Culturally and regionally relevant physical activity for public health promotion in a global context: nature of the evidence and definition development from a narrative review

A strong and growing evidence base across multiple dimensions of health and wellness supports the value of physical activity with cultural or regional relevance, such as ethnic dance and traditional games. Greater inclusion of culturally and regionally relevant physical activity (CURE-PA) into health promotion is concordant with international public health goals, yet CURE-PAs have traditionally been underused in health and physical activity promotion especially at the population level. The specificity of deep community and cultural context of these activities, an important strength for public health promotion, can obscure communalities in approaches, synergies and outcomes across locations, programmes and populations. Following a narrative review method by a multinational expert team as preparation for the development of formal search protocols in this vast, multidisciplinary literature, this paper: (1) provides a preliminary assessment of the potential size and nature of relevant research, (2) develops a definition of CURE-PA and (3) delineates relevant characteristics supporting inclusion of CURE-PA in population level health promotion. Numerous articles and scientific disciplines with vital evidence on CURE-PA were identified, including nature and health, sport(s), dance, Indigenous health, physical literacy, sociology, political science, youth leadership development, resilience models, community design, ecology, leisure studies, cultural revitalisation and decolonialisation in sports. In formal searches, 100 000s of relevant articles would be found, highlighting the importance of clarifying CURE-PA boundaries, definitions and conceptual models in advance of formal search protocols. A synthesising literature about CURE-PA from a global health promotion perspective can guide future work and support engagement, planning, study, uptake, funding and implementation of CURE-PA in population-level public health. Greater inclusion of CURE-PA in health promotion can help to address physical inactivity as well as chronic disease, mental health concerns, loneliness and other global public health challenges, building from community strengths, preferences and knowledge systems.