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Physical Activity for Optimal Health: 2nd Edition
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Physical Activity for Optimal Health: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology (ISSN 2411-5142). This special issue belongs to the section "Physical Exercise for Health Promotion".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (30 July 2025) | Viewed by 3822

Special Issue Editors

Dr. José M. Gamonales

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Training Optimization and Sports Performance Research Group (GOERD), Faculty of Sport Science, University of Extremadura, 10001 Caceres, Spain
Interests: physical education; adapted sport; inclusion; performance; education; blind; football (soccer)
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Mário André da Cunha Espada

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
1. Instituto Politécnico de Setúbal, Escola Superior de Educação, 2914-504 Setúbal, Portugal
2. Sport Physical Activity and Health Research & INnovation Center (SPRINT), 2040-413 Rio Maior, Portugal
3. Centre for the Study of Human Performance (CIPER), Faculdade de Motricidade Humana, Universidade de Lisboa, 1499-002 Cruz Quebrada, Portugal
4. Comprehensive Health Research Centre (CHRC), Universidade de Évora, 7004- 516 Évora, Portugal
5. Life Quality Research Centre (CIEQV-Leiria), 2040-413 Rio Maior, Portugal
Interests: sport sciences; training load monitoring; strength and conditioning; metabolic expenditure; testing; performance analysis; training; exercise physiology; biomechanics; recovery procedures; physical activity
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We welcome researchers to contribute their most recent studies and projects on the topics of physical activity and health to this Special Issue, entitled "Physical Activity for Optimal Health: 2nd Edition". These submissions should focus on the use of physical exercise and sport as a means to improve health, social inclusion, and sports performance.

Access to optimal healthcare is one of the most important rights for persons with disabilities. In this sense, regular exercise is crucial to improving and maintaining one's physical and mental health, as well as general well-being, since it also reduces excess weight.

Sports and physical activity are valuable in the context of social inclusion and integration due to the multiple and varied benefits they bring to people's health and well-being. They can promote active social inclusion by allowing groups of disabled people to fully interact with and relate to other social groups. Physical exercise, by means of physical education and sport, is valuable and inclusive for all people.

This Special Issue of the Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology presents articles related to the different fields of sports science, such as the use of accelerometry to quantify health parameters, recommendations and guidelines on physical activity, the development of comprehensive intervention models for reducing overweight and obesity, the use of physical activity monitoring systems, or knowledge related to adherence to physical activity programs for people with or without disabilities.

Dr. José M. Gamonales
Dr. Mário André da Cunha Espada
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. Journal of Functional Morphology and Kinesiology is an international peer-reviewed open access quarterly 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 1800 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

  • disabilities
  • education
  • health
  • inclusion
  • performance
  • physical activity
  • sport

