The role of physical exercise across chronic diseases continuum Prevention Management and Survivorship From lifestyle and non lifestyle related chronic condition to the case of exercise oncology

Starting with the Piedmont Regional Law No. 22 of December 15, 2022, which aimed to establish the “Palestre Salute”, settings where individuals affected by chronic diseases can engage in adapted physical exercise under the guidance of trainers holding a Master's Degree in Adapted Physical Activity aiming to break the vicious cycle between physical inactivity, increased risk of chronic disease, and the resulting escalation in both disease severity and the likelihood of developing comorbidities. In this PhD thesis, we embarked on a journey aimed at analyzing the diverse roles that physical activity and exercise can play across different stages of the chronic disease continuum, with the final chapter dedicated specifically to cancer and the exercise oncology field. For each chapter, following an initial theoretical introduction, the various research projects I worked on during my PhD will be used to exemplify what was discussed in the preceding literature analysis. Based on the findings of this thesis, we can assert that physical activity and exercise play a pivotal role in both the prevention and management of various chronic diseases. Thus, the importance of implementing complementary strategies, such as initiatives aimed at increasing non-structured physical activity alongside structured exercise programs, must be seriously considered as a step toward creating a more sustainable national healthcare model.