Search for Articles:
Title / Keyword
Author / Affiliation / Email
Journal
Article Type
 
 
Advanced Search
 
Section
Special Issue
Volume
Issue
Number
Page
 
4.7
2.7
Journals
Healthcare
Special Issues
Exercise Science and Health Promotion
share announcement

Exercise Science and Health Promotion

A special issue of Healthcare (ISSN 2227-9032). This special issue belongs to the section "Public Health and Preventive Medicine".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 20 May 2026 | Viewed by 4175

Special Issue Editor

Dr. Weiyun Chen

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
School of Kinesiology, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
Interests: physical activity interventions; cognitive functions; functional fitness; lifestyle behaviors; cardiometabolic health; mental health and wellbeing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to invite you to this Special Issue focusing on exercises and physical activities to promote health and wellbeing across various populations. This includes both the general population and individuals with chronic health conditions, as well as those from culturally, racially, and socioeconomically disadvantaged backgrounds, spanning all ages.

Regular exercise and habitual physical activity (PA) behaviors are well documented for enhancing physical health by reducing the risk of developing heart disease, stroke, cancers, diabetes, and dementia-related diseases. They also help alleviate chronic pain and manage body weight. Beyond physical health, regular exercise and habitual PA contribute to improved mental health and wellbeing. These benefits include reducing the risk of anxiety and depression; enhancing self-efficacy, vitality, and resilience; fostering social connection and support; and boosting positive emotions and moods for both the general population and special populations across their lifespans.

Despite these benefits, many individuals do not engage in regular exercise and fail to meet the recommended amount of daily PA. Numerous factors influence the effective implementation of various exercise and PA interventions in populations with different backgrounds and special health needs. Furthermore, there is a need for further exploration and investigation into the impacts of exercise and PA interventions on physical, cognitive, and mental health in diverse populations, incorporating behavioral and social science perspectives.

This Special Issue aims to (1) examine factors influencing the feasibility, acceptability, and sustainability of exercise and PA interventions in specific populations; (2) investigate the impacts of these interventions on lifestyle behaviors, physical and cardiometabolic health, cognitive and physical functions, and mental health and wellbeing in both the general population and special populations; and (3) explore the physiological aspects that contribute to participants’ responses and intervention outcomes in these populations.

In this Special Issue, we welcome original research articles and reviews. Research areas may include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • Factors facilitating and inhibiting the feasibility, acceptability, and sustainability of exercise and PA interventions within specific populations.

  • Implementation strategies and the characteristics of interventions aimed at enhancing the effectiveness of implementing population-based and large-scale interventions with diverse populations.
  • The effects of exercise and PA interventions on lifestyle behavior changes, physical and cardiometabolic health, cognitive and physical functions, and mental health and wellbeing in both the general population and special populations.
  • The physiological, psychological, and social determinants of health contributing to participants’ responses to interventions and their intervention outcomes.
  • Factors facilitating and inhibiting physical activity behaviors in the general population and special populations across their lifespans.
  • Differences in exercise/PA participation between Europe and the United States.
  • Future development with regard to AI to promote exercise and health.

I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Weiyun Chen
Guest Editor

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

  • exercise intervention
  • physical activity
  • physical and cardiometabolic health
  • cognitive functions
  • physical functions
  • mental health and wellbeing
  • feasibility
  • acceptability
  • sustainability of an intervention
  • physiological

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 (3 papers)

Download All Papers
Order results
Result details
Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:

Research

Jump to: Other

18 pages, 581 KB  
Article
Gender and Social Stratification in Active Aging: Inequalities in Sport Participation and Subjective Health Among Older Adults in South Korea
by Su Yeon Roh and Ik Young Chang
Healthcare 2025, 13(23), 3124; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13233124 - 1 Dec 2025
Viewed by 317
Abstract
Background: As South Korea transitions into a super-aged society, promoting sport participation among older adults is increasingly vital for physical health, emotional well-being, and social inclusion. Objective: This study examines how the interplay between gender and social stratification influence sport participation [...] Read more.
Background: As South Korea transitions into a super-aged society, promoting sport participation among older adults is increasingly vital for physical health, emotional well-being, and social inclusion. Objective: This study examines how the interplay between gender and social stratification influence sport participation and health among South Koreans aged 60 and above. Methods: Using data from the 2024 Korea National Sports Participation Survey (n = 1779), this study employed Multiple Correspondence Analysis (MCA), cross-tabulation, and one-way ANOVA with Scheffé’s post hoc tests to examine differences in sport participation and health by gender and social stratification such as income, education, and occupation. Results: The analysis revealed significant differences in sport participation and subjective health outcomes by gender and social stratification. Among older men, sport participation varied strongly by socioeconomic status: higher-status men participated in golf, cycling, and bodybuilding, whereas those from lower strata mainly engaged in walking and gateball. In contrast, older women’s participation types were less stratified and more influenced by gender norms, with consistent involvement in walking, aerobics, yoga, and stretching. One-way ANOVA showed statistically significant differences (p < 0.001) in subjective health status and physical fitness by all socioeconomic variables for both genders. Conclusions: Older adults’ sport participation and health in South Korea are constrained by both socioeconomic inequality and entrenched gender norms. Promoting equitable active aging requires policies that both reduce socioeconomic barriers and challenge restrictive gender norms. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise Science and Health Promotion)
►▼ Show Figures

