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Benefits of Physical Activity and Exercise to Human Health: 2nd...
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Benefits of Physical Activity and Exercise to Human Health: 2nd Edition

A special issue of Sports (ISSN 2075-4663).

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 March 2027 | Viewed by 8161

Editors

Dr. Ricardo Manuel Pires Ferraz

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Guest Editor
Research Center in Sports, Health Sciences and Human Development, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
Interests: exercise science; sports science; exercise performance; strength and conditioning; exercise testing; exercise intervention; physical education; football; motor skills; volleyball; psycophysiology
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Henrique P. Neiva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Center in Sports, Health Sciences and Human Development, University of Beira Interior, 6201-001 Covilhã, Portugal
Interests: strength and conditioning; sports medicine; exercise evaluation; performance; physiology; biomechanics
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Fernanda M. Silva

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Research Unit for Sport and Physical Activity (CIDAF), Faculty of Sport Sciences and Physical Education, University of Coimbra, Coimbra, Portugal
Interests: sedentary behavior; exercise; metabolic health; disease prevention; respiratory health
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Prof. Dr. Pedro Alexandre Duarte-Mendes

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Sport & Well Being, Polytechnic University of Castelo Branco, 6000-084 Castelo Branco, Portugal
Interests: exercise science; sports and health sciences; physical activity; sedentary behaviour; motor imagery
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues, 

Recent estimates point to a high prevalence of physical inactivity and sedentary behavior in modern societies. Physical inactivity is one of the leading risk factors for chronic non-communicable diseases (i.e., diabetes mellitus, cardiovascular disease and some cancers) and all-cause mortality worldwide. From a public health perspective, it becomes urgent to develop new strategies and therapeutic approaches for preventing or managing these deleterious health outcomes. 

Alternately, physical activity and exercise provide multiple health benefits, reducing the risk of all-cause mortality. The updated WHO 2020 guidelines on physical activity and sedentary behavior encourage the different population groups to undertake aerobic and muscle-strengthening activities and limit the time spent sedentary for optimal health outcomes. Nonetheless, more research is needed to better understand the factors underlying regular physical activity/exercise, as well as effective strategies to increase adherence and maintenance. 

This Special Issue is dedicated to studies that investigate how physical activity and exercise interventions contribute to human health and well-being across all age groups. The topic of interest includes, but is not limited to, the following:

- Determinants of physical activity and exercise adherence: barriers and facilitators;

- Strategies to improve physical activity levels and exercise adherence;

- Physical activity and exercise in disease prevention and management;

- Physical activity and exercise on physical and mental health. 

We are particularly interested in experimental and observational studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and study protocols.

Dr. Ricardo Manuel Pires Ferraz
Prof. Dr. Henrique P. Neiva
Dr. Fernanda M. Silva
Dr. Pedro Alexandre Duarte-Mendes
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 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. Sports 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 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

  • movement behaviors
  • physical activity
  • public health
  • health promotion
  • disease

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Published Papers (6 papers)

