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The Role of Sports and Exercise in Disease Prevention, Health...
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The Role of Sports and Exercise in Disease Prevention, Health Promotion, and Injury Rehabilitation

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

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 31 January 2027 | Viewed by 3035

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Víctor Hernández-Beltrán

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Training Optimization and Sports Performance Research Group (GOERD), Faculty of Sport Science, University of Extremadura, 10001 Caceres, Spain
Interests: education; primary education; special education; new methodologies; transformation; inclusive education; physical education
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

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Physical activity and structured exercise are pivotal in preventing chronic diseases, enhancing overall health, and facilitating rehabilitation. This Special Issue aims to explore the multifaceted impacts of sports and exercise on human health, focusing on their roles in disease prevention, health promotion, and injury rehabilitation. We welcome original research, reviews, and case studies that delve into the physiological, psychological, and biomechanical aspects of physical activity and its applications in clinical and public health settings.

Topics of interest include, but are not limited to, the following:

  • The impact of regular physical activity on chronic disease prevention (e.g., cardiovascular diseases, diabetes, obesity);
  • Exercise interventions for mental health improvement (e.g., depression, anxiety);
  • Rehabilitation protocols involving sports and exercise for injury recovery;
  • Biomechanical analyses related to injury prevention in athletic populations;
  • The role of exercise in enhancing immune function and reducing inflammation;
  • Community-based physical activity programmes and their effectiveness in health promotion;
  • Innovative technologies and methodologies in exercise prescription and monitoring​.

This Special Issue seeks to bridge the gap between research and practice, providing insights that can inform policy, clinical guidelines, and individual practices aimed at leveraging sports and exercise for better health outcomes.

Dr. Víctor Hernández-Beltrán
Dr. José M. Gamonales
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-blind 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

  • exercise intervention
  • chronic disease prevention
  • physical activity
  • health promotion
  • injury rehabilitation
  • sports medicine
  • biomechanics
  • mental health
  • exercise physiology
  • immune response

Benefits of Publishing in a Special Issue

  • Ease of navigation: Grouping papers by topic helps scholars navigate broad scope journals more efficiently.
  • Greater discoverability: Special Issues support the reach and impact of scientific research. Articles in Special Issues are more discoverable and cited more frequently.
  • Expansion of research network: Special Issues facilitate connections among authors, fostering scientific collaborations.
  • External promotion: Articles in Special Issues are often promoted through the journal's social media, increasing their visibility.
  • Reprint: MDPI Books provides the opportunity to republish successful Special Issues in book format, both online and in print.

Further information on MDPI's Special Issue policies can be found here.

Published Papers (3 papers)

