Physiological, Pathological, and Clinical Effects of Exercise Training and Physical Activity

A special issue of Life (ISSN 2075-1729). This special issue belongs to the section "Physiology and Pathology".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 May 2026 | Viewed by 348

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. College of Nursing, National Defense Medical University, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
2. Graduated Institute of Medical Sciences, National Defense Medical University, Taipei 11490, Taiwan
Interests: rehabilitation; nursing; exercise; chronic disease management

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Exercise is a potent physiological stimulus capable of modulating multiple biological systems. In individuals with chronic diseases or those exposed to occupational stress, such as military personnel, patients with multimorbidity, or shift workers, understanding the molecular, cellular, and systemic adaptations to exercise is essential for advancing personalized health strategies.

This Special Issue will explore the multifaceted role of exercise training and physical activity across physiological regulation, pathological mechanisms, and clinical interventions. Given the growing global interest in lifestyle-based health promotion and disease management, this Special Issue welcomes high-quality original research, reviews, and case studies that investigate the biological foundations and therapeutic potential of physical activity in both healthy and diseased populations.

We are particularly interested in studies that achieve the following:

  • Advance understanding of how exercise influences molecular, cellular, and systemic functions;
  • Examine the role of physical activity in preventing and managing chronic diseases;
  • Assess the clinical outcomes of structured or individualized exercise programs.

We welcome contributions in the following areas:

  • Mechanistic insights into exercise-induced physiological adaptations;
  • Effects of physical activity on metabolic, cardiovascular, neurological, or musculoskeletal health;
  • Exercise interventions in aging, obesity, diabetes, cancer, stroke, or pulmonary diseases;
  • Randomized controlled trials evaluating clinical efficacy of training programs;
  • Personalized or precision exercise prescriptions.

We encourage interdisciplinary research that integrates perspectives from medicine, sports science, and physiology.

We look forward to receiving your scientific contributions and participating in a productive exchange that advances the fields of translational exercise biology and personalized medicine.

Dr. Chia-Huei Lin
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • exercise training
  • physical activity
  • individualized exercise prescription
  • physiological adaptation
  • chronic disease prevention
  • cardiovascular fitness
  • musculoskeletal health
  • neuroplasticity
  • metabolic syndrome
  • inflammation and immunity
  • stroke recovery
  • physical activity monitoring
  • mental health and exercise
  • cognitive function
  • aging and physical activity
  • sedentary behavior
  • physical function outcomes
  • patient-reported outcomes
  • clinical trial

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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25 pages, 1537 KB  
Systematic Review
Inter-Individual Heterogeneity in Aerobic Training Adaptations: Systematic Review of the Evidence Base for Personalized Exercise Prescription
by Haili Xiao and Jianchang Ren
Life 2025, 15(12), 1932; https://doi.org/10.3390/life15121932 - 17 Dec 2025
Viewed by 141
Abstract
Personalized exercise prescriptions require identifying inter-individual differences in exercise intervention effects. This review examined whether true inter-individual differences exist after accounting for measurement error. PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases were systematically searched. Inclusion criteria included: (1) original randomized controlled trials or [...] Read more.
Personalized exercise prescriptions require identifying inter-individual differences in exercise intervention effects. This review examined whether true inter-individual differences exist after accounting for measurement error. PubMed, Web of Science, and EMBASE databases were systematically searched. Inclusion criteria included: (1) original randomized controlled trials or controlled trials using standardized, supervised aerobic exercise interventions, or meta-analyses examining inter-individual differences in aerobic training adaptations; (2) explicitly identifying the assessment of inter-individual response variability as a research objective; (3) Reporting sufficient statistical information to quantify inter-individual variability. The search yielded a total of 3203 studies, and ultimately 78 studies were included for systematic review. Main findings included: (1) Few studies appropriately considered random measurement error and within-individual variability when quantifying inter-individual differences. (2) Analysis of both primary studies and existing meta-analyses revealed a consistent lack of statistical evidence for true inter-individual differences. (3) Observed inter-individual variability was primarily attributed to uncontrolled measurement error or within-individual variability, not true individual response differences. The evidence analyzed in this systematic review indicates that there is insufficient support for true inter-individual differences in the effects of aerobic exercise training intervention. Given physiological complexity and methodological limitations, any conclusions on exercise intervention heterogeneity or individual responsiveness require caution. Full article
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