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Healthcare
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Future Trends of Physical Activity in Health Promotion
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Future Trends of Physical Activity in Health Promotion

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2025 | Viewed by 1622

Special Issue Editors

Prof. Dr. José Arturo Abraldes

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Guest Editor
Department of Physical Activity and Sport, Faculty of Sports Sciences, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Interests: aquatic sports; performance; health; lifesaving; first aid
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Adrián Mateo-Orcajada

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Faculty of Sport, Catholic University San Antonio of Murcia (UCAM), Av. De los Jerónimos, 135, 30107 Murcia, Spain
Interests: promotion of physical activity; adolescent population; new technologies to promote physical activity; body composition; physical condition; psychological state
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Raquel Vaquero-Cristobal

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Guest Editor
Research Group Movement Sciences and Sport (MS&SPORT), Department of Physical Activity and Sport, Faculty of Sport Sciences, University of Murcia, 30100 Murcia, Spain
Interests: body composition; kinanthropometric measurement; health; adolescent population; physical condition; promotion of physical activity; mobile applications; maturity status
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

In recent years, health promotion has become particularly relevant for all age groups. As a result, the fitness and physical activity industry has increased its offerings, providing more services. However, some of these trends do not have a solid scientific basis to support them, so this special issue aims to bring together knowledge about these ways of promoting physical activity in different populations.

We are pleased to invite you to provide scientific evidence related to this area of physical activity promotion for health improvement, whatever the study population and methodology implemented. In this Special Issue, original research articles and reviews are welcome. We also encourage you to submit your articles on the validation of questionnaires and other instruments related to the field of study.

Research areas may include (but not limited to) the following:

  • Cross-sectional, longitudinal and review studies using physical activity as a means of health promotion.
  • Technological innovations in physical activity and health promotion.
  • Tailored physical activity models for specific populations
  • Community-based interventions for the promotion of physical activity
  • Future perspectives on movement-based health

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. José Arturo Abraldes
Dr. Adrián Mateo-Orcajada
Prof. Dr. Raquel Vaquero-Cristobal
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. 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

  • active living
  • behavioral change
  • digital health
  • disease prevention
  • future perspectives
  • well-being strategies
  • wellness innovation

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

Published Papers (3 papers)