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Research

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11 pages, 234 KB  
Article
Sports and Exercise by Gender and Odds Ratios of Obesity in Children
by Bernadett Wágner, Petra Halmi and Martina Uvacsek
Sports 2026, 14(4), 159; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports14040159 - 17 Apr 2026
Viewed by 624
Abstract
This study aimed to collect survey data on physical activity and organized sport participation among children across different weight categories. Using online data collection, 906 parents provided information about 1002 children (age = 10.9 ± 2.5 years, body height = 150.2 ± 16.4 [...] Read more.
This study aimed to collect survey data on physical activity and organized sport participation among children across different weight categories. Using online data collection, 906 parents provided information about 1002 children (age = 10.9 ± 2.5 years, body height = 150.2 ± 16.4 cm, and body mass = 42.4 ± 15.8 kg). Most children (79%) achieved the recommended 60 min. of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) per day; 50% participated in club sports; and 41% took part in organized sports. Most of them (69%) were in the healthy weight category, 7% were underweight, and 22% of the children were overweight or obese. Participation in sports activities among overweight and obese children was nearly as high as among their peers. Achieving 60 min. of MVPA/day was associated with significantly lower odds (OR = 0.51 CI: 0.30–0.85; p < 0.01) of childhood obesity in the total sample. Football was the most popular club and organized sport among boys, while dancing was most preferred among girls. The preferred sports were generally well-suited to the respective weight categories. The relatively high levels of physical activity observed may be explained by daily physical education (PE) classes in schools and governmental support for sports. Our findings suggest that further research is needed to support effective obesity prevention, particularly those examining dietary habits and other lifestyle factors. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Sports and Exercise in Disease Prevention, Health Promotion, and Injury Rehabilitation)
16 pages, 739 KB  
Article
Psychosocial and Body Image Variations in Professional Dancers: A Prospective Longitudinal Observational Study
by Marina Creazzo Maruschi, Gabriel de Souza Zanini, Pedro Luiz Santorsula de Paula Oliveira, Deivide Telles de Lima, Evandro Antônio Correa, Carlos Eduardo Lopes Verardi, Cátia Caldeira Ferreira, Víctor Hernández-Beltrán, José M. Gamonales, Mário Cunha Espada and Dalton Muller Pessoa Filho
Sports 2026, 14(3), 99; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports14030099 - 3 Mar 2026
Viewed by 996
Abstract
Introduction: Psychosocial functioning and body image are key dimensions of mental well-being and performance. Among professional dancers, competitive environments, aesthetic demands, and physical–emotional overload contribute to increased anxiety, stress, and mood disturbances, potentially impairing performance and heightening injury risk. Objective: To investigate longitudinal [...] Read more.
Introduction: Psychosocial functioning and body image are key dimensions of mental well-being and performance. Among professional dancers, competitive environments, aesthetic demands, and physical–emotional overload contribute to increased anxiety, stress, and mood disturbances, potentially impairing performance and heightening injury risk. Objective: To investigate longitudinal variations in psychosocial and emotional indicators among professional dancers throughout a season of rehearsals and performances. Methods: Thirteen dancers (9 women and 4 men) from a professional company were assessed across eight time points using the Brunel Mood Scale (BRUMS), State–Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI-State), Recovery–Stress Questionnaire for Athletes (REST-Q 76 Sport), and Body Shape Questionnaire (BSQ). Data was analyzed using repeated-measures ANOVA with Bonferroni post hoc tests (p < 0.05). Results: Negative mood dimensions progressively increased (p < 0.01; η2p = 0.46, large), while vigor decreased (p = 0.03; η2p = 0.29, medium), indicating an inversion of the typical “iceberg” profile. Overall stress levels increased (p = 0.02; g = 0.53, power = 0.81) and perceived recovery declined (p = 0.04; g = 0.41, power = 0.78). State anxiety rose consistently (p < 0.01; η2p = 0.42), and body dissatisfaction, assessed via the BSQ, increased from “no concern” to “high concern” classifications (p = 0.03; g = 0.59, power = 0.84). Conclusions: Overall, the findings indicating a longitudinal pattern of increased psychometric strain indicators, inferred exclusively from psychometric trends, and conceptually consistent with a possible imbalance between perceived demands and perceived recovery, rather than reflecting objectively measured workload or recovery processes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Sports and Exercise in Disease Prevention, Health Promotion, and Injury Rehabilitation)
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Review

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13 pages, 212 KB  
Review
Outdoor Physical Activity and Youth Mental Well-Being: A Narrative Review with Mountain Biking as an Illustrative Case
by Katherine Mommaerts, Ruby Johnson, Sydney Joy Varner and Nathalia Marchese
Sports 2026, 14(5), 166; https://doi.org/10.3390/sports14050166 - 22 Apr 2026
Viewed by 571
Abstract
This narrative review synthesizes existing literature on outdoor physical activity and youth well-being, with mountain biking considered as an illustrative example of a high-engagement, nature-based activity. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple academic databases, including Academic Search Complete, MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, [...] Read more.
This narrative review synthesizes existing literature on outdoor physical activity and youth well-being, with mountain biking considered as an illustrative example of a high-engagement, nature-based activity. A comprehensive literature search was conducted across multiple academic databases, including Academic Search Complete, MEDLINE, APA PsycINFO, CINAHL Plus, SocINDEX, ERIC, and additional hand searches in Google Scholar and Web of Science. Seventeen studies met the inclusion criteria and were analyzed using an iterative thematic approach. Three primary themes emerged: resilience, mood and emotional well-being, and social connectedness. Across studies, outdoor physical activity was associated with improvements in self-efficacy, stress reduction, and peer relationships. However, most studies examined outdoor activity broadly, with limited evidence specific to mountain biking. While prior literature suggests that biological and psychosocial processes (e.g., engagement with nature, social interaction, and perceived competence) may underlie these associations, these mechanisms were not directly tested in most included studies. Findings should therefore be interpreted as indicative of associations rather than causal effects. Overall, outdoor physical activity represents a promising, accessible approach for supporting youth well-being. Future research should further examine activity-specific impacts, including mountain biking, and prioritize longitudinal and experimental designs to better understand mechanisms and long-term outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue The Role of Sports and Exercise in Disease Prevention, Health Promotion, and Injury Rehabilitation)
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