Journal of Exercise & Organ Cross Talk

Abstract Rapid industrial expansion in Sirjan has reshaped occupational routines in ways that constrain daily movement and heighten metabolic vulnerability. While the health benefits of physical activity are well established, this narrative review advances the argument that the more fundamental deficit in such environments is the erosion of movement literacy—the cognitive, physiological, and behavioral capacity to understand, interpret, and intentionally engage in health sustaining physical activity. Drawing on evidence from exercise physiology, metabolic science, and occupational health, we conceptualize movement literacy as a multidimensional construct comprising awareness of exercise induced mechanisms, interpretation of bodily cues, and the ability to apply this knowledge to everyday behavior. Using the Gol Gohar industrial community as an illustrative case, we describe how limited literacy in these domains contributes to sedentary patterns among workers and outline how the Gol Gohar Sports Club operationalizes a literacy oriented model through targeted public education initiatives, coach led instructional programs, and awareness based practices such as “smart running.” By synthesizing mechanistic pathways—including glucose regulation, inflammatory modulation, neuroendocrine adaptation, and myokine signaling—the review positions movement literacy as a missing but necessary dimension in industrial health policy. We argue that enhancing this form of literacy may serve as a scalable strategy to mitigate metabolic risk and integrate exercise knowledge into routine occupational life.

Abstract This study investigates the effect of home-based combined exercise on the transforming growth factor-β/Interleukin-17 ratio (TGF-β/IL-17) in maternal serum during the first, second, and third trimesters of pregnancy, as well as in umbilical cord blood. Thirty overweight pregnant women were randomly allocated to control and training groups. Blood samples were collected during each trimester of pregnancy and from the umbilical cord at birth. Fitness-related indicators were assessed in the mother throughout pregnancy. Newborn health indicators were measured at birth. The levels of IL-17 and TGF-β were determined using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) and specialized kits. The exercise training significantly reduced TGF-β levels (p=0.011, effect size=1.22) and the TGF-β/IL-17 ratio (p=0.045, effect size=0.79) in the third trimester in mothers. Similarly, this ratio decreased in the fetus, accompanied by an increase in IL-17 levels (p = 0.038, effect size = 0.93). These immune changes were associated with improved maternal cardiovascular fitness and higher Apgar scores at 5 minutes for newborns (p<0.05). Obesity and excessive weight gain during pregnancy are linked to inflammatory responses and elevated cytokine levels, which may increase the risk of complications for the mother. This study highlights the long-term benefits of maternal exercise, evidenced by reduced inflammatory responses and improved neonatal health outcomes, as reflected in Apgar scores.