Submit to Healthcare Review for Healthcare Propose a Special Issue

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

► Journal Browser

Exercise Interventions and Testing for Effective Health Promotion

Print Special Issue Flyer
Editors
Special Issue Information
Keywords
Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue
Published Papers

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 March 2026) | Viewed by 23125

Share This Special Issue

Editors

Prof. Dr. Vassilis Gerodimos

E-Mail Website1 Website2
Guest Editor

Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece
Interests: exercise testing and prescription for health promotion; occupational wellness; muscular adaptation to exercise; physical conditioning and evaluation in sports; vibration training; isokinetic and isometric evaluation
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Dr. Konstantina Karatrantou

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor

Department of Physical Education and Sports Science, University of Thessaly, 42100 Trikala, Greece
Interests: occupational wellness; healthy lifestyle; exercise testing and prescriptions for health promotion; combined exercise programs; vibration exercise
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The design, implementation and guidance regarding safe and effective physical activity–exercise intervention programs have become an important public health priority for the prevention and rehabilitation of different chronic diseases (both physical and mental). A key factor that plays one of the most central roles in the successful design, implementation, and sustainability of a physical activity–exercise intervention program is the evaluation stage (assessment of the existing situations, needs, and problems of the population). Without testing and evaluation, an exercise intervention program is less likely to succeed.

This Special Issue aims to highlight the importance of health screening–testing, as well as the efficiency of different physical activity and exercise intervention programs in the promotion of physical and mental health and, consequently, the prevention and rehabilitation of different chronic diseases.

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to our Special Issue by presenting your work on healthy populations or on individuals of different ages (children, adolescents, adults and elderly individuals) with chronic diseases, including original articles, case studies, reviews (scoping, narrative, systematic, etc.) or meta-analyses.

We look forward to receiving your contributions to our Special Issue entitled: “Exercise Interventions and Testing for Effective Health Promotion”.

Prof. Dr. Vassilis Gerodimos
Dr. Konstantina Karatrantou
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-anonymized 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

testing and prescription
prevention
rehabilitation
physical activity
exercise
health
quality of life
occupational wellness
ageing

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
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 (8 papers)

Download All Papers

Order results

Result details

Show export options Show export options

Select all

Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

21 pages, 840 KB

Open AccessArticle

Agreement Between Standing Eight-Point Multifrequency Bioelectrical Impedance Analysis and Dual-Energy X-Ray Absorptiometry for Body Composition Assessment in Apparently Healthy Greek Adults

by Dimitrios Balampanos, Theodoros Stampoulis, Alexandra Avloniti, Anastasia Gkachtsou, Dimitrios Pantazis, Maria Protopapa, Nikolaos-Orestis Retzepis, Christos Kokkotis, Danai Kelaraki, Nikolaos Zaras, Dimitrios Ioannou, Stelios Kyriazidis, Maria Michalopoulou and Athanasios Chatzinikolaou

Healthcare 2026, 14(12), 1807; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14121807 - 22 Jun 2026

Viewed by 272

Abstract

Background/Objectives: Multifrequency bioelectrical impedance analysis (MF-BIA) is increasingly used for practical body composition assessment when dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) is unavailable or impractical. However, MF-BIA estimates are device-, population-, and outcome-specific, and therefore require validation against reference methods under standardized conditions. This study examined the agreement, concordance, and systematic bias between a standing 8-point MF-BIA device and DXA-derived body composition estimates in apparently healthy Greek adults. Methods: A total of 1250 adults aged 18 to 80 years completed same-day DXA and MF-BIA (Charder MA801) assessments. Fat mass (FM), fat-free mass (FFM), body fat percentage (BF%), and appendicular skeletal muscle mass estimate (ASM) were compared between methods. Analyses were performed by sex and BMI category. Pearson correlations described association, whereas Bland–Altman analysis, Lin’s concordance correlation coefficient (CCC), mean absolute error (MAE), root mean square error (RMSE), and proportional bias testing evaluated agreement and error magnitude. Results: MF-BIA showed strong associations with DXA-derived outcomes, but systematic bias was observed. When BMI categories were considered collectively, MF-BIA underestimated BF% by 3.59 percentage points in men and 4.25 percentage points in women, underestimated FM by 2.89 kg and 2.58 kg, and overestimated FFM by 3.09 kg and 3.29 kg, respectively. CCC was highest for FM (men: 0.913; women: 0.949) and lower for FFM and ASM in women (0.642 and 0.714, respectively). Proportional bias was observed for BF%, FM, and ASM in both sexes, and for FFM in women. Conclusions: The MA801 showed strong associations and outcome-specific concordance with DXA, but systematic bias and individual-level error limit interchangeability. Under standardized conditions, MF-BIA may support group-level or repeated same-device assessments but not precise individual-level assessment, clinical classification, or monitoring of small longitudinal changes. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise Interventions and Testing for Effective Health Promotion)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

