Adapted Physical Activity in Sport, Wellness and Fitness: new challenges for prevention and Health promotion.

Physical activity is a priority for the prevention and a valuable opportunity for health promotion. The effectiveness of the movement is tested on a scientific basis, not only for the indirect action to combat the risk factor sedentary lifestyle, but also for the active action on metabolism, with important epidemiological implications in terms of protecting and promoting health. The integration of movement within wider projects of health education appears the fundamental strategy to spread healthy lifestyles and prevent multifactorial diseases. In a global and local perspective, in fact, there is now in the international scientific community and in health care institutions awareness that programs to combat the sedentary lifestyle and promoting physical activity are the fundamental tool for effective action on chronic diseases, the main cause of death worldwide. Recent studies now show that the overall risk to health produced by physical inactivity has passed the risk from tobacco smoke. It is estimated that physical inactivity is responsible for 30% of ischemic heart disease, 27% had diabetes, 21-25% of cancers of the colon and breast. In light of new epidemiological sceneries, exercise is now of Hygiene, Preventive Medicine, and public health tool for extraordinary and innovative prevention of multifactorial diseases, as in the past were immunoprophylaxis for infectious diseases or screening for cancers. Moreover, it was shown that the activity adapted motor is also effective for secondary prevention, as well as in the recovery of health and autonomy in the frail elderly, improving the quality of life in chronic situations of disability. In an international well-established, several programs they have been developed for the application of Preventive and Adapted Motor Activities in public health interventions. The novelty of the subject requires an updated training to support in an appropriate and creative implementation of integrated interventions.