Theoretical Foundations, Practical Modalities, and Pathways for Advancement in Exercise for Health Promotion

As an emerging model of the integration of sports and medicine for health promotion, exercise for health promotion is currently transitioning from “concept advocacy” toward “real-world implementation” and “value creation”. There is an urgent need to deepen theoretical inquiry into exercise for health promotion and to advance practical innovation. This study systematically examines the theoretical foundations of exercise for health promotion, encompassing its basic concepts, essential characteristics, value functions, intervention approaches, and core mechanisms. It first proposes that sports health management, sports-based chronic disease treatment, and sports-based chronic disease rehabilitation treatment constitute the practical modalities of exercise for health promotion. It delineates five interconnected pathways for advancing exercise for health promotion: the formulation of public policies, the creation of supportive environments, the cultivation of individual skills, the organization of collective actions, and the innovation of technical services, all situated within the exercise for health domain. This study represents a forward-looking, holistic, and innovative exploration toward the theoretical construction and practical innovation of exercise for health promotion in China.