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12 pages, 923 KiB  
Article
Beyond Low Back Pain! The Influence of Physical Activity on Mental Health, Reflected in the Functionality of People with Low Back Pain
by Franciele Parolini, Klaus Becker, Márcio Goethel, Ricardo J. Fernandes, Hélder Fonseca, Ulysses F. Ervilha, João Paulo Vilas-Boas and Rubim Santos
Healthcare 2025, 13(12), 1471; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13121471 - 18 Jun 2025
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Psychological factors play a crucial role in the experience of acute low back pain and may influence functional outcomes. However, the interplay between these factors and levels of physical activity remains poorly understood. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study examined the relationship between [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Psychological factors play a crucial role in the experience of acute low back pain and may influence functional outcomes. However, the interplay between these factors and levels of physical activity remains poorly understood. Methods: This cross-sectional observational study examined the relationship between psychological variables and functional disability in individuals with acute low back pain, considering different levels of physical activity. Data were collected from 1021 participants through an online platform between 8 June 2022 and 8 April 2023. Standardized instruments were used to assess functional limitations, emotional distress (depression, anxiety, and stress), daily pain catastrophizing, and physical activity levels. A canonical correlation analysis was conducted to explore the multivariate associations between psychological and functional variables. Results: There was a statistically significant association between higher levels of emotional distress and greater functional impairment related to low back pain. This association was observed in both the light-physical-activity group (canonical coefficient = 0.266; p = 0.017), the moderate-physical-activity group (0.237; p = 0.092), and the vigorous-physical-activity group (0.177; p = 0.013). Participants engaging in vigorous physical activity exhibited more favorable psychological profiles and lower functional disability compared to those with lower levels of activity. Conclusions: Regular and vigorous physical activity appears to be a protective factor for mental health and may help reduce functional disability in individuals with acute low back pain. These findings underscore the importance of considering physical activity levels when addressing psychological and functional outcomes in this population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Trends of Physical Activity in Health Promotion)
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20 pages, 666 KiB  
Article
Influence of Lifestyle Habits on Psychological Well-Being of University Students: A Quantitative Cross-Sectional Study
by Laura García-Pérez, Rosario Padial-Ruz, Mar Cepero-González and José Luis Ubago-Jiménez
Healthcare 2025, 13(10), 1197; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101197 - 20 May 2025
Viewed by 615
Abstract
Background: This study explored the influence of three key lifestyle habits—physical activity (PA), adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), and sleep duration—on psychological well-being indicators (resilience, psychological distress, and self-esteem) in university students. Methods: A total of 928 students (67.3% females; [...] Read more.
Background: This study explored the influence of three key lifestyle habits—physical activity (PA), adherence to the Mediterranean diet (MD), and sleep duration—on psychological well-being indicators (resilience, psychological distress, and self-esteem) in university students. Methods: A total of 928 students (67.3% females; total sample mean age = 21.01 ± 1.95) from the Faculty of Education at the University of Granada participated. Validated self-report instruments were used to assess all variables: the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ-SF), the KIDMED index, the Connor–Davidson Resilience Scale (CD-RISC), the Depression Anxiety Stress Scales (DASS-21), and the Rosenberg Self-Esteem Scale. Results: Results showed that male students reported higher levels of PA, better MD adherence, longer sleep duration, and more favorable psychological outcomes. Stepwise regression analyses indicated that MD adherence was the strongest and most consistent predictor of resilience, self-esteem, and psychological distress. Sleep duration emerged as a key factor, particularly in predicting resilience among men. Although no direct association was found between PA and psychological distress, mediation analysis revealed a significant indirect effect through sleep duration. Conclusions: These findings underscore the relevance of promoting healthy lifestyle habits in an integrated and sex-sensitive manner to enhance mental health (MH) in university students. In particular, targeting future teachers may be essential, given their potential role as promoters of well-being in school settings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Trends of Physical Activity in Health Promotion)
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19 pages, 586 KiB  
Protocol
ACTIVA-Senior: Study Design and Protocol for a Preliminary Multidomain Outdoor Intervention Promoting Healthy Aging and Mitigating Psycho-Physiological Decline
by Antonio Manuel García-Llorente, Raquel Vaquero-Cristóbal, Antonio J. Casimiro-Andújar, J. Arturo Abraldes and Pablo J. Marcos-Pardo
Healthcare 2025, 13(10), 1110; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101110 - 10 May 2025
Viewed by 453
Abstract
The global aging trend increases chronic diseases and lowers quality of life. Exercise is vital for physiological, cognitive, and mental health, countering age-related decline. Outdoor multidomain interventions enhance adherence, motivation, and resilience, supporting independence and well-being. Objectives: This paper aimed to apply [...] Read more.
The global aging trend increases chronic diseases and lowers quality of life. Exercise is vital for physiological, cognitive, and mental health, countering age-related decline. Outdoor multidomain interventions enhance adherence, motivation, and resilience, supporting independence and well-being. Objectives: This paper aimed to apply an outdoor exercise protocol for middle-aged and older people and to study its preliminary effects on cognitive state, body composition, cardiovascular health, physical fitness, physiological function, physical activity, frailty, incidence of sarcopenia, and satisfaction with life. Methods: This protocol describes an eighteen-week, two-pronged, parallel, single-blind randomized controlled trial. This paper complies with the Consort and SPIRIT guidelines. A cohort comprising a minimum of fifty-two older adults from the University for Seniors program will be equally allocated to a multidomain training group (TG) and a passive control group (CG). Intervention: The TG will follow a multidomain outdoor intervention twice a week for a complete duration of 18 weeks, with recommendations for additional autonomous cardiorespiratory training. The supervised sessions will be divided into a 10-min warm-up session focusing on activation and joint mobility, followed by 40 min of resistance training, cardiorespiratory training, and balance and coordination; and it concludes with a 10-min cool-down featuring flexibility, relaxation, and playful emotional intelligence tasks. Cognitive training will be integrated across different parts of the session. Conclusions: This preliminary study aims to explore the feasibility and potential effectiveness of outdoor multidomain training in improving the health of older adults. Importantly, by including late middle-aged adults from the age of 55, this study also aims to explore the potential of preventive strategies initiated before reaching old age. This reflects a broader conceptualization of healthy aging as a lifelong process, where early interventions may help mitigate decline and extend independence into later life. The partnership between health professionals and physical activity fosters independence for older adults, addressing the increasing burden on health services. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Trends of Physical Activity in Health Promotion)
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