Physical activity and salutogenesis: a necessary dialogue

This essay aims to broaden the dialogue between physical activity (PA) and health by a salutogenesis-oriented concept, which emphasizes the origins of health, as opposed to the pathogenic model, which focuses on the origin of diseases. It presents the foundations of the theory, created by Aaron Antonovsky, whose health promotion model is centered on the sense of coherence (SOC), which consists of significance, comprehensibility, and manageability. Then, it explores the relationships between PA and salutogenesis, demonstrating how this framework can be applied in various life stages and practice settings. Studies indicate that people with a strengthened SOC will likely remain physically active. However, this relationship is not instrumental and depends on contextual, cognitive, and affective factors. This essay concludes by advocating for further research in Brazil and highlighting salutogenesis as a promising perspective to guide a new understanding of PA and health.