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Research

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14 pages, 1474 KB  
Article
Physical Activity, Cardiometabolic Health, and Functional Performance Across the Adult Lifespan: An Age-Stratified Real-World Primary Care Study
by Peter Marián Kalanin
Sports 2026, 14(7), 307; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports14070307 - 20 Jul 2026
Viewed by 739
Abstract
Background: Cardiometabolic risk and physical function are both strongly influenced by physical activity (PA) across the adult lifespan, yet it remains unclear whether this association is uniform across different stages of adulthood in everyday primary care settings, particularly among the oldest patients. [...] Read more.
Background: Cardiometabolic risk and physical function are both strongly influenced by physical activity (PA) across the adult lifespan, yet it remains unclear whether this association is uniform across different stages of adulthood in everyday primary care settings, particularly among the oldest patients. Objective: Using a real-world primary care cohort stratified into four adult lifespan groups, we investigated how self-reported PA category was linked to LDL-C concentration and Timed Up and Go (TUG) performance, and formally tested whether these associations differed by age group. Methods: This cross-sectional analysis included 863 adult primary care patients, divided into four clinically meaningful lifespan groups: young adults (18–39 years, n = 277), middle-aged adults (40–59 years, n = 284), younger older adults (60–74 years, n = 166), and older-old adults (≥75 years, n = 136); PA was classified as low, moderate, or high per WHO recommendations. The primary outcomes were LDL-C and TUG. Between-group differences were evaluated with one-way ANOVA (Bonferroni-corrected post hoc tests) and age-specific multivariable linear regression adjusted for BMI, sex, arterial hypertension (AH), and diabetes mellitus (DM); a pooled PA × age-group interaction term formally tested for effect modification by age. Results: Baseline BMI, LDL-C, TUG, sex distribution, AH prevalence, and PA distribution were similar across the four groups, whereas DM prevalence differed modestly (p = 0.033). In every age group, higher PA categories were linked to significantly lower LDL-C (all p ≤ 0.006) and significantly better TUG times (all p < 0.001); PA was the only independent predictor shared by both outcomes across all groups in multivariable models (all p < 0.01). The standardized effect of PA on TUG was greatest among older-old adults (≥75 years: β = −1.609, 95% CI: −2.114 to −1.104, R2 = 0.260). Neither the PA–LDL-C nor the PA–TUG interaction with age group reached statistical significance (p = 0.571 and p = 0.349, respectively). Conclusions: Associations between PA and both cardiometabolic and functional performance outcomes were present across all four adult lifespan groups, including adults aged ≥75 years, with no statistically significant age modification detected in this sample. Given the exploratory nature of the interaction analysis and the limited size of the oldest-old subgroup, these results should be regarded as hypothesis-generating rather than conclusive evidence of age-invariance. The pattern seen among older-old adults (≥75 years) reinforces the clinical value of routine PA assessment for evaluating functional health in advanced age. Taken together, these results point to PA assessment as a candidate age-independent component of cardiometabolic and functional health evaluation across the adult lifespan in primary care, a possibility that larger, adequately powered samples should confirm. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Benefits of Physical Activity and Exercise to Human Health: 2nd Edition)
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13 pages, 368 KB  
Article
Physical Activity, Metabolic Risk and the Primary Allostatic Load Mediators: An Explorative Study
by Francis Osei, Pia-Maria Wippert and Andrea Block
Sports 2026, 14(3), 107; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports14030107 - 9 Mar 2026
Viewed by 1910
Abstract
Background: Chronic stress is associated with dysregulation of the body’s allostatic systems, contributing to increased allostatic load (AL) and adverse metabolic outcomes. Regular physical activity (PA) is considered a key protective factor that may attenuate AL by enhancing adaptive stress responses and supporting [...] Read more.
Background: Chronic stress is associated with dysregulation of the body’s allostatic systems, contributing to increased allostatic load (AL) and adverse metabolic outcomes. Regular physical activity (PA) is considered a key protective factor that may attenuate AL by enhancing adaptive stress responses and supporting metabolic health. This study examined the differences between PA, primary mediators of AL, and metabolic risk markers in apparently healthy adults in Germany. Methods: Forty-six adults (18–45 years) were categorized into a moderate intensity (regular PA: ≥150 min a week vs. non-regular PA: ≤150 min a week) group according to current PA recommendations. Primary AL mediators were quantified by cortisol (μg/12 h), epinephrine (μg/12 h), norepinephrine (μg/12 h), and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S: μg/mL). Group differences in primary AL mediators and metabolic risk markers were examined using the Mann–Whitney U test. Results: A significant group difference was observed for cortisol levels, with higher values in the regular PA group (p = 0.01), with a moderate negative effect size of r = −0.38. No statistically significant differences (p > 0.05) were found between groups for epinephrine, norepinephrine, DHEA-S, or metabolic risk markers, including triglycerides, blood pressure, body mass index (BMI), and high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C). Conclusions: The findings suggest that regular PA may be associated with altered stress-regulatory activity, as reflected by differences in cortisol. While no statistically significant group differences were observed for metabolic risk markers, descriptive patterns indicate more favorable lipid profiles and potential variation in primary AL mediators at higher PA levels. Given the exploratory nature of the analyses and the small and unequal group sizes, these findings should be interpreted with caution and warrant confirmation in future studies with larger and more balanced samples. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Benefits of Physical Activity and Exercise to Human Health: 2nd Edition)
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18 pages, 1242 KB  
Article
Hierarchical Analysis of Physical Activity Determinants in Brazilian Adolescents: A Cross-Sectional Study
by Arley Santos Leão, Roberto Jerônimo dos Santos Silva, Naiara Ribeiro Almeida, Cinthya Luiza Rezende Oliveira, Diego Ignacio Valenzuela Pérez, Esteban Aedo-Muñoz, Ciro José Brito, Júlio Manuel Cardoso Martins and Aldo Matos da Costa
Sports 2026, 14(1), 31; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports14010031 - 8 Jan 2026
Viewed by 1188
Abstract
Background: Physical inactivity during adolescence remains a major public health concern, yet its multifactorial determinants are not fully understood in low- and middle-income settings. Objective: To identify and quantify the determinants of physical activity (PA) among Brazilian adolescents using a hierarchical logistic regression [...] Read more.
Background: Physical inactivity during adolescence remains a major public health concern, yet its multifactorial determinants are not fully understood in low- and middle-income settings. Objective: To identify and quantify the determinants of physical activity (PA) among Brazilian adolescents using a hierarchical logistic regression model that reflects the theoretical ordering of distal to proximal factors. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted with 856 adolescents (13–19 years). Data were obtained from the validated Brazilian Youth Risk Behavior Survey and the Brazilian Economic Classification Criteria (ABEP) socioeconomic questionnaire. PA was dichotomized according to World Health Organization recommendations. Hierarchical logistic regression examined five theoretical blocks: sociodemographic, anthropometric, substance use, weight/diet, and sedentary behavior. Results: Overall, 5 out of 17 predictors were significant in the full model. extended Body mass index (eBMI) was negatively associated with physical activity (OR = 0.331, 95% CI: 0.169–0.647, p = 0.001), while body mass was positively associated (OR = 2.078, 95% CI: 1.045–4.135, p = 0.037). Working status (OR = 1.235, 95% CI: 1.035–1.475, p = 0.019) and weight loss attempts (OR = 1.327, 95% CI: 1.042–1.690, p = 0.022) increased the odds of being active, whereas current smoking reduced it (OR = 0.715, 95% CI: 0.517–0.990, p = 0.043). Model discrimination improved progressively (AUC = 0.577 to 0.692). Conclusions: Physical activity among Brazilian adolescents was primarily influenced by behavioral and perceptual rather than demographic factors. These findings highlight the need for integrated interventions promoting muscle development, body positivity, and smoking prevention. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Benefits of Physical Activity and Exercise to Human Health: 2nd Edition)
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Review

