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Advancing Physical Activity and Well-Being in Children and Adolescents
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Advancing Physical Activity and Well-Being in Children and Adolescents

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 10 August 2026 | Viewed by 5786

Editors

Dr. Carlos D. Gómez-Carmona

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Group in Training, Physical Activity and Sports Performance (ENFYRED), Department of Music, Plastic and Body Expression, University of Zaragoza, 44003 Teruel, Spain
Interests: physical activity promotion; well-being; sedentary behavior reduction; school-based interventions; mental health; active lifestyle
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Daniel González-Devesa

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor Assistant
Research Group on Physical Activity, Education, and Health (GIAFES), Catholic University of Ávila, 05005 Ávila, Spain
Interests: exercise interventions; chronic disease; sleep quality; stretching interventions; children; physical activity

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

We are pleased to invite you to contribute to a Special Issue entitled “Advancing Physical Activity and Well-Being in Children and Adolescents.” Regular participation in physical activity during childhood and adolescence is a cornerstone for healthy growth and lifelong well-being, fostering optimal physical development, cognitive performance, emotional resilience, and social connectedness. However, global surveillance continues to reveal high levels of inactivity and prolonged sedentary behaviors in young people, alongside widening disparities linked to sex, socioeconomic status, and geography. These challenges underscore the urgent need for innovative, evidence-based strategies that not only increase activity levels but also address the multifaceted determinants of youth well-being. 

This Special Issue aims to advance knowledge on how physical activity programs can enhance the holistic health of children and adolescents. By assembling cutting-edge research and practical insights, we seek to create a comprehensive resource that informs policy, clinical practice, and program design worldwide. 

Suggested Themes and Article Types for Submissions

Original research articles and systematic, scoping, or umbrella reviews are welcome. Topics of interest include (but are not limited to) the following:·       

  • School-based interventions to improve physical and mental health.·       
  • Family and community initiatives to promote healthy lifestyles.·       
  • Physical literacy as a foundation for lifelong health and well-being.·       
  • Physical activity and its impact on mental health.·       
  • Strategies to reduce sedentary behavior.·       
  • Targeted interventions for youth with disabilities and other vulnerable groups.·       
  • Culturally adapted programs and their effectiveness across diverse settings.·       
  • Use of emerging technologies to monitor physical activity and overall health.·       
  • Non-pharmacological interventions to improve sleep quality. 

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Carlos D. Gómez-Carmona
Guest Editor

Dr. Daniel González-Devesa
Guest Editor Assistant

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

  • motor activity
  • exercise therapy
  • sedentary behavior
  • physical fitness
  • health promotion
  • child
  • adolescent
  • mental health

