Description
The aim of this initiative is to establish innovative physical equipment and construct walking routes to promote sport in public spaces. This simple and effective project is basically a walking trail along level terrain, fitted with information signage panels along its course. It is a pioneer pilot project of this kind in Europe. A local cardiologist found out that over time people came often too late to hospital as to check their physical status related to heart, lungs and arteries. She took the initiative to install the path in the free accessible city park in Mestske sady in Usti nad Labem. A path through the “Active Park” was constructed in September 2013 and it is in close proximity of health facilities. The project was funded by health insurance companies and the initiators budget while the city provided the facilities and space. The path consists of a route with milestones as distance markers and a clock (stopwatch) with the purpose of monitoring one’s performance on the track. One simply starts walking or running the route in this public accessible space while using the clock as a stop watch set for 6 minutes. Through the milestones one can monitor the travelled distance while reading the information shields one gets an indication of his/her own health status. Telephone numbers and a website address refer people to doctors.
Results and impact
The results collected from the test give important insights into the severity of the patient's disease, and doctors will then be able to act on that data in planning further treatment strategies. This makes it possible for patients to use the health path and receive feedback from medical professionals who can examine the patient’s health condition by obtaining information about the function of the heart, lungs and blood vessels. For medical professionals, the 6-minute walk will provide an opportunity to translate research results into real life. It has proved to be reliable, inexpensive, safe and easy to apply. In addition, it correlates well with important outcomes including death.
At the same time, it is hoped that ordinary people will also use this test to kick-start their own physical activity and regular exercise and compare their test results over time. This is the other, primarily preventive and educational purpose of the project. The location of the trail in the heart of the city makes it an ideal destination to hold other health-related events aimed at disease prevention. At the moment, it is difficult to keep track of how many persons are using the path. The current estimation is that 5 patients utilize the health path daily.
Taking a walk along the trail enables ordinary people to test their fitness and their heart and lung function, or to evaluate the progress of their recovery following orthopaedic or other surgery – at any time of the year. Other visitors of the park can equally use the path without supervision as it is publicly accessible. Doctors can also encourage their patients to make use of the trail, and the test is completely free.
Coordination of institutional tourism stakeholders, public institutions and the local business community in the implementation of the project, resulting in a better understanding of the potential of natural and cultural protected resources in tourism. This helps in the management of nature and cultural sites in the County and help creates a better understand of the necessity for or sustainable use of these locations.
Type of activity
Programmes promoting activity
HEPA in labour policies and practices
Dissemination of awareness tools and materials
Place: Usti nad Labem (CZ)
Territorial level: Local
Organizer: The city of Usti nad Labem in cooperation with health insurance companies
Source: http://urbact.eu | www.6minutprozdravi.cz/en