24 pages, 1476 KB

Open AccessArticle

Assessing Physicians’ Knowledge, Attitudes, Intentions, Abilities, and Behaviour Toward Physical Activity and Exercise in Non-Communicable Diseases: Questionnaire Development Using an e-Delphi and Cross-Sectional Design

by Niki Syrou, Ioannis G. Fatouros, George S. Metsios, Athanasios Z. Jamurtas, Dimitrios Draganidis, Konstantinos G. Perivoliotis, Athanasios Poulios, Panagiotis Tsimeas, Konstantinos Papanikolaou, Theodore J. Angelopoulos, Ioannis Adamopoulos and George Mastorakos

Healthcare 2026, 14(9), 1148; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14091148 - 24 Apr 2026

Viewed by 736

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The multiple benefits of physical activity and exercise (PAE) for non-communicable diseases (NCDs) and, thus, for public health underscore the importance of their multidisciplinary implementation in clinical practice. However, there is a lack of validated instruments that comprehensively assess physicians’ knowledge, attitudes, intentions, abilities, and behaviour (KAIAB) regarding PAE promotion in NCD management. Methods: This study aimed to develop and validate a new questionnaire to assess physicians’ KAIAB towards PAE and to evaluate their KAIAB levels. A two-stage design, including an e-Delphi method and a cross-sectional study, was conducted in Greece from January 2022 to May 2022. Results: In the first stage, after achieving consensus and stability within a purposive sample of 16 physician–experts (response rate 100%), the questionnaire was effectively developed and validated (Content Validity Ratio: 0.5–1) using a two-round e-Delphi method. In the second stage, a cross-sectional study was conducted in two physician populations from 12 medical specialities (response rate: 18.2%) and demonstrated that the new questionnaire had sufficient face validity and high reliability (Cronbach’s alpha: 0.805– 0.931). The three original Bloom levels’ cut-off points were also used to classify physicians’ KAIAB levels in the second stage. KAIAB levels were assessed using median and interquartile range (Mdn/IQR) and were found to be low (13/6), moderate (128/79), high (35/9), moderate (21/8), and moderate (33/8), respectively. Conclusions: The new questionnaire is reliable and valid. It is recommended that the questionnaire be applied in larger studies to further verify its validity and applicability. Additionally, it was found that although physicians reported high intentions and moderately positive attitudes toward PAE promotion, their knowledge in these domains and their exercise prescription practices remained limited. This underscores the need to enhance policies and initiatives in medical education and the healthcare system. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise Interventions and Testing for Effective Health Promotion)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1354 KB

Open AccessArticle

Measurement and Evaluation of Health, Functional Capacity, Physical Fitness, and Daily Habits of Greek Female Healthcare Professionals Working in a Hospital Environment

by Anastasia Chasandra, Konstantina Karatrantou, Kyriaki Papazeti, Anastasia Melissopoulou, Christos Batatolis, Maria Mourounoglou, Rafaela-Varvara Sioupi and Vassilis Gerodimos

Healthcare 2025, 13(4), 383; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13040383 - 11 Feb 2025

