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Physical Activity, Body–Mind Training and Well-Being in Community Settings

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Guest Editor
1. Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior, Santarém Polytechnic University, Avenue Dr. Mário Soares No. 110, 2040-413 Rio Maior, Portugal
2. Sport Physical Activity and Health Research & Innovation Center (SPRINT), Santarém Polytechnic University, Complex Andaluz, Apart 279, 2001-904 Santarém, Portugal
3. Physical Activity and Health-Life Quality Research Centre (CIEQV), Santarém Polytechnic University, Complex Andaluz, Apart 279, 2001-904 Santarém, Portugal
Interests: exercise pedagogy; health and fitness; physical activity; body–mind
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Sport Sciences School of Rio Maior (ESDRM), Santarém Polytechnic University, Av. Dr. Mário Soares, 110, 2040-413 Rio Maior, Portugal
2. SPRINT—Sport Physical Activity and Health Research & Innovation Center, Santarém Polytechnic University, Av. Dr. Mário Soares, 110, 2040-413 Rio Maior, Portugal
Interests: motor development; motor learning and control; physical activity; cycling; health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

The Special Issue of International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, titled “Physical Activity, Body–Mind Training and Well-Being in Community Settings”, will explore the multifaceted relationships among physical activity, mental health, and social well-being within diverse community contexts, such as local gyms, outdoor spaces, retreats, schools and universities, workplaces, group homes, senior centres, healthcare centres, and correctional facilities, including practices in person and on online platforms. It aims to highlight evidence-based interventions, programs, and policies that promote holistic health through movement and mind–body practices such as yoga, tai chi, qigong, Pilates, mindfulness-based exercise, mind–body fitness, and community sports. This issue will bring together research examining how these activities contribute to physical fitness, psychological resilience, social cohesion, and quality of life across different populations and age groups.

This Special Issue welcomes scientific studies addressing both quantitative and qualitative dimensions of participation, focusing on the mechanisms through which regular physical and body–mind training enhances mental balance, emotional regulation, and overall well-being. Moreover, this issue will discuss the challenges and opportunities for implementing sustainable, culturally sensitive, and community-driven health initiatives. By integrating interdisciplinary perspectives from public health, psychology, sports science, and social sciences, this Special Issue will provide valuable insights for researchers, practitioners, and policymakers seeking to foster healthier, more connected communities through active and mindful living.

Prof. Dr. Susana Carla Alves Franco
Dr. Cristiana Mercê
Guest Editors

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Keywords

  • physical activity
  • body–mind training
  • mental health
  • community settings
  • well-being
  • mindfulness-based exercise
  • holistic health
  • online platforms

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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20 pages, 4841 KB  
Essay
Walking for Health: Franz Tappeiner (1816–1902), Meran, and the Origins of Public Health-Oriented Physical Activity
by Christian J. Wiedermann, Patrick Rina, Ulrike Kindl and Doris Hager von Strobele Prainsack
Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2026, 23(2), 248; https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph23020248 - 16 Feb 2026
Viewed by 878
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Franz Tappeiner (1816–1902) is often celebrated as a pioneer of alpine medicine and the founder of Tappeiner Promenade in Meran (South Tyrol, Italy). However, his legacy extends far beyond the scenic infrastructure, encompassing a comprehensive vision of physical activity as a public [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Franz Tappeiner (1816–1902) is often celebrated as a pioneer of alpine medicine and the founder of Tappeiner Promenade in Meran (South Tyrol, Italy). However, his legacy extends far beyond the scenic infrastructure, encompassing a comprehensive vision of physical activity as a public health intervention. His multidisciplinary practice anticipated the principles of contemporary rehabilitation, preventive medicine, and climate-sensitive public health. Methods: This historical public health analysis, combining biographical, contextual, and material–spatial approaches, reinterprets Tappeiner’s writings, institutional engagements, and civic projects through the lens of modern public health frameworks. Drawing on primary materials (e.g., published articles, autobiographical fragments, and commemorative texts) and recent evidence from rehabilitation and environmental health research, these contributions were contextualized. Results: Tappeiner’s early focus on infectious disease prevention (e.g., cholera and tuberculosis) transitioned into a strategic emphasis on recovery and behavioral therapy through environmental design. The walking therapy model of Max Joseph Oertel, locally realized in the Tappeiner Promenade, prefigured modern concepts such as structured green rehabilitation, walkability, and urban-health citizenship. His systematic integration of graded walking into civic infrastructure represents one of the earliest documented examples of embedding physical activity promotion at the population level. He contributed substantial personal funds to the path’s construction, embedding therapeutic gradients, curating vegetation, and promoting inclusive design to support convalescence. Contemporary research supports the intuition that green, low- to moderate-intensity walking improves cardiometabolic health, psychological well-being, and functional capacity. Moreover, his integrative ethos, merging clinical medicine, civic ethics, and spatial intervention, parallels contemporary eco-social models of public health. Conclusions: Franz Tappeiner’s career exemplifies a still-relevant model of physician leadership that is empirically grounded, socially accountable, and ecologically attuned, with physical activity promotion embedded as a central element of his public health vision. His work invites reflection on how medical professionals can shape not only individual care but also urban environments and collective health futures. Full article
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