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Healthcare
Special Issues
Health, Physical Exercise, Sport, and Quality of Life
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Health, Physical Exercise, Sport, and Quality of Life

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 30 June 2026 | Viewed by 1492

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Rubén Fernández-García

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Nursing, Physiotherapy and Medicine, University of Almeria, 04120 Almeria, Spain
Interests: physical health; health psychology; physical pain; quality of life
Dr. Eduardo Melguizo-Ibáñez

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Department of Specific Didactics, University of La Laguna, 38200 La Laguna, Spain
Interests: physical education; mental health; psychosocial factors; physical activity; exercise

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce a Special Issue entitled “Health, Physical Exercise, Sport, and Quality of Life” in Healthcare, focusing on the transformative role of physical activity and exercise in improving health and quality of life.

Maintaining a physically active lifestyle has numerous advantages for quality of life at different stages of human development. However, sedentary behaviours and physical inactivity are a problem that is present in different populations and is spreading around the world.

This Special Issue aims to explore the different ways in which physical activity and exercise contribute to physical health, mental health, and quality of life and to propose new lines of research, from different areas of knowledge, that support the improvement of health and quality of life. This theme is aligned with the focus of the journal by addressing healthcare practices based on the strategy of prevention and innovative approaches that promote the well-being of people. Original research, systematic reviews, meta-analyses, and case studies addressing topics such as the following are invited:

  • The role of physical activity and physical exercise in improving mental and physical health, and quality of life.
  • Impact of physical exercise and physical activity programs on social and community health.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Rubén Fernández-García
Dr. Eduardo Melguizo-Ibáñez
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. Healthcare 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 2700 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 activity
  • exercise
  • quality of life
  • mental health
  • physical health
  • healthcare interventions
  • community health

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  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

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

Published Papers (2 papers)

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Research

19 pages, 339 KB  
Article
Post-COVID-19 Rehabilitation Improves Mobility and Gait Performance: Evidence from TUG and 10MWT
by Ovidiu Cristian Chiriac, Daniela Miricescu, Corina Sporea, Silviu-Marcel Stanciu, Dragos Constantin Lunca, Silviu Constantin Badoiu, Ileana Adela Vacaroiu, Raluca Mititelu, Raluca Grigore, Ana Raluca Mitrea and Sarah Adriana Nica
Healthcare 2025, 13(22), 2892; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13222892 - 13 Nov 2025
Viewed by 568
Abstract
Background and Objectives: COVID-19 has been associated with prolonged inactivity and reduced physical performance, even in mild and moderate cases. This study aimed to evaluate changes in functional mobility and gait speed, assessed with the Timed Up and Go (TUG) and 10-Meter [...] Read more.
Background and Objectives: COVID-19 has been associated with prolonged inactivity and reduced physical performance, even in mild and moderate cases. This study aimed to evaluate changes in functional mobility and gait speed, assessed with the Timed Up and Go (TUG) and 10-Meter Walk Test (10MWT), in patients with mild to moderate post-COVID-19 conditions undergoing a structured rehabilitation program. Materials and Methods: A controlled observational study was conducted on 193 patients (115 women, 78 men) who had recovered from mild to moderate COVID-19. Participants were divided into a rehabilitation group (n = 160) and a control group (n = 33) who did not undergo structured physical therapy. Functional performance was assessed with TUG and 10MWT at admission and at one-year follow-up. Results: Both tests showed significant improvements following rehabilitation. In the rehabilitation group, the proportion of patients classified as functionally independent increased significantly for both the TUG (Cramér’s V = 0.468, p < 0.001) and 10MWT (Cramér’s V = 0.500, p < 0.001). The McNemar test confirmed a moderate within-group improvement for 10MWT (p = 0.001). Older adults (≥60 years) exhibited functional gains comparable to younger participants. A strong association between final TUG and 10MWT categories (Cramér’s V = 0.40, p < 0.001) confirmed the consistency of outcomes. Conclusions: Structured rehabilitation significantly improves balance, gait speed, and functional independence in mild-to-moderate post-COVID-19 patients. These findings highlight that rehabilitation should be integrated into the continuum of post-COVID care, as meaningful recovery is achievable even outside severe cases. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health, Physical Exercise, Sport, and Quality of Life)
10 pages, 426 KB  
Article
Can Physical Activity Intensity Condition Anxiety, Mental Hyperactivity, and Resilience in Higher Education Students?
by Rubén Fernández-García, Cristina González-Forte, María Rosa Ortega-Lasheras and Eduardo Melguizo-Ibáñez
Healthcare 2025, 13(20), 2566; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13202566 - 11 Oct 2025
Viewed by 600
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Scientific literature has demonstrated the positive effects of physical activity in college students. The research seeks to examine the relationships of light, moderate and vigorous physical activity on resilience, mental hyperactivity and anxiety. Methods: An explanatory and cross-sectional study was [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Scientific literature has demonstrated the positive effects of physical activity in college students. The research seeks to examine the relationships of light, moderate and vigorous physical activity on resilience, mental hyperactivity and anxiety. Methods: An explanatory and cross-sectional study was carried out. A sample of 2305 university students belonging to different university degrees participated in the study. The following questionnaires were used: International physical activity and mental hyperactivity. The Connor and Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scale (DASS-21) were also used. Results: Regarding the relationship between light physical activity and anxiety, a weak but significant relationship was observed (β = 0.027, p < 0.05). A weak but significant relationship was also observed between light physical activity and mental hyperactivity (β = 0.044, p < 0.05). Conclusions: The promotion of moderate-vigorous physical activity together with the development of personal resilience can be effective tools to reduce anxiety and mental hyperactivity in the university population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Health, Physical Exercise, Sport, and Quality of Life)
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