Viewed by 2495

Abstract

Background/Objectives: The wellness profile of healthcare professionals is of crucial importance since it can affect the quality of healthcare services. This study created a comprehensive profile of health, functional capacity, physical fitness, and lifestyle behaviours in hospital healthcare professionals. Methods: A hundred female (age: 45.53 ± 2 yrs) professionals underwent assessments of their health (respiratory function/blood pressure/body circumference/body fat/body mass index/musculoskeletal pains), functional capacity (flexibility/balance), physical fitness (strength/aerobic capacity), and daily habits (smoking/alcohol/caffeinated beverages/screen time/physical activity). Results: According to data analysis (descriptive statistics, paired t-tests to analyze possible differences between the right and left sides), (a) 39% of the participants were overweight and 28% obese, (b) 40–44% of the participants showed higher values than normal in waist circumference and systolic blood pressure, and (c) 96% of the participants showed musculoskeletal pains. Functional capacity and physical fitness demonstrated significant differences in balance and flexibility (p < 0.05) between sides (right/left) and low levels of strength and dynamic balance-agility. Moreover, 67% of the sample did not participate in physical activities, while a significant percentage showed increased screen time on weekdays (44%) and weekends (61%). Finally, 36% of the sample smoked, 62% consumed alcohol, and 92% consumed caffeinated beverages (the majority were within permissible limits). Conclusions: In conclusion, this study contributes valuable insights into the wellness profile of healthcare professionals to ensure optimal care for this population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise Interventions and Testing for Effective Health Promotion)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 407 KB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of a 10-Week Aqua Fitness Intervention on Physical Fitness and Psychosocial Measures in Inactive Healthy Adult Women

by Athanasios A. Dalamitros, Aristotelis Kouloglou, Giorgos Nasoufidis, Kleopatra Stogiannidou, Nur Eradli and Vasiliki Manou

Healthcare 2025, 13(3), 334; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13030334 - 6 Feb 2025

Cited by 3 | Viewed by 3226

Abstract

Background/objectives: Previous studies on aquatic exercises have primarily focused on either physical fitness or psychological outcomes. This study examines the effects of a structured 10-week aqua fitness program on physical fitness and psychosocial outcomes in healthy adult women. Additionally, a 4-week training cessation period was incorporated to assess the sustainability of any observed physical fitness benefits. Methods: A total of 32 female participants (mean age 51.28 ± 9.12 years) with prior aqua aerobics experience engaged in supervised aqua fitness sessions, conducted three times per week (~55 min/session) at moderate intensity (RPE = 12, on a 6–20 scale). The physical fitness outcomes assessed included dominant hand grip strength, lower limb muscle endurance, dynamic balance, mobility, and upper and lower limb flexibility. The psychosocial outcomes included subjective well-being and social inclusion. Results: The results demonstrate significant improvements in dynamic balance (ES = 0.85) and lower limb flexibility (ES = 0.73 and 0.65 for the two limbs, respectively), with smaller yet notable gains observed in other physical fitness outcomes (ES = from 0.20 to 0.48). On the contrary, only a marginal improvement was detected in a single domain of subjective well-being (environmental domain, ES = 0.35) and no changes were observed across the seven domains of social inclusion. Importantly, all physical fitness gains were maintained during the 4-week training cessation period, with lower limb flexibility showing additional improvements. Conclusions: These findings underscore the effectiveness of supervised aqua fitness programs in enhancing physical fitness in middle-aged women, while their impact on psychosocial outcomes appears limited in this population. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise Interventions and Testing for Effective Health Promotion)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

12 pages, 944 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Safety, Feasibility, and Efficacy of a Structured Individual Exercise Program for Community-Dwelling Stroke Patients

by Jung-Lim Lee, Sung-Hwa Ko, Sungchul Huh, Jong-Chul Jung, Soo-Yong Kim, Dong-Yun Bae, Yong-Il Shin and Yuna Kim

Healthcare 2024, 12(22), 2281; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12222281 - 15 Nov 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2790

