Walking Football project kicks off

Regular, ongoing physical activity brings benefits linked to motor control and to improved balance, strength, coordination, flexibility and endurance. Physical activity also plays a fundamental role in reducing the risk of cardiovascular, metabolic and neoplastic diseases; it has a positive effect on mental health, helping to prevent and manage anxiety and depression and to improve cognitive function. It also counters the onset of hepatic steatosis and osteoporosis. In people with diabetes mellitus, regular physical activity improves glycaemic control, reduces insulin resistance and has favourable effects on other cardiovascular risk factors such as weight, hypertension and dyslipidaemia. The World Health Organization recommends that patients with type 2 diabetes undertake at least 150 minutes of moderate-to-vigorous physical activity per week, spread over at least three days. To date, there are 2,327 people with diabetes in San Marino and, for these patients, exercise is a cornerstone in the management of their condition. For this reason, the Functional Unit of Endocrine-Metabolic Diseases within the Internal Medicine Unit (UOC Medicina Interna) of the Istituto per la Sicurezza Sociale, in collaboration with and on the proposal of the Federazione Sammarinese Giuoco Calcio, is seeking to involve people with diabetes aged over 50 in a Walking Football project (a version of football with specific rules, such as no running and no tackling), with the aim – through play – of offering them an opportunity to reduce sedentary behaviour and to socialise in a group, while minimising the risk of injuries normally associated with a regular football match. The initiative includes a weekly training session of around an hour and a half; it will be free of charge and overseen by specialised fitness coaches. Sessions will be held at the Fonte dell'Ovo gym on Wednesday evenings at 18:15, starting from mid-January and continuing for the following three months. Similar projects have recently been implemented in Portugal and have led to benefits in terms of improved glyco-metabolic control, weight and other cardiovascular parameters, as anticipated and demonstrated by several international scientific studies. The information and launch meeting for all interested patients with diabetes will take place on Wednesday 14 December 2022 at 18:15 at the Casa del Calcio in Montecchio.

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