomponent training; dosing and periodization of exercise in late life; velocity inten-tional variable resistance; adherence, safety, and feasibility; sex/gender differences in exercise responses; inflammaging and oxidative stress responses to exercise; bone health; blood flow restriction; sarcopenia; frailty

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Guest Editor
Research Group of Prevention and Health in Exercise and Sport—PHES, Department of Physical Education and Sport, University of Valencia, 46010 Valencia, Spain
Interests: pediatric resistance training; balance/fall prevention; safety; hemodynamic responses; functional outcomes; rehabilitation after musculoskeletal and cardiovascular disease; neuroplasticity and exercise; cognition and dual-task performance in aging; gait; balance and mobility assessment; sensor-based monitoring; fall risk stratification and tar-geted interventions; multimorbidity and exercise rehabilitation; digital health and tele-exercise; remote supervision; wearables; equity, access, and culturally adapted interventions for underserved older populations; blood flow re-striction
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

It is a pleasure to serve as Guest Editors for the Special Issue “Exercise Interventions for Healthy Aging”. Physical activity and structured exercise are cornerstone strategies to delay the onset of chronic disease, extend healthspan, and preserve cognitive and physical function in later life. Beyond primary prevention, exercise is an effective behavioral therapy across non-communicable conditions, including cardiovascular and metabolic disease, osteo-muscular disorders, cancer survivorship, chronic pain, frailty, multimorbidity, and falls, and can complement medical and surgical care throughout the continuum.

Recommended activity targets remain unmet for most older adults, with participation disproportionately low in under-resourced groups. This gap underscores the need for optimized, scalable exercise prescriptions (mode, intensity, volume, velocity, and progression), innovative strategies (e.g., tele-rehabilitation, wearables, and community programs), and a clearer understanding of barriers, motivators, and health equity considerations. We also welcome work that integrates biomarkers (inflammation, oxidative stress, and neuroplasticity), cognition and mental health, sleep, body and bone composition, and patient-centered outcomes (quality of life, function, and falls).

This Special Issue invites submissions from primary/secondary care and community settings, including randomized trials, quasi-experimental and feasibility studies, implementation research, qualitative inquiries, systematic/scoping reviews, and high-quality narrative syntheses and meta-analyses. Modalities of interest include resistance, power/velocity, balance and motor control, aerobics/HIIT, mind–body, aquatic and elastic band programs, and blood flow restriction (BFR) training—both as standalone methods and as an adjunct to low-load exercise—covering efficacy, safety, dosing, and feasibility in older adults and clinical populations. In addition, combined lifestyle or supplementation approaches are especially encouraged.

We look forward to your contributions to advance actionable, equitable exercise solutions for healthy aging.

Dr. Pedro Gargallo
Prof. Dr. Iván Chulvi Medrano
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. Geriatrics 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 1800 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

  • healthy aging
  • exercise prescription
  • physical function
  • quality of life
  • cognitive health

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

13 pages, 1308 KB  
Article
Exploring the Interplay Between Core Stability, Pulmonary Function, and Cardiorespiratory Fitness in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial of an 8-Week Mat Pilates Intervention
by Bulin Jirapongsatorn, Decha Chinaksorn, Kanapot Pengked, Wannaporn Tongtako and Timothy Mickleborough
Geriatrics 2026, 11(2), 43; https://doi.org/10.3390/geriatrics11020043 - 9 Apr 2026
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Abstract
Background: Identifying multimodal interventions to counteract age-related physiological decline is a critical public health priority. This study investigated the impact of an 8-week Mat Pilates intervention (MPT) on the interplay between core stability, pulmonary function, and cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults, specifically examining [...] Read more.
Background: Identifying multimodal interventions to counteract age-related physiological decline is a critical public health priority. This study investigated the impact of an 8-week Mat Pilates intervention (MPT) on the interplay between core stability, pulmonary function, and cardiorespiratory fitness in older adults, specifically examining the mechanistic link between trunk stabilization and respiratory mechanics. Methods: Twenty older adults (18 females, 2 males; age 60—77 years) were randomized (stratified by sex, age, and baseline stability) into an MPT group (n = 10; 60-min sessions, 3×/week) or a control group (CON, n = 10). Primary outcomes included core stability (plank test), functional flexibility (sit-and-reach; back-scratch), pulmonary function (FVC, FEV1, FEV1/FVC, FEF25–75%, MVV), and cardiorespiratory fitness (6-min walk test; 6MWT). Results: Post-intervention, the MPT group demonstrated significant improvements in core stability, flexibility, and all pulmonary variables (FVC, FEV1, FEF25–75%, MVV) compared to the CON group (p < 0.001). A significant reduction in body weight was also observed (p < 0.001). Notably, MPT participants achieved superior 6MWT distances and reduced perceived exertion (p = 0.006). Correlation analysis revealed strong positive associations between core stability gains and pulmonary function (r = 0.892, p < 0.01), supporting the mechanistic link between trunk stabilization, enhanced ventilatory mechanics, and functional aerobic capacity. Conclusions: Mat Pilates is a potent intervention for older adults, facilitating a physiological synergy where core strengthening optimizes pulmonary function and cardiorespiratory endurance. These findings suggest MPT is a comprehensive modality for maintaining musculoskeletal and respiratory health, proving superior to habitual activity alone in promoting functional independence. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise Interventions for Healthy Aging)
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