Abstract

Introduction: Stroke is a leading cause of mortality and long-term disability worldwide, often resulting in low levels of physical activity post-discharge. A comprehensive exercise program could be a safe method to increase stroke patients’ physical activity and exercise volume. This pilot study examines the effectiveness, safety, and feasibility of a comprehensive exercise regimen for stroke patients residing in the community after discharge. Methods: This single-group pilot study included patients who received inpatient rehabilitation for motor impairment following a stroke. Community-dwelling participants engaged in a comprehensive exercise program, which was structured and individualized, consisting of stretching, aerobic exercise, strength training, and balance exercises, conducted under the supervision of a health exercise specialist in a dedicated living lab within the hospital. The program involved 20 sessions, each lasting 50 min, conducted three to five times weekly. The pre- and post-intervention evaluations were comprehensive, including safety and validity assessments, along with physical function tests such as cardiopulmonary exercise testing and various fitness tests (6 min walk test, timed up and go test, chair stand test, figure-of-8 walk test, grip strength test, and sit-and-reach test). Depression levels were assessed using the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS). Results: A total of 22 subjects were recruited, with 21 completing the study after one dropout due to fatigue and visiting distance. Among the 21 completers, one subject experienced a mild adverse event (hypoglycemia), which was not serious, confirming the program’s safety. The exercise participation rate was 95.5%, and the adherence rate averaged 95.2%, with all completers achieving over 80% adherence. Significant improvements were observed in VO₂ peak (p = 0.000), 6 min walk test (p = 0.000), timed up and go test (p = 0.000), chair stand test (p = 0.000), figure-of-8 walk test (p = 0.000), and grip strength (p = 0.001). However, changes in the peak respiratory exchange ratio (p = 0.078), sit-and-reach test (p = 0.228) and GDS scores (p = 0.275) were not significant. Conclusion: This study demonstrates that the comprehensive exercise program is sufficiently safe and valid for stroke rehabilitation patients. The program significantly enhances cardiopulmonary endurance, walking ability, balance, muscle strength, muscle endurance, and coordination. Further research with larger sample sizes and control groups is needed to confirm these findings and explore additional benefits. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise Interventions and Testing for Effective Health Promotion)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

18 pages, 1661 KB

Open AccessArticle

Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial of Lymfit: A Theory-Guided Exercise Intervention for Young Adults with Lymphoma

by Wing Lam Tock, Nathalie A. Johnson, Ross E. Andersen, Matthew Salaciak, Christopher Angelillo, Carmen G. Loiselle, Maude Hébert and Christine Maheu

Healthcare 2024, 12(11), 1101; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12111101 - 28 May 2024

Cited by 5 | Viewed by 3200

Abstract

Despite the rapidly emerging evidence on the contributions of physical activity to improving cancer-related health outcomes, adherence to physical activity among young adults with lymphoma remains suboptimal. Guided by self-determination theory (SDT), the Lymfit intervention (a 12-week individualized exercise program with bi-weekly kinesiologist support and an activity tracker) aimed to foster autonomous motivation toward physical activity. This pilot randomized controlled trial aimed to evaluate the feasibility, acceptability, and preliminary effects of Lymfit. Young adults (N = 26; mean age of 32.1 years) with lymphoma who were newly diagnosed and those up to six months after completing treatment were recruited and randomly assigned one-to-one to either the intervention group (n = 13) or a wait-list control group (n = 13). All a priori feasibility benchmarks were met, confirming the feasibility of the study in terms of recruitment uptake, retention, questionnaire completion, intervention fidelity, missing data, Fitbit wear adherence, and control group design. The intervention acceptability assessment showed high ratings, with eight out of ten items receiving >80% high ratings. At post-intervention, an analysis of covariance models showed a clinically significant increase in self-reported physical activity levels, psychological need satisfaction, and exercise motivation in the intervention group compared to controls. Lymfit also led to meaningful changes in six quality-of-life domains in the intervention group, including anxiety, depression, fatigue, sleep disturbance, social roles and activities, and pain interference. The findings support Lymfit as a promising means to meet psychological needs and increase the autonomous motivation for physical activity in this group. A fully powered efficacy trial is warranted to assess the validity of these findings. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise Interventions and Testing for Effective Health Promotion)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

13 pages, 370 KB

Open AccessArticle

Emotional Intelligence in Hemodialysis Patients: The Impact of an Intradialytic Exercise Training Program

by Stefania S. Grigoriou, Christina Karatzaferi, Christoforos D. Giannaki and Giorgos K. Sakkas