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30 pages, 854 KB  
Review
From Exercise Dose to Exercise Architecture: Lifestyle-Congruent Exercise Models for Contemporary Adults
by Mario Muñoz-López, Edgar Simón Sancho-Haro, Aitor Zabaleta-Korta, Alexandra Martín Rodríguez, José Francisco López-Gil, José Francisco Tornero-Aguilera and Rodrigo Yánez-Sepúlveda
Sports 2026, 14(7), 304; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports14070304 - 17 Jul 2026
Viewed by 632
Abstract
Background: Contemporary adults face fragmented schedules, sedentary digital work, cognitive load, logistical barriers, and unstable routines that can make conventional session-based exercise difficult to sustain. Exercise snacks, vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA), movement breaks, low-volume high-intensity interval training (HIIT), workplace exercise, and [...] Read more.
Background: Contemporary adults face fragmented schedules, sedentary digital work, cognitive load, logistical barriers, and unstable routines that can make conventional session-based exercise difficult to sustain. Exercise snacks, vigorous intermittent lifestyle physical activity (VILPA), movement breaks, low-volume high-intensity interval training (HIIT), workplace exercise, and digitally mediated physical activity may reflect a broader redesign of exercise for real-world lifestyles. Objective: To develop a conceptual framework for lifestyle-congruent exercise models: approaches that intentionally modify dose, timing, setting, delivery, autonomy, or routine integration to reduce lifestyle-related friction while preserving a plausible physiological or behavioral stimulus. Methods: This evidence-based narrative review purposively identified sources through targeted searches, citation tracking, and manual verification across exercise science, sedentary behavior, workplace health, behavioral medicine, and digital health. Sources were selected for conceptual relevance, model-family representation, evidence-type diversity, and contribution to framework development, and then charted by model family, population, context, exercise architecture, delivery, outcomes, and implementation features. No systematic protocol, formal risk-of-bias assessment, or certainty grading were applied. Results: Thirty-one sources informed the framework. Five design logics were identified: dose compression, temporal distribution, routine embedding, sedentary substitution, and delivery mediation. These logics show that brief or time-efficient models are not interchangeable; they differ in intentionality, context, behavioral demand, safety considerations, implementation logic, and dominant friction addressed. Conclusions: Lifestyle-congruent exercise models are complementary strategies, not replacements for structured aerobic and muscle-strengthening exercise. Their value lies in matching exercise architecture to lifestyle-related friction while supporting progression toward guideline-consistent activity. Future research should test safety, equity, scalability, and long-term maintenance across diverse populations. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Benefits of Physical Activity and Exercise to Human Health: 2nd Edition)
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20 pages, 3500 KB  
Review
Mapping Scientific Research on High-Intensity Interval Training (HIIT) in Overweight Populations (2011–2024)
by Juan David Paucar-Uribe, Andrés Julián Rendón-Sanchéz, Mauricio Vladimir Peña-Giraldo, Kevin Ricardo Forero González, Anyi Tatiana Sanabria Moreno, Boryi A. Becerra-Patiño, Laura del Pilar Prieto Mondragon, Jorge Olivares-Arancibia, Rodrigo Yáñez-Sepúlveda and José Francisco López-Gil
Sports 2026, 14(1), 38; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports14010038 - 14 Jan 2026
Viewed by 2078
Abstract
Background: Several studies have investigated the importance of physical exercise (PE) in overweight and obese populations; however, to date, no bibliometric study has analyzed research trends in high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in overweight and obese populations across the entire life course. Objective [...] Read more.
Background: Several studies have investigated the importance of physical exercise (PE) in overweight and obese populations; however, to date, no bibliometric study has analyzed research trends in high-intensity interval training (HIIT) in overweight and obese populations across the entire life course. Objective: To analyze the scientific output of HIIT trends in overweight and obese populations. Method: Theoretical study using bibliometrics as a research technique. A total of 282 studies were identified in the Web of Science and PubMed databases for analysis with VOSViewer software 1.6.20. The equation used was (“High-intensity interval training” OR HIIT) AND (overweight OR obesity OR “risk factors” OR “obesity risk”). Results: The year 2022 was the most productive year (n = 46). Most of the documents are research articles (81%), followed by review articles (15%). Most studies do not specify the characteristics of the sample, only mentioning the application of a HIIT program in overweight or obese individuals in (65.6%) of the total articles found. There is low scientific output in research focused on women (23.4%). The most frequently occurring words were “exercise” (n = 145), “obesity” (n = 131), “high-intensity interval training” (n = 81), “overweight” (n = 78), “physical activity” (n = 73), “body composition” (n = 46), “weight loss” (n = 45), “health” (n = 42), and “cardiorespiratory fitness” (n = 40). Conclusions: Scientific research has advanced the understanding of the impact of HIIT in relation to excess weight, with total fat reduction being one of the most frequently reported variables and no differences observed between sexes. HIIT has shown benefits in populations with overweight and obesity when compared with low-intensity training programs. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Benefits of Physical Activity and Exercise to Human Health: 2nd Edition)
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Other

