Study shows the benefits of Walking Football for over-50s

Health benefits confirmed in research carried out by the UCAM and the Municipal Health Observatory of the Cartagena City Council

The health benefits that the practice of 'walking football' brings to people over 50 years of age are the basis of the research carried out by UCAM (the Catholic University of Murcia) together with the Municipal Health Observatory of the Cartagena City Council, which was presented on Monday, June 17 at the Town Hall Palace.

The Councillor for Social Policy, Equality and Family, Cristina Mora, presented the program accompanied by the vice dean of the Faculty of Sports Sciences UCAM, Lucía Abenza, and representatives of the Football Federation of the Region of Murcia, Sports Clubs, FAVCAC, Residents Associations, Senior Citizens Associations and companies related to the field of health and physical activity.

During the presentation, Cristina Mora reported on the lines followed for the development of the football program adapted for seniors, included in the Strategic Plan of the European Sports City 2022 in collaboration with the football clubs of Cartagena.

The activity is aimed at men over 50 years of age since, according to studies carried out, they are the ones who have a higher rate of sedentary lifestyle in leisure time and also because the majority of activities offered for this sector of the population are more accepted and participated in by women.

The program has been focused on a pilot experiment in three artificial grass pitches with the commitment to extend it to all pitches in Cartagena region. For this purpose, FC Cartagena, the municipality's football clubs, the Delegation of Seniors of the Department of Social Policy have collaborated and, starting next season, the Region's Football Federation, the AFCT and Federation of Cartagena Residents Associations, the FAVCAC will also participate and companies interested in promoting this new activity.

In the project, football clubs play a fundamental role since, in addition to being experts in this sport, they are the ones closest to the citizens in each neighbourhood.

This program, therefore, has a triple objective: to activate the greatest number of people over the age of 50, mainly men, through the practice of rewarding and healthy physical-sports activity; making use of the artificial grass soccer fields in the mornings and learn about the benefits of practicing walking soccer on the health of older people.

Study results

The data from the study carried out by the UCAM were taken thanks to the collaboration of the participants in the pioneer groups of Nueva Cartagena, Santa Ana and Ciudad Jardín.

The results show the first scientific evidence of how walking football is a physical-sports activity with positive effects on the physical and mental health of older people, where a higher percentage of men participated (65.6%) compared to women. (34.3%), and showed moderate to high levels of physical activity, thus evidencing a need to attract the most sedentary population to participate in the activity.

The emotional evaluation was positive, highlighting first of all the joy and well-being that participating due to the physical exercise itself and also due to the social aspects of the group produces. Regarding eating habits, the need for improvement was evident to adjust intake to Mediterranean dietary patterns.

These results connect directly with the Municipal Plan “For your health, Cartagena activates”, where all resources are being collected for the prevention and promotion of health through physical exercise and balanced nutrition, with the aim of achieving “aging in health”, to help rethink how to improve the participation of the older population in these beneficial programs, as well as to design a catalogue of good practices in the application of Walking Football that seeks to abandon a sedentary lifestyle and encourage adherence to the practice of physical activity of this group.

The Workshop for the presentation of results included an explanation of the Master's final research work, carried out by Silvia García Milla, who has been an indoor soccer player and goalkeeper for the FSF Móstoles, bronze medalist in the Youth Games with the Spanish under 18 National Team in Buenos Aires and currently goalkeeper for Roldán FSF. This was followed by the presentation of the HEPALIS Project (an incentive to promote sports and physical activity among low-income individuals) that will generate training for monitors in sports training and will help the implementation of the municipal Walking Football program in all (artificial) grass fields in the municipality.

Camposol has two Walking Football groups; Camposol Walking Football Club (CWFC) who play in Camposol and Mazarrón and Camposol Free Community Sports (CFCS).

Images: Camposol Walking Football Club

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