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

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  • 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 (6 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 224 KB  
Article
Longitudinal Changes in Isometric Trunk and Pelvic Strength Balance, Functional Movement and Muscle Imbalance During a Physiotherapy-Based Strengthening Programme in Adolescent Male Soccer Players
by Laura Zaliene, Jurgita Boltutiene and Rita Gikariene
Healthcare 2026, 14(11), 1539; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14111539 - 1 Jun 2026
Viewed by 309
Abstract
Background: Trunk and pelvic strength balance and functional movement quality are relevant factors for musculoskeletal health and injury-prevention monitoring in youth soccer players. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate longitudinal changes in isometric trunk and pelvic strength balance, functional movement quality, and selected [...] Read more.
Background: Trunk and pelvic strength balance and functional movement quality are relevant factors for musculoskeletal health and injury-prevention monitoring in youth soccer players. Aim: This study aimed to evaluate longitudinal changes in isometric trunk and pelvic strength balance, functional movement quality, and selected muscle imbalance indicators during a physiotherapy-based strengthening programme in adolescent male soccer players. Methods: A longitudinal single-group repeated-measures study was conducted in male soccer players aged 12–18 years. Isometric strength balance was assessed using the Dr. Wolff Back-Check system, and functional movement quality was evaluated using the Functional Movement Screen (FMS). Complete-case analyses were performed according to available repeated measurements. Results: FMS total scores improved across repeated assessments, whereas the global Back-Check score showed no significant longitudinal change. Component-level and imbalance analyses indicated reductions in adductor–abductor imbalance, and better FMS performance was moderately associated with lower adductor–abductor imbalance. Conclusions: Functional movement quality and selected muscle imbalance indicators demonstrated favorable longitudinal changes during the physiotherapy-based strengthening programme. These findings suggest that physiotherapy-oriented strengthening and movement-control exercises may contribute to improvements in functional movement quality and selected muscle balance indicators in adolescent male soccer players. However, the small repeated-measures subsamples and observational study design limit causal interpretation and generalizability. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Physical Activity and Well-Being in Children and Adolescents)
19 pages, 7251 KB  
Article
Co-Creation of Mental Health Intervention for Adolescents: A Social Hackathon Approach
by Hannes Baumann and Anna-Maria Ksiezarczyk
Healthcare 2026, 14(10), 1315; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14101315 - 12 May 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 432
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Adolescent mental health problems emerge early, remain undertreated, and are shaped by diverse contextual stressors. In response to calls for more youth-centered prevention, school-based health promotion, and participatory intervention design, this study explored which mental health-related problems internationally mobile adolescents prioritize [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Adolescent mental health problems emerge early, remain undertreated, and are shaped by diverse contextual stressors. In response to calls for more youth-centered prevention, school-based health promotion, and participatory intervention design, this study explored which mental health-related problems internationally mobile adolescents prioritize and which solution ideas they generate in a structured co-creation setting, including where movement- and sport-related elements are embedded. Methods: A qualitative, participatory study was conducted during a 24 h social hackathon embedded in the Youth Empowerment Seminar for exchange students. Hackathon materials from 43 projects were analyzed using content-structuring qualitative content analysis following Kuckartz. Results: Adolescents most frequently framed problems in terms of self-image, stress and anxiety, belonging, and harassment. Solutions clustered around low-threshold group formats, while implementation segments focused strongly on staffing, funding, barriers, and feasibility. Cross-domain analyses suggested recurring problem-solution matches, such as loneliness with hobby or interest groups. Conclusions: Social hackathons can surface adolescent-prioritized mental health concerns and translate them into context-sensitive prevention ideas. The findings mainly point to social and psychosocial solution pathways, while some proposals additionally positioned shared activity or movement contexts as potentially supportive for well-being. These results provide a starting point for subsequent school-based prototyping and feasibility work. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Physical Activity and Well-Being in Children and Adolescents)
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20 pages, 978 KB  
Article
Physical Literacy-Focused Education Improves Fitness Markers in Preadolescents: Implications for School-Based Health Promotion
by Petra Rajkovic Vuletic, Tomislav Pranjic, Barbara Gilic Skugor, Blaž Lešnik, Damir Sekulic and Dorica Šajber
Healthcare 2026, 14(5), 695; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14050695 - 9 Mar 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 693
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Physical literacy (PL) is globally recognized as a foundational determinant of health status in children, but the effects of interventions based on PL were rarely studied in preadolescent children. The aim of this quasi-experimental, school-based study was to evaluate the potential effects [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Physical literacy (PL) is globally recognized as a foundational determinant of health status in children, but the effects of interventions based on PL were rarely studied in preadolescent children. The aim of this quasi-experimental, school-based study was to evaluate the potential effects of a PL intervention delivered during regular school hours on physical fitness (PF), physical literacy (PL), and physical activity (PA) in children aged 9 to 11 years from southern Croatia. Methods: Participants were 125 preadolescents (57 girls), and were grouped into a control group (C = 70), and an experimental group (E, n = 55). The E group participated in a specific PL-focused education, integrated into regular physical education (PE) lessons as a 5–6 min substitute for standard PE content, over 12 weeks (36 PE classes in total). The C group participated in the standard PE curriculum. A pre–post–retention design was used, and the observed variables included anthropometrics (height, weight, BMI), PF (jumping power, abdominal strength, upper body strength, flexibility, mobility, and cardiovascular endurance), PL (evaluated by the PLAYself questionnaire), and indirectly measured PA (estimated via the PAQ-C questionnaire). Multivariate (MANOVA and univariate (ANOVA) analyses of variance for repeated measurements were used with time, gender, and group as the main effects, including their interactions. Results: MANOVA calculated for a set of PF variables revealed significant main effects for time (F = 1361, p < 0.001) and a significant time × group interaction (F = 2.98, p < 0.05). Univariate ANOVA indicated specific intervention effects for jumping power and abdominal strength, favoring the E group. No significant differential effects were observed for PL or PA. Conclusions: The study demonstrated small, but statistically significant, improvements in PF indicators among children exposed to the PL-based intervention. Notably, the intervention was conducted in authentic school settings using standard resources, supporting the ecological validity and real-world applicability of the findings. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Physical Activity and Well-Being in Children and Adolescents)
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Other

