Sports recipe initiative in Valencia. Viu Actiu. Case of the municipality of Benicarlò
Published on 24 July 2020
Spain
Comunitat Valenciana
This is the good practice's implementation level. It can be national, regional or local.
About this good practice
The program aims at reducing physical inactivity. Primary care centres prescribe physical activity (PA) to inactive people (mainly elderly people) showing symptoms like high blood pressure, overweight, hypercholesterolemia, etc. which can result in different diseases. Doctors could prescribe PA like walking or swimming but people having lack of means and knowledge for doing sport safely could not follow doctor’s suggestions.
Municipality sports services offered to work together with professionals at the health centre to solve this problem.
Medical doctors prescribe PA to people who can go to the sports services where they undergo a series of tests and receive recommendations for a program with specific activities (individual or in group). Activities can be supervised by experts or not. The level of PA and the evolution of medical indicators allow assessing the efficacy of the program.
The main stakeholders are health professionals at the health centre (doctors, nurses,...),professionals at sports services (facilities managers, trainers,...), local authorities and regional health authorities. The latter ones have launched a series of mechanisms and protocols allowing any municipality to develop these programs.
Innovation comes from the need of Knowledge and technology for proper PA prescription fitted to the characteristics of different groups of people. Also, new ICT tools are needed to share knowledge and technology between municipalities engaged in similar initiatives
Municipality sports services offered to work together with professionals at the health centre to solve this problem.
Medical doctors prescribe PA to people who can go to the sports services where they undergo a series of tests and receive recommendations for a program with specific activities (individual or in group). Activities can be supervised by experts or not. The level of PA and the evolution of medical indicators allow assessing the efficacy of the program.
The main stakeholders are health professionals at the health centre (doctors, nurses,...),professionals at sports services (facilities managers, trainers,...), local authorities and regional health authorities. The latter ones have launched a series of mechanisms and protocols allowing any municipality to develop these programs.
Innovation comes from the need of Knowledge and technology for proper PA prescription fitted to the characteristics of different groups of people. Also, new ICT tools are needed to share knowledge and technology between municipalities engaged in similar initiatives
Resources needed
To set up the program 2 Person/months from the local health center and the municipality was required.
It does not need extra effort from the professionals. Existing facilities are used. It requires hiring 2 trainers for the group activities for a municipality of 27,000 inhabitants.
It does not need extra effort from the professionals. Existing facilities are used. It requires hiring 2 trainers for the group activities for a municipality of 27,000 inhabitants.
Evidence of success
Number of participants increased from 100 to 300. Their several health indicators have been improved by 50% in average.
60% of the people taking part in the initiative remains active.
This initiative was new. It has been piloted and dynamized in Benicarlò. Now, any municipality can join to the program under the promotion of the regional public health authorities. Today, there are more municipalities applying for it. They are in a regional network called Xarxa Salud (health network).
60% of the people taking part in the initiative remains active.
This initiative was new. It has been piloted and dynamized in Benicarlò. Now, any municipality can join to the program under the promotion of the regional public health authorities. Today, there are more municipalities applying for it. They are in a regional network called Xarxa Salud (health network).
Potential for learning or transfer
This good practice developed all the legal and formal protocols, documents, and agreements that a municipality has to sign with regional authorities so to implement the program. They could be helpful for all regions willing to implement it, specially where coordination between regional and local authorities is necessary.
The practice has also developed the technical protocol (algorithm), assignment and assessment tests, as well as specific activities for different people profiles. They are ready to be transferred.
Actually, many other municipalities in the region are starting similar programs using them. They have developed a network of active municipalities.
The most powerful transfer would be developing ICT tools and platforms for a widespread dissemination and sharing of experiences.
The practice has also developed the technical protocol (algorithm), assignment and assessment tests, as well as specific activities for different people profiles. They are ready to be transferred.
Actually, many other municipalities in the region are starting similar programs using them. They have developed a network of active municipalities.
The most powerful transfer would be developing ICT tools and platforms for a widespread dissemination and sharing of experiences.
Further information
Website
Good practice owner
You can contact the good practice owner below for more detailed information.
Organisation
Ajuntament de Benicarlò
Spain
Comunitat Valenciana
Contact
Head of sports innovation