Healthcare 2024, 12(9), 872; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare12090872 - 23 Apr 2024

Cited by 2 | Viewed by 2075

Abstract

The current study aimed to investigate whether there is a relationship between emotional intelligence (EI), functional capacity, fatigue, cognitive function, and quality of life (QoL) in HD patients and to assess the effect of a 9-month intradialytic exercise training program on EI levels. Seventy-eight dialysis patients (50 M/28 F, 60.6 ± 17.2 years) participated in the cross-sectional study. Afterward, a subgroup of 18 patients (15 M/3 F, 56.7 ± 12.3 years) completed a 9-month supervised intradialytic exercise training program (three times weekly). EI was assessed by the Schutte Self Report Emotional Intelligence Test (SSEIT) and the Wong and Law Emotional Intelligence Scale (WLEIS). Functional capacity was assessed by a battery of tests. Sleep quality, depression levels, and daily sleepiness were assessed via validated questionnaires. All assessments were carried out before and after the intervention. A significant positive correlation was found between the WLEIS scores and the physical component summary of the QoL questionnaire. In contrast, the WLEIS scores were negatively associated with general and physical fatigue. The SSEIT scores were positively associated with cognitive function. After nine months of exercise training, only the group with low WLEIS scores improved their EI score significantly compared to the baseline values (98.7 ± 7.0 vs. 73.0 ± 4.0, p = 0.020), while no changes were observed in the medium or high EI groups. In conclusion, patients with higher levels of EI showed increased quality of life and lower levels of fatigue. Patients with low levels of EI are more likely to benefit from an exercise training program compared to their medium- and high-level counterparts. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise Interventions and Testing for Effective Health Promotion)

► Show Figures

Figure 1

Other

Jump to: Research

18 pages, 2950 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Effects of Exercise on Balance Function in People with Knee Osteoarthritis: A Systematic Review and Meta-Analysis of Randomized Controlled Trials

by Xingyue Wang, Zhuying Chen, Yin Liang, Hao Su, Tongling Wang, Yuanyuan Lv and Laikang Yu

Healthcare 2025, 13(11), 1312; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13111312 - 1 Jun 2025

Cited by 9 | Viewed by 6421

Abstract

Objectives: This study sought to evaluate the impact of exercise on balance function in individuals with knee osteoarthritis (KOA) and determine the most effective exercise protocols for balance enhancement. Methods: A systematic literature search was performed across five major electronic databases (PubMed, Web of Science, EBSCO, Cochrane, Scopus) until 13 September 2024. Statistical synthesis was conducted using weighted mean differences (WMDs) with 95% confidence intervals under a random-effects model. Results: Analysis of 22 studies revealed significant improvements in balance function following exercise interventions. Outcomes measured by the Berg balance scale (BBS, WMD, 2.65, p < 0.00001) and timed up and go test (TUG, WMD, −0.59, p < 0.0001) demonstrated clinically relevant enhancements in KOA populations. Subgroup analyses revealed that multicomponent training (WMD, 6.25, p = 0.003), interventions lasting ≥ 8 weeks (WMD, 4.92, p = 0.002), sessions ≥ 60 min (WMD, 7.42, p = 0.002), frequency ≥ 3 times per week (WMD, 2.83, p = 0.0005), weekly time ≥ 180 min per week (WMD, 7.42, p = 0.002), and patients < 60 years (WMD, 6.71, p = 0.002) were associated with greater improvement in BBS. Conclusions: Exercise significantly improved balance function in KOA patients, with multicomponent training emerging as the most effective intervention. Based on the findings of this meta-analysis, clinicians should recommend that KOA patients engage in exercise at least three times per week, with each session lasting at least 60 min, to achieve a total weekly time of 180 min. These recommendations are particularly relevant for patients less than 60 years, who may experience greater benefits from exercise interventions. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise Interventions and Testing for Effective Health Promotion)

► Show Figures

Journal Menu

Journal Browser

Exercise Interventions and Testing for Effective Health Promotion

Share This Special Issue

Editors

Special Issue Information

Keywords

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

Published Papers (8 papers)

Research

Other

Further Information

Guidelines

MDPI Initiatives

Follow MDPI