Healthcare personnel will prescribe physical activity to patients with cardiovascular risk and a sedentary lifestyle

The president of the Tenerife Island Council, Pedro Martín, today presented, together with the director of the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS), Conrado Domínguez, the Physical Activity Prescription agreement, through which both administrations will promote an active lifestyle among people who present risk factors linked to sedentary behavior. The event was also attended by the Minister of Sports, Concepción Rivero, and the Island Director of Sports, Ángel Pérez.

With this agreement, Primary Care services within the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS) will guide, recommend, and prescribe physical activity programs to patients with cardiovascular diseases or risk factors linked to a sedentary lifestyle. These programs will be offered through a catalog of activities and facilities provided by island-level, municipal, or private non-profit organizations within their catchment area. The agreement is valid for two years, has an initial budget of €150,000, and will benefit 1,500 people.

Pedro Martín emphasized that this agreement unites efforts to improve the health of the population and so that “when faced with a particular illness or health problem, we can not only consider the possibility of therapeutic treatment through medication, but also provide a physical and sports prescription, and associate a specific problem with a type of physical activity in which the Tenerife Island Council would participate in coordination with the Canary Islands Health Service.”

The President of the Island Council also stressed that “the pandemic, coupled with the growing awareness among the population of the importance of activity for their physical and mental health, has led us to promote this important agreement, which will help the population improve their lifestyle habits through sport, all in collaboration with other administrations, such as the municipalities.”

Conrado Domínguez invited “the other island councils to join this initiative led by the Tenerife Island Council, since only together can we make further progress and improve the health of the Canary Islanders.” Domínguez asserted that “the positive impact this will have on the health of Tenerife residents is evident” and expressed his gratitude for this institutional collaboration, while also praising “an innovative initiative that can help improve the population’s lifestyles and make them healthier.”

The Councilor for Sports noted that “the Island Council’s sports policies must be geared towards improving the health of citizens, and a clear example of this is the implementation of this project, which aims to promote sports and physical exercise among the public.” She added that “if the expected results are achieved, the project will serve as an example for other administrations.”

Ángel Pérez explained that “this is a referral service for patients with various conditions from the Canary Islands Health Service (SCS) to the physical activity programs offered by the Island Council and municipal facilities, where they will be treated according to their specific conditions by professionals hired by the Island Council for the project.” There will be at least four professionals, all graduates in physical activity and sports science, who will design a personalized program tailored exclusively to each patient.

Application at Health Centers

Those wishing to participate in this project should visit their doctor or nurse at their health center and request it. Healthcare professionals will prescribe appropriate activity based on the individual’s condition. These activities will be guided, near the catchment areas of primary care centers, by specialist technicians employed by the Tenerife Island Council.

According to the 2019 Survey of Sports Habits of the Adult Population of Tenerife, approximately 61.7% of those surveyed are overweight or obese, while the latest figures on the prevalence of childhood obesity and overweight in the Canary Islands indicate an incidence of 32.8%. The study also reflects a sedentary lifestyle rate of 32.73%.