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Public Health Perspectives on Physical Exercise for Adults and Older People

A special issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (ISSN 1660-4601). This special issue belongs to the section "Exercise and Health-Related Quality of Life".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (31 January 2026) | Viewed by 6438

Special Issue Editors


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Guest Editor
Undergraduate Program in Physical Education, Centro Universitário Gama e Souza (UNIGAMA), Rio de Janeiro 22621-090, Brazil
Interests: strength training; exercise physiology; cardiorespiratory response

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The benefits of physical exercise extend beyond sports performance, playing a fundamental role in public health by enhancing musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory function across the general population. These physiological adaptations are essential for promoting healthier, more functional lives, particularly among adults and older people, as aging naturally leads to a decline in these functions. Moreover, environmental factors such as extreme heat and cold can significantly impact physical performance and overall health, further emphasizing the need for tailored exercise strategies.

Given the increasing importance of preventive healthcare, physical exercise stands out as one of the most effective strategies for mitigating the negative consequences associated with aging. This Special Issue aims to explore the key physiological and biomechanical adaptations to physical exercise, analyzing their long-term impact on musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory health in young and older adults. Additionally, we seek to highlight how these findings can inform public health policies and strategies, ensuring broader accessibility and effectiveness of exercise-based interventions.

Topics of interest may include musculoskeletal and cardiorespiratory adaptations throughout aging, covering aspects such as muscle volume, muscle strength, exercise metabolism, physical fitness, cardiovascular risk, autonomic control, hemodynamic regulation, hormonal responses, inflammation, oxidative stress, and the influence of environmental conditions. We encourage studies that address these topics within a public health framework, aiming to provide evidence for policy development and implementation.

Manuscripts may include original research articles, reviews, meta-analyses, case studies, methodological papers, short reports, commentaries, or position papers.

We look forward to receiving your contributions.

Prof. Dr. Estêvão Rios Monteiro
Dr. Victor Gonçalves Corrêa Neto
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

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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. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly 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 2500 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

  • age
  • exercise
  • exercise therapy
  • mobility limitation
  • physical exercise
  • quality of life
  • resistance training
  • strength training

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Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

