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Future Trends of Physical Activity in Health Promotion

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 July 2026 | Viewed by 5887

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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
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Dr. Adrián Mateo-Orcajada

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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
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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
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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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Published Papers (6 papers)

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13 pages, 796 KB

Open AccessArticle

Impact of a Multidomain Outdoor Exercise Intervention on Cardiovascular Health and Functional Capacity for Healthy Aging: A Randomized Controlled Trial (ACTIVA-Senior Study)

by Antonio Manuel García-Llorente, Dalmo Roberto Lopes Machado, Antonio Jesús Casimiro-Andújar and Pablo Jorge Marcos-Pardo

Healthcare 2025, 13(16), 1975; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13161975 - 12 Aug 2025

Viewed by 354

Abstract

Background: Population aging calls for effective, scalable interventions to enhance cardiovascular and functional health in older adults. Objective: The objective was to evaluate the effects of an 18-week multidomain outdoor exercise program on cardiovascular and functional outcomes. Methods: Fifty-two participants (mean age: 66.0 ± 5.1 years; BMI: 27.2 ± 3.7 kg/m²; body fat: 35.0 ± 7.0%) were randomized into intervention (n = 26) and control (n = 26) groups. The intervention involved twice-weekly, 60 min outdoor sessions integrating resistance (30–60 s isometric holds), aerobic training (Borg RPE 6–7), balance, and cognitive exercises. Results: Forty-six participants completed the study (intervention: n = 25; control: n = 21). The intervention group (mean age 65.6 ± 5.3) demonstrated significant improvements compared to the controls (mean age 66.4 ± 4.9): a systolic blood pressure reduction of 17.4 mmHg (95% CI: −21.9 to −12.9, p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.376), diastolic blood pressure reduction of 9.2 mmHg (95% CI: −12.1 to −6.3, p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.248), and Six-Minute Walk Test improvement of 64.7 m (95% CI: 45.9 to 83.5, p < 0.001, ηp² = 0.463). Body composition showed modest but significant improvements in percent body fat (−1.3%, p = 0.007) and visceral fat levels (−0.9 units, p = 0.002). However, these changes were not significant between groups. The Number Needed to Treat was 2.2 for clinically significant blood pressure reduction and 1.4 for meaningful functional improvement. Conclusions: The ACTIVA-Senior multidomain outdoor intervention led to clinically meaningful improvements in cardiovascular function and functional capacity. The results suggest strong potential for scalable outdoor aging interventions. These findings support the integration of structured outdoor exercise programs into healthy aging strategies and public health initiatives. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Trends of Physical Activity in Health Promotion)

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14 pages, 926 KB

Open AccessArticle

The Effectiveness of Manual Therapy in the Cervical Spine and Diaphragm, in Combination with Breathing Re-Education Exercises, on the Range of Motion and Forward Head Posture in Patients with Non-Specific Chronic Neck Pain: A Randomized Controlled Trial

by Petros I. Tatsios, Eirini Grammatopoulou, Zacharias Dimitriadis and George A. Koumantakis

Healthcare 2025, 13(14), 1765; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13141765 - 21 Jul 2025

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Abstract

Background/Objectives: A randomized controlled trial (RCT) was designed to test the emerging role of respiratory mechanics as part of physiotherapy in patients with non-specific chronic neck pain (NSCNP). Methods: Ninety patients with NSCNP and symptom duration >3 months were randomly allocated to three intervention groups of equal size, receiving either cervical spine (according to the Mulligan Concept) and diaphragm manual therapy plus breathing reeducation exercises (experimental group—EG1), cervical spine manual therapy plus sham diaphragmatic manual techniques (EG2), or conventional physiotherapy (control group—CG). The treatment period lasted one month (10 sessions) for all groups. The effect on the cervical spine range of motion (CS-ROM) and on the craniovertebral angle (CVA) was examined. Outcomes were collected before treatment (0/12), after treatment (1/12), and three months after the end of treatment (4/12). The main analysis comprised a two-way mixed ANOVA with a repeated measures factor (time) and a between-groups factor (group). Post hoc tests assessed the source of significant interactions detected. The significance level was set at p = 0.05. Results: No significant between-group baseline differences were identified. Increases in CS-ROM and in CVA were registered mainly post-treatment, with improvements maintained at follow-up for CS-ROM. EG1 significantly improved over CG in all movement directions except for flexion and over EG2 for extension only, at 1/12 and 4/12. All groups improved by the same amount for CVA. Conclusions: EG1, which included diaphragm manual therapy and breathing re-education exercises, registered the largest overall improvement over CG (except for flexion and CVA), and for extension over EG2. The interaction between respiratory mechanics and neck mobility may provide new therapeutic and assessment insights of patients with NSCNP. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Trends of Physical Activity in Health Promotion)

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12 pages, 923 KB

Open AccessArticle

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

Viewed by 454

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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 KB

Open AccessArticle

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

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1513

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; 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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25 pages, 595 KB

Open AccessSystematic Review

Effect of Exercise on Chronic Tension-Type Headache and Chronic Migraine: A Systematic Review

by Cindy Johana Palacio-Del Río, Sofía Monti-Ballano, María Orosia Lucha-López, César Hidalgo-García and José Miguel Tricás-Moreno

Healthcare 2025, 13(13), 1612; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13131612 - 4 Jul 2025

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Abstract

Objectives: This study aims to identify the effectiveness of exercise in chronic tension-type headache and chronic migraine. Methods: The PICOS (Population, Intervention, Comparator, Outcomes, Study design) strategy was followed, where P—patients with chronic tension-type headache or chronic migraine; I—exercise; C—conventional treatment; O—pain reduction; and S—RCTs (randomized controlled trials) and quasi-experimental trials. Studies with a high risk of bias according to the RoB 2 (Risk of Bias) scale and with a score < 6 according to the PEDro (Physiotherapy Evidence Database) scale were excluded. The PRISMA (Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses) statement was followed. The databases Pubmed, Web of Science, and Scopus were searched in November 2024. The PEDro and RoB2 scales were used to assess the risk of bias and internal validity of the studies. The results were synthesized qualitatively. Results: Ten studies with a total sample of 848 subjects were analyzed, comparing therapeutic interventions with an exercise versus conventional treatment. In most of the studies, the exercise group significantly outperformed the control group in pain reduction. Discussion: The findings suggest that exercise improves central pain modulation and reinforces the potential of body strategies such as postural integration. The main limitations found were the limited evidence on exercise’s role in chronic tension-type headache or migraine and the risk of bias due to the difficulty of blinding patients, therapists, and evaluators. Conclusions: The studies analyzed have shown that exercise could be an effective strategy to support the management of chronic tension-type headache and migraine. Full article

(This article belongs to the Special Issue Future Trends of Physical Activity in Health Promotion)

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19 pages, 586 KB

Open AccessProtocol

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

Cited by 1 | Viewed by 756

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 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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