Up-to-date health – Running and Walking Centre in Tondela, ‘CMMCTnd’ – Portugal
Summary
The intervention CMMCTnd targets adults, especially the senior population, of the Municipality of Tondela. The main goal of CMMCTnd is to reduce the sedentary lifestyle and isolation of the target population in the Municipality of Tondela, through activities promoting healthy and active ageing. The main operational objectives of CMMCTnd are: to disseminate the practice of technically oriented physical exercise; to establish partnerships with the health sector, identifying beneficiaries from medical appointments and introducing them to physical exercise activities with the presence of a Sports Technician; to assess and monitor the health parameters; and to register physical performance and health of participants. Besides these main objectives, this program also enabled a better occupation plan of the local sporting facilities, the stimulation of the collaboration and the creation of job opportunities for sports technicians.
The project is developed by conducting local sessions of exercise (2-3 times a week), in spaces dedicated for fitness, walking, jogging, swimming, among others. Some projects also develop areas of cognition and cultural activities, allowing the establishment of partnerships with local health. This allowed the presence of a Sports technician at the Health Unit Centres that orients the beneficiaries from the diabetic CMMCTnd medical appointments towards an exercise programme in CMMCTnd. In addition, the presence of three nurses allows the diagnosis and the monitoring of the beneficiaries, registering potential useful information for the general practitioner or the Sports technician in the “Exercise and Physical Health Bulletin”. There is also collaboration with one nutritionist (training and monitoring healthy eating habits) and one psychologist (working in psychomotricity and cognitive development areas).
In addition to the local health institutions, associative institutions are engaged, and through its members, locally organise activities to promote organized walking groups, free screenings of blood glucose levels, and body mass index, etc.). In addition, there were several awareness-raising events, including generalized diagnosis to the population (free screening of cardiovascular risk; evaluation of physical performance – overall strength, flexibility). The programme is open to all population of the Municipality of Tondela interested in participate, with a special attention to the senior population, particularly the citizens living in more rural, isolated locations. In 2013 there were 1387 attending the activities and in 2014 there were 1420 beneficiaries participating in the 65 local projects. The questionnaire in 2014 showed that the beneficiaries feel healthier, more mobility, more strength and energy. The results also show the importance of reducing isolation and loneliness of senior people, promoting their integration in the activities of the society.
Additional information: http://www.cm-tondela.pt/index.php/servicos/desporto/programa-saude-em-dia/centro-municipal-de-marcha-e-corrida
(last accessed in March 2017)
Life Cycle Stages: Older People (>65 yrs) | Seniors (>75 yrs) | The Young Old (50-65 yrs) | Work Life |
Main Settings: community | healthcare services |
Specific Topics: physical activity | social inclusion |