12 pages, 312 KB  
Article
Content Validation and Perceived Value of Text Messages to Promote Physical Activity Among U.S. Older Adults and Care Partners
by Oluwaseun Adeyemi, Tracy Chippendale, Gbenga Ogedegbe, Dowin Boatright and Joshua Chodosh
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(2), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23020258 - 18 Feb 2026
Viewed by 631
Abstract
Background: Motivational text messages can encourage increased physical activity. This study aimed to validate motivational text messages among older adults and care partners and to assess differences in perceived motivational value between the two groups. Methods: We designed nine motivational text messages to [...] Read more.
Background: Motivational text messages can encourage increased physical activity. This study aimed to validate motivational text messages among older adults and care partners and to assess differences in perceived motivational value between the two groups. Methods: We designed nine motivational text messages to capture nine distinct physical activity scenarios. For this cross-sectional observational study, we enrolled 14 content experts, 310 older adults, and 305 care partners. Content experts assessed the relevance, while the older adults and care partners assessed the perceived motivational value of each text message on a 5-point Likert scale. We computed the item content validity index and assessed differences in perceived motivational value among older adults and care partners using quantile regression while adjusting for sociodemographic and health characteristics. Results: The item content validity index ranged from 0.86 to 1.00. The median (interquartile range) perceived motivational value for each text message was 4.0 (3.0–5.0), and there were no statistically significant differences in reported motivational values between older adults and care partners. Conclusion: We present nine content-validated text messages with high motivational value for older adults and care partners that can be integrated into technology-based intervention studies and may improve physical activity behavior in both groups. Full article
10 pages, 295 KB  
Article
Association of DRD2 and BDNF Genetic Polymorphisms with Exercise Addiction
by Izadora Moreira da Silva, Caleb Guedes Miranda Santos, Camilla Geyer de Rezende, Victor Corrêa Neto and Alexandre Palma
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(9), 1356; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22091356 - 29 Aug 2025
Viewed by 1853
Abstract
Exercise addiction is described in the literature as a compulsive behavior associated with adverse health symptoms. Currently, knowledge about the biological and social factors that trigger the development of this behavior is still lacking, and there are no published studies on genetic variants [...] Read more.
Exercise addiction is described in the literature as a compulsive behavior associated with adverse health symptoms. Currently, knowledge about the biological and social factors that trigger the development of this behavior is still lacking, and there are no published studies on genetic variants associated with the disorder. Because of this, we genotyped specific polymorphisms in the genes DRD1 (rs265981), DRD2 (rs1800497), BDNF (rs6265), HFE (rs1799945), ACTN3 (rs1815739), PPARA (rs4253778), PPARGC1A (rs8192678), and AMPD1 (rs17602729) to investigate whether they were associated with exercise addiction. In total, 469 men and women, comprising athletes and non-athletes between the ages of 18 and 50, were enrolled in the study. Each participant provided an oral swab sample for genetic analysis and completed the Negative Addiction Scale questionnaire that tests for physical exercise addiction. For the DRD2 polymorphism, there was a significant association of the GG genotype with asymptomatic participants and of the AA genotype with participants symptomatic for exercise addiction. Additionally, for the BDNF polymorphism, the CC genotype was associated with symptomatic participants, and the T allele was associated with asymptomatic individuals. However, all associations were found by evaluating the SNP individually, and this demonstrates the difficulty in studying variables related to behavioral phenotypes. Full article
16 pages, 1674 KB  
Article
A Resistance Training Program on Patients with Liver Cirrhosis: A Randomized Clinical Trial
by Amanda Brown, Ingrid Dias, Jefferson da Silva Novaes, Leandro Sant’Ana, Bruno Perez Felix, Fabio Cahuê, Anderson Brito-Azevedo, Michel Silva Reis, Agnaldo José Lopes, Verônica Salerno, Roberto Simão, Estêvão Rios Monteiro and Renata de Mello Perez
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2025, 22(8), 1257; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph22081257 - 11 Aug 2025
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 3434
Abstract
Background: Cirrhosis represents an advanced stage of hepatic fibrosis, and the metabolic changes resulting from liver dysfunction can cause impairment in physical capacity and quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of 12 weeks of resistance exercise on inflammatory markers, [...] Read more.
Background: Cirrhosis represents an advanced stage of hepatic fibrosis, and the metabolic changes resulting from liver dysfunction can cause impairment in physical capacity and quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of 12 weeks of resistance exercise on inflammatory markers, oxidative stress, physical conditioning, and quality of life in patients with liver cirrhosis. Methods: A total of 38 patients paired in the exercise (EG) and control (CG) groups participated in this study. The EG submitted to two weekly sessions of a program composed of resistance exercises. We evaluated the inflammatory markers (IL-6, IL-10, and TNF-α), oxidative stress (carbonylated protein, total thiols, enzyme superoxide dismutase, and catalase activity), body composition, handgrip strength (HGS), total volume of training, cardiorespiratory capacity (VO2, VCO2, and VEpeak), exercise capacity, and quality of life. Results: Regarding the EG, when comparing the follow-up period to the baseline, significant differences (p < 0.05) were found in BMI, HGS, total training volume, cardiorespiratory capacity variables, the 6 min walk test, and quality of life. Improvements were observed, without significant differences, in the inflammatory profile, oxidative stress, and one of the markers of liver function. The CG showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05) in HGS and cardiorespiratory capacity after the intervention. Conclusions: In patients with liver cirrhosis, a resistance exercise program improved physical fitness and quality of life, without adverse events. In addition, it seems that this type of training can bring some benefit to the inflammatory profile and oxidative stress of this population. Full article
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