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Related Special Issue

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

21 pages, 583 KiB  
Article
Gender Differences in the Relationship Between Fatigue, Different Types of Physical Activity, Postural Changes, and Sleep Quality in University Students—Part II Analyses from a Cross-Sectional Study
by Verner Marijančić, Silvije Šegulja, Mirela Vučković, Ivana Sović, Stanislav Peharec, Tanja Grubić Kezele and Gordana Starčević-Klasan
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(3), 307; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10030307 - 8 Aug 2025
Viewed by 439
Abstract
Background: Fatigue can be a useful tool to understand the effects of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior on musculoskeletal health in university students. Methods: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine gender differences in the relationships between fatigue and specific [...] Read more.
Background: Fatigue can be a useful tool to understand the effects of physical activity (PA) and sedentary behavior on musculoskeletal health in university students. Methods: The aim of this cross-sectional study was to examine gender differences in the relationships between fatigue and specific types and levels of PA, posture, sleep quality (SQ), and non-specific low back pain (NS-LBP) in young adult university students aged 18–25 years. A total of 180 students completed all required tests. Results: Female students had higher total fatigue as they generally engaged in more PA in contrast to male students, who had higher total fatigue when they engaged in less moderate and less vigorous PA. With increasing sedentary behavior, overall fatigue was pronounced in both sexes, although female students spent significantly more time sitting. Poorer SQ correlated with NS-LBP and higher levels of sleep-related fatigue in female students. Males with pronounced hypekyphosis and females with pronounced lordosis were more fatigued. In addition, fatigue was more pronounced in female students with a higher extensor/flexor ratio, suggesting that trunk extensors are more fatigued due to the need to maintain lumbar spine stability. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that the choice of PA should be gender-specific to prevent chronic musculoskeletal disorders and fatigue in young adult university students. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity for Optimal Health: 2nd Edition)
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15 pages, 470 KiB  
Article
Why Motor Competence Matters: Fundamental Movement Skills and Their Role in Promoting Physical Activity and Health in Czech Children Aged 9–10 Years
by Jakub Kokstejn, Miroslav Grobar, Jindrich Vampola and Martin Musalek
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(3), 258; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10030258 - 8 Jul 2025
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Abstract
Background: Motor competence (MC) plays a critical role in shaping children’s physical activity, health-related fitness, and weight status. However, few studies have explored these interrelationships during middle childhood. Objectives: The current study aimed to examine the relationships between MC and physical activity (PA), [...] Read more.
Background: Motor competence (MC) plays a critical role in shaping children’s physical activity, health-related fitness, and weight status. However, few studies have explored these interrelationships during middle childhood. Objectives: The current study aimed to examine the relationships between MC and physical activity (PA), health-related fitness (HRF), and weight status (WS) in children during middle childhood (9–10 years). Simultaneously, the study aimed to find possible differences in PA, HRF, and WS between children with different levels of MC. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, the TGMD-2 (MC), UNIFITTEST 6–60 (HRF), ActiGraph GT3X (PA), and anthropometry (WS) were administered to 86 children (59 boys, age range of 9–10 years and mean age of 10.1 ± 0.6 years). Results: A significant strong association was observed between MC and HRF (p < 0.01, Cramer‘s V = 0.42). Significant moderate associations were observed between MC and WS (p < 0.05, Cramer’s V = 0.34) and between MC and PA (p < 0.05, Cramer‘s V = 0.25). Children with high MC proficiency demonstrated significantly higher levels of HRF (p < 0.01; large ES) and PA (p < 0.05; moderate ES) and a healthier WS (p < 0.01; moderate ES) than those with low MC proficiency. Similarly, children with moderate MC proficiency outperformed children with low MC in terms of HRF and WS. Conclusions: The strong associations between MC and key health indicators such as PA, HRF, and WS suggest that movement proficiency in middle childhood should be viewed as a cornerstone of health promotion. Although no causal claims can be made, the results emphasize the practical importance of integrating targeted motor skill development—especially FMSs—into school-based physical education and extracurricular programs. Supporting MC at this age may be a decisive step toward fostering long-term engagement in physical activity and improving children’s overall health trajectories. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity for Optimal Health: 2nd Edition)
10 pages, 435 KiB  
Article
Analysis of the Effect of Training Driving on Electromyographic Parameters in Trained Karting Drivers: A Study of Fatigue and Its Relationship with Training Practice
by Aleksander Zarębski, Marcel Słomiński, Małgorzata Smoter and Rafał Studnicki
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(2), 190; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10020190 - 26 May 2025
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Abstract
Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate changes in forearm muscle activity associated with short-term go-kart driving (680 m) and its potential effect on muscle activation patterns. Methods: Eleven male karting league drivers (mean age: 23.18 ± 1.40 years; body mass: 83.27 [...] Read more.
Objectives: The present study aimed to investigate changes in forearm muscle activity associated with short-term go-kart driving (680 m) and its potential effect on muscle activation patterns. Methods: Eleven male karting league drivers (mean age: 23.18 ± 1.40 years; body mass: 83.27 ± 10.98 kg; height: 182.73 ± 5.66 cm) volunteered to participate. Electromyographic (EMG) activity was recorded from four muscles: extensor carpi radialis (ECR), extensor carpi ulnaris (ECU), flexor carpi radialis (FCR), and flexor carpi ulnaris (FCU). Baseline EMG was measured before the intervention, followed by two consecutive kart-driving sessions on a 680 m closed track. Post-exercise EMG data were then collected. A repeated-measures analysis of covariance (ANCOVA) was used to analyze the effects of time (pre vs. post) while controlling for cumulative race time as a covariate. Results: A significant time effect with cumulative time as a covariate was observed, particularly in the ECR and ECU muscles on both the left and right sides. Notable findings include increases in maximum and mean activity of the left and right ECR (e.g., ECR right max: F = 51.57; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.851) and ECU (e.g., ECU right max: F = 36.170; p < 0.001; η2 = 0.801). Additionally, a significant increase was found in the maximum activation of the left FCR (F = 11.019; p = 0.009; η2 = 0.550, which remained significant after controlling for total driving time. This heightened activation likely reflects an acute neuromuscular fatigue response to the demands of kart steering, rather than a long-term adaptation. Conclusions: The findings suggest that even short bouts of kart driving can induce measurable changes in neuromuscular activation of the forearm muscles, particularly in those involved in grip control and steering stability. This highlights the physical demands of karting and its potential impact on the upper limb muscle conditioning. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity for Optimal Health: 2nd Edition)
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11 pages, 560 KiB  
Article
Foam Roller Post-High-Intensity Training for CrossFit Athletes: Does It Really Help with Recovery?
by Fernando Zarzosa-Alonso, Alejandra Alonso-Calvete, Martín Otero-Agra, María Fernández-Méndez, Felipe Fernández-Méndez, Francisco Martín-Rodríguez, Roberto Barcala-Furelos and Myriam Santos-Folgar
J. Funct. Morphol. Kinesiol. 2025, 10(1), 91; https://doi.org/10.3390/jfmk10010091 - 11 Mar 2025
Viewed by 1518
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Foam rolling is a new and emergent recovery tool in sports. The aim of this study seeks to compare the acute effects of foam rolling and passive rest on recovery markers in CrossFit athletes following a high-intensity workout. Methods: A [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Foam rolling is a new and emergent recovery tool in sports. The aim of this study seeks to compare the acute effects of foam rolling and passive rest on recovery markers in CrossFit athletes following a high-intensity workout. Methods: A quasi-experimental crossover study design was completed with 14 amateur CrossFit athletes. Participants completed the FRAN CrossFit WOD and then completed a recovery protocol including either a foam roller or passive rest. Heart rate, blood lactate, and perceived exertion were collected at three time points (pre-workout, post-WOD, and post-recovery). Results: The foam rolling group had no significant differences from the passive rest group on recovery markers. Blood lactate increased significantly post-WOD in both groups, yet there was no significant difference in blood lactate post-recovery. Perceived exertion and heart rate had a similar pattern to blood lactate. Conclusions: High-intensity training causes significant physiological changes; however, foam rolling offers no additional benefit over passive rest for lactate clearance, heart rate recovery, and perceived exertion. CrossFit athletes can choose their preferred method of recovery based on personal preference, as foam rolling neither enhances nor hinders recovery. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Physical Activity for Optimal Health: 2nd Edition)
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