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15 pages, 491 KB  
Systematic Review
Are Preschool-Aged Children Meeting Physical Activity Guidelines? A Systematic Review Covering 43,000 Participants Worldwide
by Markel Rico-González, Adrián Moreno-Villanueva, Iago Portela-Pino, Jorge Olivares-Arancibia and Ricardo Martín-Moya
Healthcare 2026, 14(7), 869; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare14070869 - 28 Mar 2026
Viewed by 681
Abstract
Background: Since sedentary habits have become a growing global public health concern, the promotion of physical activity (PA) from early childhood could help children live healthy lifestyles. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the level of compliance with PA [...] Read more.
Background: Since sedentary habits have become a growing global public health concern, the promotion of physical activity (PA) from early childhood could help children live healthy lifestyles. The aim of this systematic review was to analyze the level of compliance with PA in preschoolers in relation to the reference guidelines. Method: A systematic review of relevant articles was carried out using four databases (PubMed, ProQuest, SCOPUS, and FECYT (Web of Sciences, CCC, CIDW, KJD, MEDLINE, RSCI, and SCIELO)) until 14 May 2025. The methodological assessment process was performed by using an adapted version of the MINORS assessment criteria. Results: A total of 623 studies were initially found and 23 were included in the qualitative synthesis. Conclusions: The results revealed that the average in most contexts usually ranges between 30% and 65% of the child population. Due to different operational criteria, compliance was generally higher when PA was assessed separately using single-behavior guidelines as opposed to when integrated 24 h movement frameworks were used. However, these results should be considered with caution because establishing the level of adherence to PA guidelines is difficult due to the different outcomes and guidelines used to compare the level of children’s PA. In future research, it is important to establish common baseline criteria (specifying more specific ages, common questionnaires, and criteria for calculating PA quantity and intensity) to facilitate more objective and reliable comparisons between studies. This systematic review is important because it highlights the need for healthy educational habits from the first years of a person’s life. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Physical Activity and Well-Being in Children and Adolescents)
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21 pages, 1570 KB  
Case Report
Applying Differential Learning During Rehabilitation After Anterior Cruciate Ligament Injury: A Basketball Single-Case Study
by Jorge Arede, Rui Zhou, Harjiv Singh and Wolfgang I. Schöllohrn
Healthcare 2025, 13(24), 3247; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13243247 - 11 Dec 2025
Viewed by 1839
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Differential learning (DL) amplifies natural fluctuations in movement execution and, in its more extreme forms, facilitates repetition-free training with minimal external feedback. While increasingly recognized in the field of skill acquisition, its application in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rehabilitation remains underexplored. [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Differential learning (DL) amplifies natural fluctuations in movement execution and, in its more extreme forms, facilitates repetition-free training with minimal external feedback. While increasingly recognized in the field of skill acquisition, its application in anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) rehabilitation remains underexplored. Methods: This study examined the application of DL in the rehabilitation of an 18-year-old trained basketball player following left-ACL reconstruction. The athlete completed a 42-week rehabilitation program in which DL principles were incorporated throughout the pre-operative, early, mid-, and late phases, culminating in return to sport. Training included differential mobility work, motor control, plyometric exercises, and sport-specific drills. Functional recovery was evaluated using single-leg hop tests, change-of-direction tasks, and sprint performance, while self-reported knee function was monitored via the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) questionnaire. Results: Results indicated substantial improvements in both functional performance and psychological readiness. The IKDC score increased from 13.8% at baseline to 95.4% postoperatively, reaching the normal functional range. An ACL-RSI score of 85.2%, and inter-limb asymmetries were reduced to below 10%. Strength, agility, and sprint performance exceeded pre-injury levels. Conclusions: DL again shows potential as an effective approach to facilitating recovery and return to sport after ACL reconstruction, but larger controlled studies are needed for validation. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Physical Activity and Well-Being in Children and Adolescents)
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22 pages, 791 KB  
Systematic Review
The Impact of Sibling Presence on Motor Competence and Physical Fitness: A Systematic Review
by Nerea Blanco-Martínez, Daniel González-Devesa, Pedro Vicente Vila, Antía Esmerode-Iglesias and Carlos Ayán-Pérez
Healthcare 2025, 13(23), 3142; https://doi.org/10.3390/healthcare13233142 - 2 Dec 2025
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1080
Abstract
Objective: This systematic review examined whether siblings act as facilitators or barriers to children’s motor competence and physical fitness. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, systematic searches were conducted in four databases (Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and MEDLINE/PubMed) up to September 2025. Results: Seventeen [...] Read more.
Objective: This systematic review examined whether siblings act as facilitators or barriers to children’s motor competence and physical fitness. Methods: Following PRISMA guidelines, systematic searches were conducted in four databases (Web of Science, Scopus, SPORTDiscus, and MEDLINE/PubMed) up to September 2025. Results: Seventeen studies (total n = 116,827) met eligibility criteria. Eleven studies were rated fair quality and the remainder poor. Twelve studies assessed motor competence, four assessed physical fitness, and one addressed both. Children with older siblings often showed better coordination and motor skills, whereas some evidence indicated earlier gross motor development in only children and no consistent differences in fine motor skills. The presence of younger siblings was associated with lower motor skill scores in infants, while older siblings were linked to higher scores. Across motor competence outcomes, the available evidence is concentrated in object control and fine/hand motor skills, with comparatively fewer data on locomotor and stability domains. Regarding physical fitness, siblings generally exerted a positive influence across several dimensions, but these findings are based on a small number of studies, and results for cardiorespiratory fitness are conflicting. Conclusions: Given the heterogeneity in ages and measurement tools, along with the predominance of methodological constraints, readers should interpret the findings with caution. In summary, the available evidence suggests that having siblings may be associated with higher motor competence and some aspects of physical fitness, yet the certainty of evidence is limited by heterogeneity (age ranges and measurement tools) and methodological constraints. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Advancing Physical Activity and Well-Being in Children and Adolescents)
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