Figure 1

9 pages, 199 KB  
Article
Barriers to Physical Activity in Low-Income Older Adults Living in Senior Housing
by Carolyn Kalata, Ramon Reyes, Kamal Kuhail, Janet L. Larson and Weiyun Chen
Healthcare 2025, 13(10), 1159; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13101159 - 16 May 2025
Viewed by 2400
Abstract
While a majority of older adults fail to engage in recommended levels of physical activity (PA), lower-income older adults face unique challenges. They are at greater risk for low levels of PA, but little is known about the barriers they face. Objectives: This [...] Read more.
While a majority of older adults fail to engage in recommended levels of physical activity (PA), lower-income older adults face unique challenges. They are at greater risk for low levels of PA, but little is known about the barriers they face. Objectives: This study aimed to investigate self-reported PA and barriers to PA for older adult residents of subsidized low-income senior housing, comparing barriers for those with lower and higher levels of PA. Methods: Ninety-two older adults (mean age 76.57 (SD = 7.50)) were recruited from low-income senior housing facilities. They completed a demographic questionnaire, the International Physical Activity Questionnaire (IPAQ), which measures MET-minutes/week of engaging in vigorous, moderate, and light PA levels, and the 27-item Inventory of Physical Activity Barriers (IPAB), which measures multifaceted barriers to PA. Results: The most common barrier for all residents was the PA priority. Independent t-tests revealed that the low-active group faced greater barriers than the high-active group in physical health barriers (t = 2.329, p = 0.022), PA priority of (t = 2.836, p = 0.006), environmental barriers (t = 2.072, p = 0.042), and total PA barriers (t = 2.281, p = 0.025). No significant differences were found between the low-active and high-active groups for emotional health barriers, skill barriers, external factor barriers, and social barriers. Conclusions: The low-active older adults were less likely to overcome barriers, such as physical health issues, PA priority, and environmental factors. Further research is necessary to gain a deeper understanding of the characteristics and underlying mechanisms of these barriers and to develop effective strategies for addressing them. However, findings should be interpreted cautiously due to the small and convenient sample and potential bias from self-reported PA measures. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise Science and Health Promotion)

Other

Jump to: Research

21 pages, 639 KB  
Systematic Review
Exercise Snacks as a Strategy to Interrupt Sedentary Behavior: A Systematic Review of Health Outcomes and Feasibility
by Dan Iulian Alexe, Sohom Saha, Prashant Kumar Choudhary, Cristina Ioana Alexe, Suchishrava Choudhary and Dragoș Ioan Tohănean
Healthcare 2025, 13(24), 3216; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13243216 - 9 Dec 2025
Viewed by 920
Abstract
Background/Objectives: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of “exercise snacks,” brief, intermittent bouts of physical activity designed to interrupt prolonged sedentary behavior. The review synthesized findings across metabolic, cardiovascular, cognitive, and functional health domains to identify consistent patterns [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: This systematic review aimed to evaluate the effectiveness and feasibility of “exercise snacks,” brief, intermittent bouts of physical activity designed to interrupt prolonged sedentary behavior. The review synthesized findings across metabolic, cardiovascular, cognitive, and functional health domains to identify consistent patterns of benefit and determine their practical applicability across populations. Methods: A total of 26 studies met inclusion criteria, encompassing diverse populations such as healthy adults, older adults, and individuals with obesity, type 2 diabetes, or PCOS. Following the PRISMA 2020 guidelines, comprehensive searches were conducted across PubMed, Scopus, Web of Science, and CINAHL databases for studies published between 2012 and 2025. Eligible studies included randomized controlled trials, crossover trials, and feasibility studies assessing health outcomes following exercise snack interventions in adults. Data were extracted using standardized protocols, and methodological quality was evaluated using the Cochrane Risk of Bias 2 tool and Newcastle-Ottawa Scale. Narrative synthesis was prioritized due to intervention heterogeneity. Results: Exercise snacks consistently improved postprandial glucose, insulin, and triglyceride responses, reduced blood pressure, preserved endothelial and cerebral blood flow, and enhanced cardiorespiratory fitness. Older adults demonstrated significant gains in lower-limb strength and mobility. Emerging evidence also indicated improvements in mood, fatigue, and cognitive performance. Feasibility trials confirmed high acceptability and adherence across settings and age groups. Conclusions: Exercise snacking represents a time-efficient, feasible, and evidence-based strategy to mitigate the health risks of sedentary behavior. By incorporating brief, frequent activity bouts into daily routines, individuals can achieve meaningful benefits in metabolic regulation, cardiovascular health, physical function, and cognitive well-being. Future research should refine optimal protocols and explore long-term sustainability across varied populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Exercise Science and Health Promotion)
►▼ Show Figures

Graphical abstract

Show export options expand_more Show export options expand_less
Select all
Export citation of selected articles as:
 
Displaying articles 1-3
Back to TopTop