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11 pages, 766 KB  
Brief Report
Physical Activity During Official Match Play in Female Masters Basketball Players: An Accelerometry-Based Study
by Dimitrios Balampanos, Dimitrios Pantazis, Christos Kokkotis, Alexandra Avloniti, Theodoros Stampoulis, Panagiotis Aggelakis, Efstratios Nedeltsos, Georgios Kaltsos, Maria Protopapa, Nikolaos-Orestis Retzepis, Panagiotis Foteinakis, Nikolaos Zaras, Maria Michalopoulou and Athanasios Chatzinikolaou
Sports 2026, 14(6), 230; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports14060230 - 5 Jun 2026
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 565
Abstract
Background/Objectives: Insufficient physical activity remains a major public health concern among adult women, highlighting the need to identify structured activity contexts that can contribute meaningfully to recommended weekly physical activity levels. Official masters basketball may represent one such context; however, the amount of [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Insufficient physical activity remains a major public health concern among adult women, highlighting the need to identify structured activity contexts that can contribute meaningfully to recommended weekly physical activity levels. Official masters basketball may represent one such context; however, the amount of physical activity accumulated during female masters basketball match play remains insufficiently quantified. This study quantified the physical activity profile of official tournament match play among female masters basketball athletes and described the associated external physical demands. Methods: This observational study included 52 female master basketball athletes aged 37–63 years who competed in a three-day national masters tournament. Match demands were monitored using tri-axial microsensors. Physical activity was classified from processed raw tri-axial acceleration data into intensity zones, and differences in time spent across zones were examined using one-way repeated-measures ANOVA. External load during active play was quantified using total distance, distance across speed zones, accumulated acceleration load (AAL), mechanical load (ML), jump load (JL), and Physio Load. Results: Significant differences were observed across physical-activity intensity zones, with more time accumulated in light physical activity (LPA) and vigorous physical activity (VPA) than in moderate physical activity (MPA), whereas MPA accounted for the least time overall [F (1.98, 101.16) = 47.57, p < 0.001, ηp2 = 0.48]. Descriptively, moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) amounted to 42.78 min, calculated as the sum of MPA (9.41 ± 3.82 min) and VPA (33.37 ± 14.49 min). During active play, athletes covered 59.19 ± 17.26 m·min−1, with most distance accumulated in the low- and medium-speed zones and limited very-high-speed running; AAL, ML, and JL averaged 8.32 ± 2.31 AU·min−1, 22.35 ± 5.53 AU·min−1, and 31.26 ± 28.35 J·min−1, respectively. Conclusions: Official female masters basketball appears to provide a meaningful intermittent physical-activity stimulus within a single monitored match exposure and may contribute substantially to weekly aerobic physical-activity accumulation in adult women. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Benefits of Physical Activity and Exercise to Human Health: 2nd Edition)
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